Gianni Infantino stepped off a plane in Bogota, greeted by the Colombian Football Federation president, Ramon Jesurun, for a photo opportunity. He attended the inauguration of President Abelardo de la Espriella, accompanied by Conmebol's Alejandro Dominguez. This is the life of a Fifa president—building ties with the powerful, from Donald Trump to global leaders. After the aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise plan, Infantino faces Uefa's boycott threat, yet he is emboldened by support outside Europe.

Infantino travels in a cavalcade of blacked-out Mercedes and on the Qatar Airways Executive jet, taking up to three flights a day. His salary has tripled since 2016, now about £4m a year, plus a £20,500 per diem. He argues record revenues justify the pay. His alliance with Trump, including the Fifa Peace Prize and a personal call to review a red card, has drawn criticism. Uefa accused him of prioritising political interests, and his late arrival at the Fifa Congress sparked a walk-out.

Infantino rarely speaks to media—just two news conferences in four years—preferring Fifa-controlled statements. He faces calls to stop running Fifa as an autocratic project. His expanded World Cup and Club World Cup, with a personal tribute on the trophy, are part of his legacy. The unique allocation of World Cups helped Saudi Arabia secure 2034. Ticket prices and visa issues marred the 2026 World Cup, with Fifa using a secondary market taking a 30% share.