Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
FIFA Spent $4 Million on a Trump Tower Office That Is Rarely Used
FIFA spent $4 million to rent office space in Trump Tower in New York City.
The governing body signed a lease lasting more than seven years about a year before this summer’s World Cup.
Most of FIFA’s US employees work in two Miami offices, and there are currently no plans to staff the New York location.
FIFA says the nearly 5,000-square-foot space is used mostly for special events and during the United Nations General Assembly.
Some senior FIFA leaders have questioned the cost and need for the lease, as well as its links to President Donald Trump.
The deal has drawn scrutiny because FIFA president Gianni Infantino has grown closer to Trump, including attending his 2025 inauguration and presenting him with FIFA’s Peace Prize.
FIFA says the lease follows its standard internal process and complies with local laws.
FIFA spent $4 million on a lease for office space in Trump Tower that is rarely used.
The more than seven-year lease was signed about a year before the 2026 World Cup, according to sources cited by The New York Times.
FIFA says the nearly 5,000-square-foot space is used mostly for special events and during the United Nations General Assembly.
Some senior FIFA leaders have raised concerns about the rent, the links to President Donald Trump and the need for the space.
Former FIFA officials have criticized the deal, with one saying it could raise a conflict of interest.
- Who
- FIFA, led by president Gianni Infantino, rented the office space.
- What
- FIFA spent $4 million on a more than seven-year lease for a Trump Tower office that is rarely used.
- When
- The lease was signed about a year before the 2026 World Cup. The exact signing date is not stated.
- Where
- Trump Tower in New York City.
- Why
- FIFA said it was logical for the global organization to have a presence in New York. Some leaders questioned the need for the space.
FIFA
Critics of the lease
Need for the office
FIFA
FIFA said a presence in New York was logical for a global organization.
Critics of the lease
Some senior FIFA leaders said there was no clear need for the space.
Conflict of interest
FIFA
FIFA said the lease complied with local laws and followed its standard internal process.
Critics of the lease
Former FIFA governance head Miguel Maduro said the deal raised a clear conflict of interest.
Use of the space
FIFA
FIFA said it is mostly used for special events and during the United Nations General Assembly.
Critics of the lease
Alex Phillips, a former FIFA official, called the office unnecessary.
FIFA signed a more than seven-year lease for space in Trump Tower.
Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
Trump said he called Infantino personally after U.S. player Folarin Balogun received a red card.
- Lease cost
- $4 million
- Lease term
- More than seven years
- Office size
- Nearly 5,000 square feet
- Location
- Trump Tower, New York City
- Main FIFA offices in the United States
- Two offices in Miami
What people are saying
New York is a global city, and FIFA is a global organization; it is therefore logical for FIFA to have a presence there.
This deal with the Trump Organization raises a clear conflict of interest in the light of FIFA’s interests in the U.S. World Cup or its partnership with President Trump’s Board of Peace
a completely unnecessary level of pandering
Sources
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