Jan 22, 2025 - 08:47
By guardian.ng

IOC, FIFA greet U.S. President Trump at inauguration

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach and his counterpart in FIFA Gianni Infantino, yesterday, heaped praises on Donald Trump, as he began his second journey as President of the United States.

Both IOC and FIFA have major events slated for the U.S. in the next four years. Apart from hosting an expanded FIFA Club World Cup this year, the United States will co-host the World Cup in 2026 as well as the Olympic Games in 2028 in Los Angeles.

Ahead of Trump’s inauguration yesterday, the IOC boss hailed the American as a “sports fan at heart.” This came out of a statement he made to the German Press Agency (DPA).

Bach declared that despite political tensions and the fires in California, the 2026 World Cup as well as the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are assured. The Olympic boss highlighted that Donald Trump “was involved in the bidding phase of both events, campaigning in one way or another in favour of the World Cup and the Los Angeles 2028 Games. That’s why I’m sure he will support them.”

On his part, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino hailed Trump.

According to Sports Village Square, the FIFA President message was contained in his Instagram handle which revealed that Infantino visited Trump as president-elect at Mar-a-Lago in Florida ahead of his inauguration .

“We discussed this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA World Cup in 2026 – two truly global tournaments which the United States will play a key role in hosting.

“Thank you Mr President for your time and for supporting FIFA over the coming months. America welcomes the World and Football Unites the World,” Infantino wrote.