A senior Democratic lawmaker in the US House of Representatives has launched an investigation into FIFA over allegations of corruption and a possible quid pro quo arrangement involving the world football governing body and the administration of President Donald Trump.
In a letter sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday, Congressman Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said the investigation would examine FIFA’s “ongoing campaign” to secure favourable treatment from the Trump administration.
Raskin alleged that this included the dismissal of a high-profile US corruption case involving FIFA, as well as the organisation’s relationship with the White House.
“The latest quid pro quo arranged by FIFA and President Trump is not a victimless crime,” Raskin wrote in the letter.
He also accused FIFA of exploiting its relationship with the Trump administration to engage in what he described as unlawful price gouging and deceptive sales practices involving FIFA World Cup tickets.
According to Raskin, the investigation will also examine FIFA’s governance under Infantino, including allegations that the organisation weakened its internal ethics safeguards while seeking closer ties with Trump.
The congressman further claimed that the Trump administration halted anti-corruption enforcement involving FIFA, despite previous investigations by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) uncovering a long-running international bribery scheme linked to football media rights.
Raskin said earlier DOJ investigations uncovered more than US$200 million in bribes involving defendants from over 20 countries. He alleged that although several convictions were secured, the Trump administration later dropped prosecutions, resulting in convicted individuals being released.
The investigation will also scrutinise FIFA’s World Cup ticketing practices, including alleged price hikes, dynamic pricing and policies allowing seat downgrades after tickets have been purchased.
Raskin has requested documents and communications relating to any gifts, payments or other benefits allegedly provided by FIFA to Trump or his associates, as well as records of FIFA’s dealings with US government officials and its ticket sales practices.
He also requested visitor logs for FIFA’s office at Trump Tower and asked Infantino to appear before the committee for a transcribed interview.
In the letter, Raskin instructed Infantino to contact Democratic committee staff by 5pm on Aug 9, 2026, to arrange the interview.
