'Man of the people' Gianni Infantino praised by GOAT Tom Brady

Martin Macdonald

• 25 Feb 2026 08:45 CST
• 5 min read

Nieuws

Tom Brady, considered the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL, has taken time to praise FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The next World Cup will take place in 2026 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

At the group stage draw, Brady was present and drew some big nations out including Brazil, France and Argentina.

Over the last couple of years, he has become a more prominent name in football due to his investment in English Championship side Birmingham City, while he has an ambassadorial role for the 2026 World Cup.

With the MLS going from strength to strength and the World Cup being held in North America, there has been a boom in interest in soccer in the USA and Brady has given plenty of credit for that to Infantino.

"The turnaround really starts with tremendous leadership at the top and what Gianni has done in terms of his leadership, his inclusion," he told FOX Sports.

"I think Gianni is a man of the people, and he’s always out there celebrating the great parts of the sport. I think he’s made great contributions to the world of football. And getting a chance to know him and understand the kind of person he is, the values he represents, I think that really showcases itself within the broader goals of what football is all about. Football is for everyone. It’s a chance for all of us to connect, globally, over something that we love."

"I think Gianni (Infantino) is a man of the people, and he’s always out there celebrating the great parts of the sport."@TomBrady on FIFA President Gianni Infantino ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/mQWu8UcgGX

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 24, 2026

Brady's comments have raied eyebrows in the football community, particularly his "man of the people" comment considering the World Cup is set to be the most expensive in history for regular match-going supporters.

The implementation of dynamic pricing on match tickets has seen costs go stratospheric.

Infantino has also received criticism for his relationship with United States president Donald Trump, whom he presented with FIFA's inaugural 'Peace Prize' at the World Cup draw. Many believe it was created to feed Trump's ego as the eyes of the world looked upon the ceremony in Washington D.C.

Blatter slams Infantino's Trump relationship

Former president of FIFA Sepp Blatter certainly isn't a fan of his successor, Infantino and believes the current president should be scrutinised for his relationship with Trump.

“We have 211 national associations... and there is not one single association who is opposed to the work of the new president who speaks only with heads of states, and who has brought politics into this World Cup,” Blatter told the Telegraph.

“It is a wonderful game, social, cultural – it can be economic – but it’s for the world. Because it’s the most popular game in the world. And now they give the impression that politicians – on one side Saudi Arabia, and on the other side USA – will take over.

“I think this is not the right thing and I’m looking forward with interest now to the 2026 World Cup, how it will be played in three countries.”

Blatter does not think FIFA should be handing out peace awards to politicians, either.

“They should not give [the award],” he said in the interview prior to the draw.

“Football should not give the prize of peace. One day we should receive the prize of peace because we are working for peace. Now they are discussing it in Norway, especially, because the Nobel Prize is based in Norway. In Norway, they are looking [for] who is working for peace. But here they are not working for peace. They will create a new peace award in football.

“I think that’s wrong. Football should receive it from the existing organisation. But this does not go into the heads of those that are directing the football. That’s a pity. That’s a pity.

“My successor, I don’t know if it is really Trump or Infantino. I cannot say they should not have a good friendship, but I don’t see exactly the big interest of football.

“I see this as personal connections, especially with Trump, and I’m not so sure where the actual trophy of the World Cup, which has always been in Zurich well guarded until the opening of the new World Cup, [is]. I doubt that. Perhaps that his trophy is already in the White House.”

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