FIFA president Gianni Infantino has a firm World Cup rule that broadcasters must follow by contract.
As the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino has been a constant presence at the 2026 World Cup, and it seems there’s a good reason for that.
Infantino has faced a few controversies while earning a hefty salary for helping shape this World Cup. One issue that annoyed football fans was his strong support for hydration breaks during games. He even said these breaks helped England in their close game against DR Congo. Many fans felt it wasn’t his place to change the game, but the three-minute breaks will stay in every match to keep things fair for all players.
Despite that, Infantino has definitely made the tournament exciting in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. We keep seeing his face in the crowds at almost every game, and that’s not by accident. Fans have started wondering why he appears so often on the big screens during matches.
According to Copa90 presenter Eli Mengem, broadcasters like FOX Sports have a contract rule that requires them to show Infantino’s face at least once per half. He explained, “I’ve been told by someone very reliable in broadcasting that they have to do it once per half. They don’t show it in the stadium though because of booing.”
This is similar to what the New Yorker reported about the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Back then, the cameras were told to show Infantino once per game, but not when he was looking at his phone. This rule appears to be in place again this year.
During the Qatar World Cup, Infantino was everywhere because the country is small and easy to travel around. For the 2026 World Cup, which is spread across the USA, Mexico, and Canada, he can’t be at every game but is still very active. Reports say he’s already flown 31,000 miles on private jets, attending roughly one match daily thanks to Qatar Airways. In just the first five days, he visited cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Miami, Seattle, and then Los Angeles again!
As the tournament moves into the knockout rounds and matches slow down, it will be even easier for Infantino to attend more games. Fans might even see him alongside US President Donald Trump as the World Cup heads toward its exciting final moments.