FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said it would have been “impossible” to organise the World Cup in the United States without Donald Trump.
Infantino made the comments at a press conference in Mexico City on Wednesday, one day before the tournament begins.
The World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Infantino said he has a strong relationship with Trump and praised the US president’s involvement in preparations for the tournament.
“I have a great relationship with President Trump,” Infantino said.
“I’m very happy about that, I got to know him during his first mandate and we have been working very closely together now in his second term,” he added.
“Without his engagement and his involvement I think it would have been impossible — as simple as that — impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States.”
Infantino said Trump quickly understood the importance and scale of the tournament.
He said Trump “understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup, the impact of the World Cup and instructed the administration to help and assist.”
Infantino’s comments come during a tournament build-up that has included concerns over US immigration issues.
US immigration officials refused entry to Omar Artan, a top African referee from Somalia. Artan had been set to become the first match official from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup.
When asked about Artan’s case, Infantino described it as “unfortunate,” but said FIFA “could not control everything.”
