The ranking Democrat on the US House Judiciary Committee, Jamie Raskin, has formally requested that FIFA president Gianni Infantino supply internal records and appear for a transcribed interview, setting a deadline of 9 August 2026. The letter, sent late Sunday, demands all communications between FIFA and the Trump administration, visitor logs for the federation’s offices in New York and Miami, and a detailed accounting of any gifts, payments or benefits provided to President Donald Trump, his family or associated businesses. The move marks the most direct congressional inquiry yet into the relationship between world football’s governing body and the White House during the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Raskin’s investigation, as outlined in the letter, focuses on what he describes as a “sustained campaign” by FIFA to curry favour with the Trump administration. Specific episodes under scrutiny include FIFA’s decision to present Trump with a newly created Peace Prize, the leasing of office space in New York’s Trump Tower, and the relocation of the World Cup draw to the Kennedy Center after the venue came under the control of presidential allies. The inquiry also examines Trump’s telephone call to Infantino during the tournament to request a review of a red-card suspension for US forward Folarin Balogun; the suspension was subsequently lifted, a decision FIFA insists was taken independently by its disciplinary bodies. Additionally, the congressman is seeking records on ticket pricing, citing complaints of sharp price increases and seat downgrades that have already prompted investigations by state attorneys general in New York, New Jersey, Texas and California.

Viewed from Washington, the request is a preliminary step that carries limited immediate legal force, as Democrats lack the majority needed to issue a binding subpoena. However, congressional aides have signalled, according to US media reports, that the current document demands could form the basis of a formal investigation should the party regain control of the House in November’s midterm elections. From Zurich, FIFA has not yet issued a public response to the letter, but the organisation has previously stated that its judicial and disciplinary decisions are made without political interference. The Trump administration has not commented on the allegations, though the letter asserts that the Justice Department under Trump dropped several prosecutions in a long-running international football corruption case that had uncovered over $200 million in bribes and kickbacks.

The political calendar gives the dossier a contingent but potentially significant trajectory. If Democrats win the House majority, the Judiciary Committee would gain the authority to compel testimony and documents, transforming the current request into a formal inquiry with enforceable deadlines. The letter also asks FIFA to preserve all relevant communications, including those on encrypted messaging applications such as Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp. The deadline for FIFA to contact committee staff to schedule an interview is 5 p.m. on 9 August 2026. The outcome will depend both on the federation’s willingness to cooperate voluntarily and on the shifting balance of power in the US Congress.