- Infantino was introducing Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday when he made the comment.
- "President Trump is definitely a sportsman," he said, according to a transcript from The White House. "I am lucky enough in my life to come across some of the most talented athletes in soccer. President Trump is made of the same sort of fiber."
- He added: "He is a competitor. He wants to compete, he wants to win. He wants to show who is the best."
- The SwissItalian was chosen to speak due to the United States playing co-host to the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, which Trump says is "an honor."
- Read more of our soccer coverage here.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
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The president of FIFA compared Donald Trump to a world-class athlete, saying he has the 'same sort of fiber' as the planet's best soccer players
Donald Trump is made of the "same sort of fiber" as some of the world's best athletes, according to the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino.
Donald Trump/Gianni Infantino
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Donald Trump is made of the "same sort of fiber" as some of the world's best athletes.
That's according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The SwissItalian, who has been head of the organization since 2016, made the comment whilst introducing the President of the United States at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday.
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"You might wonder why the President of FIFA is introducing the President of the United States of America tonight," began Infantino, according to an official transcript from The White House.
The first he said was because of the "power of football," while the second was because the "United States is on the verge of becoming the soccer power in the world," partly due to it co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"The third reason, President, is yourself," he said. "President Trump is definitely a sportsman. I am lucky enough in my life to come across some of the most talented athletes in soccer. And President Trump is made of the same sort of fiber.
"He is a competitor. He wants to compete, he wants to win. He wants to show who is the best. He says actually what many think, but more importantly, he does, then, what he says."
Trump thanked Infantino for his introduction, saying: "You've been my great friend, and it's an honor."
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Canada and Mexico are hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States, with the latter hosting the tournament's final stages.
The quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final will all be held in various venues across the country, including California's Rose Bowl, Maryland's FedEX Field, and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
It will be the first World Cup in history to feature 48 teams, after the FIFA Council voted unanimously in 2017 to expand it from its regular 32 team format.
The tournament will open with 16 groups of three teams, after which the top two will progress to a knockout stage.
President Trump said that "it's an honor to be involved with bringing the World Cup to the United States."
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See Also:
- David Beckham's Inter Miami reportedly wants to steal 2 Manchester City 'legends' as it looks to make its mark on the MLS
- THEN AND NOW: What the world's biggest sports stars looked like as youngsters
- PSG's Kylian Mbappe says Liverpool FC is a winning 'machine,' and that its form this season is 'amazing'
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