Christian Streich condemns FIFA chief Infantino and Trump over World Cup ticket deals

Former SC Freiburg coach Christian Streich, who will appear as a TV analyst for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sharply criticised FIFA president Gianni Infantino. In a interview with kicker, Streich called Infantino’s handling of US President Donald Trump "unverfrorenheit" and described the awarding of a FIFA‑created peace prize to Trump as "speech‑less". He also denounced the tournament’s ticket pricing, calling it "pervers" and a profit‑maximisation scheme that excludes many fans.

Streich defended the recent expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, noting that it allows smaller federations such as Curaçao and Cape Verde to qualify and receive FIFA honourariums, which he sees as a benefit for lesser‑known football nations. He warned that limiting the tournament to fewer teams would reflect "the mentality of the powerful". Despite these criticisms, Streich said he remains passionate about football and believes the sport belongs to everyone.