Iran, the US, and a World Cup that starts in three months

In December, Fifa awarded Trump its inaugural 'Peace Prize' at the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony, saying he had "played a pivotal role" in establishing a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians, and that he had sought to end other conflicts.

In the few weeks since, the US has taken military action in Venezuela, Nigeria and Iran, and has hinted at possible further operations in Greenland, fellow World Cup co-host Mexico, and Colombia - another participant in the tournament. In January, Trump also told Cuba to "make a deal" or face consequences.

Trump has fiercely defended his foreign policy, insisting he is acting in the United States' interests.

Last month, Infantino defended the awarding of the 'Peace Prize', even appearing at the first meeting of the US President's Board of Peace while wearing a Trump-themed 'USA' cap branded with '45-47' in reference to his terms of office.

Trump's decision to attack Iran has received both support and condemnation, but what is certain is it will lead to more scrutiny of Fifa's decision to align itself with him, with critics arguing it undermined the governing body's political neutrality.

In January, 27 politicians from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Plaid Cymru signed a motion in parliament calling on international sporting bodies to consider expelling the US from major international competitions, including the World Cup. The motion said such events "should not be used to legitimise or normalise violations of international law by powerful states".

The same month, an official from the German Football Association said it was time to consider a boycott of the 2026 World Cup in the wake of Trump's actions.

Such demands could now be repeated, and there could also be calls by Gulf states for Iran to be punished for its retaliatory attacks on their territory.

Fifa insists as an organiser of football events it has a statutory duty to remain neutral, and this is not the first time it has come under pressure over the political actions of a World Cup host.

In 2018, the tournament went ahead in Russia despite the country annexing Crimea four years earlier. Russia also stood accused of cyber attacks, meddling in western elections and carrying out the Novichok nerve-agent attack in Salisbury.

Russia was eventually banned by Fifa in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine.

But Infantino has recently said the punishment has not worked, and that he wants it lifted. There is no sign he has any appetite to sanction the US, regardless of how controversial its foreign policy is.

What is clear is that in the past 48 hours, what was an already complicated political landscape for the World Cup has become even more challenging.