Stood proudly next to Donald Trump, Gianni Infantino may have surprised those who spotted him at Gaza’s peace summit in Egypt today.
But the FIFA president has increasingly involved himself in the Israel-Hamas conflict, having built up a friendship with the US President and shown consistent support for Israel.
Last week, he called for football to support efforts towards peace in the Middle East ahead of two World Cup qualifiers for Israel. The finals in 2026 are being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It comes as Israel and Hamas have agreed on a ceasefire which started on Friday, before the 20 remaining, living Israeli hostages were released today – two years after being kidnapped when Hamas launched its deadly raid on October 7, 2023.
‘Now there is a ceasefire, everyone should be happy about that. Everyone should support that process,’ Infantino told reporters at the European Football Clubs General Assembly in Rome last week.
‘Those who have responsibilities to broker and to do these steps, they have done that, and now everyone else should support it.
‘It goes beyond football, but it includes football as well.’
Meanwhile, the FIFA boss also called for Trump to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after the war in Gaza was paused due to the US-brokered ceasefire deal.
US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino (right) pose for a photo at the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt today
Stood proudly next to Trump, Infantino may have surprised those who spotted him at Gaza’s peace summit today
Infantino used his opening remarks at the European Football Clubs General Assembly to highlight the importance of the war ending, and talked up the role of Trump, who he has developed a strong bond with ahead of USA being set to co-host next year’s World Cup.
‘Congratulations to the USA and President Donald J. Trump, Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye and all the countries that collaborated to make the ceasefire and agreement on the first phase of the peace process in the Middle East happen,’ Infantino said on Instagram.
‘Peace is great news and is giving new hope for all. Everyone around the world should now fully support this peace process. President Donald J. Trump definitely deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his decisive actions.
‘Unity was indeed a key theme of discussions at the European Football Clubs General Assembly and, although it is not directly related to football, I had to open my remarks by stating how pleased I was to hear the news about these encouraging developments in the Middle East.’
Israeli hostages finally released from Hamas captivity looked shockingly different as they were reunited with their families after 738 days in Gaza today.
They were at last returned following the Trump-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas, that aims to bring an end to the devastating war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people.
In emotional scenes, captives reunited with parents, families, friends and loved ones.
World leaders including Trump, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at a world leaders’ summit about ending the Gaza war today
Freed Sergev Kalfon arrives at a medical centre where he underwent a check up after being released
Released Israeli hostage Evyatar David reacts upon arriving at Beilinson Hospital in the Rabin Medical Centre in Petah Tikva in central Israel on October 13, 2025
Families, who have spent every day since October 7 fighting for their release from gruelling captivity in the enclave’s underground tunnel network, gathered in anticipation as tears flowed and hugs were exchanged.
‘After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent and the sirens are still,’ Trump said in a historic speech at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
But the brutal reality of two years in captivity was apparent amid a day of joy, with the hostages now looking radically different from the photographs taken before they were seized on October 7 two years ago.
Behind the smiles, some appear to have dramatically lost weight, while others appear frail.
Their new appearance tells the story of every day they spent underground in fear of Hamas doing to them what they did to the 1,195 people slaughtered two years ago, in what has now been known as Israel’s darkest day.
