• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Front Office Sports Honors winners are here! View the 2025 winners

Swiss Politicians Want FIFA Chief to Lobby Trump for Tariff Relief

Facing a 39% U.S. levy, Swiss politicians are eyeing FIFA president Gianni Infantino as an unlikely diplomatic ally.

Jul 13, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino and President Donald Trump carry the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the presentation after the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
Hannah Mckay-Reuters via Imagn Images

Switzerland’s trade talks in Washington have stalled. 

Now, some politicians are calling on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, hoping his personal ties to President Donald Trump can help dial back a crushing 39% U.S. tariff on imports.

Last week, the Trump Administration raised Switzerland’s tariff rate from 31% to 39%, scheduled to take effect Aug. 7. That rate is among the highest imposed in Trump’s latest trade order; only two countries received a 40% tariff, and one received the top rate of 41%.

In response, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter made a last-minute trip to Washington, but returned Wednesday without a better deal. While she described her meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “very good,” she did not meet with Trump or top trade officials, according to Reuters

One source told Reuters that Keller-Sutter had proposed a 10% tariff rate, but U.S. officials rejected the offer. In an interview with CNBC, Trump dismissed the exchange, saying, “The woman was nice, but she didn’t want to listen.”

The failure to reach a deal has fueled public concern in Switzerland, prompting some politicians to push for more unconventional tactics. 

Among those being considered is Infantino, a Swiss native who has built a close relationship with Trump throughout his presidency and ahead of the 2026 men’s World Cup.

Infantino has appeared alongside the president several times this year, including visits to Mar-a-Lago, the White House, and Trump Tower in New York, where FIFA opened a new office. Most recently, the two shared the stage at the closing ceremony of the FIFA Club World Cup in New Jersey last month. Trump has previously described Infantino as “a friend of mine” and “an excellent guy.”

National Councillor Roland Rino Büchel, a member of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, has emerged as a vocal advocate for involving Infantino. “It is definitely time to bring in Gianni Infantino now without further delay to help open doors,” Büchel told the Financial Times. “If [Swiss Economic Minister Guy] Parmelin picked up the phone and asked Infantino for help, I would well imagine he would do it.”

The U.S. is one of Switzerland’s most important trading partners, with the U.S. importing $64 billion in goods last year. Top categories include pharmaceuticals ($19 billion), precious metals and stones ($14.8 billion), and watches and clocks ($6.5 billion), according to United Nations data

“The situation is bad,” Büchel said. “We need better ideas for the good of the country and the thousands of jobs that will be affected if we do not get a better deal. Infantino is the best person to maybe secure a meeting.”

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Inter Miami bench

Inter Miami Post-Red Card Phone Coaching May Have Been Legal

Javier Mascherano appeared to continue coaching through a call from the stands.

Premier League Sets New Highs: $3.2B Spent, Record U.S. Viewership

The league’s transfer spending beats the rest of Europe’s Big Five combined.
Bay FC

Bay FC Set to Break NWSL Attendance Record in San Francisco

NWSL players have often resisted playing at baseball stadiums.

Featured Today

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley Rebuffs Trump As Other Athletes Line Up Behind Him

The White House has had a barrage of sports announcements in recent weeks.
July 27, 2025

Venezuelan Little League Baseball Team Denied Entry Into U.S.

The Cacique Mara Little League team was not allowed into the country.
Derek Dooley
August 4, 2025

Ex-Tennessee Football Coach Derek Dooley Running for Senate in Georgia

Dooley coached at Louisiana Tech and Tennessee from 2007 to 2012.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
Yucca and Gary Rieschel are donating $10 million to be used to bolster the USOPC’s mental health program. Syndication Westchester County Journal News
July 23, 2025

USOPC Follows Trump Order Banning Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports

The change impacts governing bodies, which extend beyond Olympic competition.
[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 13, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; General view inside the stadium before the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
July 15, 2025

New York Pushes for Drone Defense Powers Ahead of 2026 World Cup

“The time for decisive action is now.”
Pam Bondi recognizes family and friends in attendance as she delivers opening remarks during a Senate Judiciary committee hearing on her nomination to be Attorney General of the United States on Jan. 15, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
July 9, 2025

DOJ Sues California Over Transgender Athlete Participation

The lawsuit claims the state is in violation of Title IX.
Gianni Infantino
July 8, 2025

FIFA Tightens Trump Ties With Trump Tower Office

Trump and Infantino’s bromance is still kicking.