What happened at the FIFA Congress with Gianni Infantino?

Gianni Infantino attempted to stage a handshake between Jibril Rajoub of the Palestine FA and the Israeli delegation during the FIFA Congress. The diplomatic stunt failed completely when Rajoub snubbed the handshake offer and walked away, ruining the planned photo opportunity.

Who refused to shake hands at the FIFA Congress?

Jibril Rajoub of the Palestine Football Association actively refused the controversial handshake at the recent FIFA Congress. He completely ignored the gesture that was carefully stage-managed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, walking away and thereby ruining the intended diplomatic photo opportunity.

Why did Infantino try to arrange the handshake?

Infantino wanted to create a perfect photo opportunity that would portray FIFA as an organization capable of bringing world peace through the sport of football. He attempted to act as a world-class diplomat between the Palestinian and Israeli delegations, but his stage-managed plan completely backfired when the gesture was rejected.

How long does Gianni Infantino plan to stay as FIFA president?

Following the failed diplomatic handshake stunt at the FIFA Congress, Gianni Infantino officially confirmed that he wants to serve a third term as FIFA president. Critics and fans believe he aims to secure his leadership position until 2027 and potentially far beyond by consistently increasing revenue for the voting member associations.

Why are fans criticizing the 48-team World Cup expansion?

Many vocal fans believe the upcoming 48-team World Cup expansion is primarily a calculated political move by Gianni Infantino to secure guaranteed votes from smaller footballing nations. They view this structural change as a massive bribe that ensures his continued re-election and grip on power while slowly damaging the traditional soul of the sport.

Gianni Infantino is never leaving and his handshake stunt was a disaster

The PR stunt that went exactly as badly as you thought

Walk into any bar from London to Los Angeles right now and mention the name Gianni Infantino. You will get one of two reactions: a heavy sigh from someone who misses when the corruption was at least competent, or a confused look from a casual fan who thinks he’s the guy who invented the shiny suits department at Zara. Today at the FIFA Congress, our glorious leader decided to play world-class diplomat, and it blew up in his face like a budget firework.

The plan was simple, in that specific way only a man with a private jet and a god complex thinks things are simple. Infantino tried to stage-manage a handshake between Jibril Rajoub of the Palestine FA and the Israeli delegation. He wanted that perfect photo op. He wanted the headline to be about FIFA bringing world peace through the power of a Size 5 ball. Instead, as The Guardian reported, Rajoub treated the handshake offer like a wet paper towel and walked away.

It was the most awkward thing seen in football since that time Diana Ross missed a penalty at the 1994 World Cup. You could practically hear the gears grinding in Infantino's head as he realized his Nobel Peace Prize dreams were going up in smoke. But don't worry, he didn't let a little thing like international diplomatic failure dampen his mood. He followed it up by confirming he wants a third term as president. Because of course he does.

What the internet is screaming about today

If you head over to the forums, the mood is somewhere between 'resigned to our fate' and 'actively looking for a new sport to follow.' The consensus is that FIFA has moved past being a sports organization and has become a high-end travel agency for guys who love luxury hotels and pointless meetings. Here is a breakdown of what the fans are actually saying while the suits are clinking champagne glasses.

Username: TacticalVomit88
'The absolute ego on Infantino to think he can solve the Middle East with a handshake photo op while his own VAR refs can't tell the difference between a shoulder and a kneecap. It is peak FIFA. They live in a bubble where they think they are more important than actual governments. Rajoub snubbing him is the only honest thing that happened in that entire room today.'

Username: ProfitAboveAll_FC
'Look, the handshake was cringe, but the man prints money. Revenue is through the roof. The World Cup in 42 days is going to be the biggest cash cow in history. If he wants to stay until 2027 and beyond, why would the member associations stop him? They are all getting bigger checks. Money talks, handshakes walk.'

Username: GrassrootsOrBust
'I am so tired of the Infantino show. Every speech sounds like it was written by a cult leader who just discovered LinkedIn. He’s going to be president for life at this rate. The 48 teams expansion is just a giant bribe to make sure every small nation votes for him forever. We are watching the slow death of the sport’s soul in real-time.'

The cult of the permanent presidency

The most chilling part of today wasn't the failed handshake. It was the casual confirmation that Infantino is seeking re-election for another full term next year. In the world of FIFA politics, once you’re in, you’re basically a monarch until the authorities or a very determined group of auditors drags you out. He has the voting blocks locked down because he’s expanded the tournaments to include basically everyone with a flag and a stadium.

There is a 100 percent chance he runs unopposed or against some sacrificial lamb who will get three votes and a 'thanks for playing' sticker. The system is rigged to favor the incumbent who keeps the TV rights money flowing. It doesn't matter if the fans think he's a meme or if his diplomatic efforts are a total embarrassment. The delegates in that room aren't fans; they are stakeholders in a multi-billion dollar monopoly.

Why the skeptics are winning the argument

I’ve spent enough time in the trenches of football fandom to know that we usually forgive a lot if the product on the pitch is good. But this feels different. The attempt to use the Israel-Palestine conflict as a backdrop for a FIFA PR win is genuinely gross. It’s performative nonsense that ignores the actual reality of the people living through those conflicts. You can't just 'football' your way out of decades of deep-seated tension for a social media post.

Infantino’s biggest flaw is that he thinks he is the main character of the world. He doesn't just want to run football; he wants to be the guy who fixes everything. It’s a level of delusion that would be funny if he didn't have so much power over the game we love. When the Palestinian delegate refused that handshake, it was a rare moment of reality piercing the FIFA bubble. It showed that there are some things you can't buy or manipulate with a charming smile and a Swiss bank account.

The worst part? We are stuck with him. The 2026 World Cup is right around the corner, and he will be front and center, probably trying to claim credit for the invention of the grass. We are 42 days away from kickoff, and instead of talking about the squads or the venues, we are dissecting a failed high-five between diplomats. That is the Infantino legacy in a nutshell: more noise, more ego, and less actual football.

The view from the bar stool

Let’s be real for a second. Most of us just want to watch the games without feeling like we’re funding a private kingdom. But every time Infantino opens his mouth, he makes it harder. Whether he’s telling us he feels like a migrant worker or trying to broker peace deals in the middle of a congress, he’s consistently the most annoying person in the room. He is the guy who shows up to a party, doesn't bring any beer, and then spends three hours explaining his five-year plan for the host's kitchen.

The skeptics are right to be loud. The fans who are calling for term limits and actual transparency aren't just being negative; they are trying to save the sport from becoming a permanent vanity project. If the handshake fail proves anything, it's that FIFA has no business trying to be a political heavyweight. Stick to organizing tournaments and maybe, just maybe, try to fix the officiating before you try to fix the world. It’s a wild thought, I know, but someone has to say it.

As we head into the summer, expect more of this. More speeches, more grandstanding, and more attempts to make the World Cup about the man in the suit rather than the players on the field. We are in for a long few years of the Gianni show, and honestly, I might need a stiffer drink to get through the rest of this congress cycle. The man is a survivor, I’ll give him that, but at what cost to the game?