Tom Brady’s Support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino Raises Questions

Tom Brady’s Endorsement of FIFA President Sparks Backlash Among Soccer Fans

NFL legend Tom Brady is facing significant criticism following comments he made praising FIFA President Gianni Infantino as a “man of the people.” The remarks, made during a promotional video for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, have struck many soccer fans as deeply disconnected from reality.

In the video released by Fox Soccer, Brady stated, “I think Gianni [Infantino] is a man of the people, and he’s always out there celebrating the great parts of the sport.” The endorsement comes as part of Brady’s relationship with Fox Sports, where he serves as a broadcaster.

The timing and content of Brady’s comments have ignited a firestorm on social media, where fans and commentators have pointed out the disconnect between Infantino’s leadership and the accessibility of the sport for ordinary fans. Many critics highlighted that under Infantino’s leadership, World Cup ticket prices have risen to unprecedented levels, effectively pricing out the very “people” Brady suggests the FIFA president represents.

One popular soccer commentator on social media wrote, “In my lifetime, I have never seen such a big disconnect between celebrities/those in power/wealthy individuals vs regular people. Calling Infantino a man of the people is like pissing in my face and telling me it’s rain.”

Another critic put it more bluntly: “Nothing says ‘man of the people’ like making the World Cup unaffordable for the people.”

The controversy adds to a growing pattern of Brady attaching his name and considerable influence to controversial enterprises and figures. In recent years, the seven-time Super Bowl champion has established business relationships with Michael Rubin’s Fanatics, a sports merchandising company that has faced criticism from consumers, and has participated in promotional events in Saudi Arabia, a country regularly criticized for its human rights record.

While Brady does have legitimate business interests in soccer—having invested in English Football League club Birmingham City—many observers view his latest endorsement as part of a concerning trend of celebrity disconnection from average fans’ experiences.

FIFA under Infantino has expanded the World Cup format and increased the organization’s revenue significantly, but has simultaneously faced criticism for corruption allegations and the decision to award tournament hosting rights to countries with problematic human rights records, such as Qatar in 2022.

The sports business landscape has evolved dramatically in recent years, with increasing commercialization affecting fan experiences across all major sports. Soccer, traditionally considered “the people’s game,” has seen particularly rapid changes, with soaring ticket prices and broadcast packages putting major tournaments increasingly out of reach for working-class supporters who have historically been the sport’s core audience.

For Brady, who is transitioning into a post-playing career that includes broadcasting and various business ventures, this backlash raises questions about his judgment in selecting partnerships and endorsements. As one social media user commented, “I don’t think anything encapsulates the state of the sport in this country more than this.”

The controversy highlights the growing tension between the commercial interests driving modern sports and the passionate fan bases that provide their cultural foundation—a disconnect that Brady’s comments, perhaps inadvertently, have brought into sharp relief.