As World Cup 2026 kicks off, Gianni Infantino’s grip on international football is total. Infantino was brought in to clean up Fifa’s image after the murky Sepp Blatter years, to restore transparency and boost the game globally. But if Fifa thought it was getting a self-effacing, legally trained bureaucrat who would stay in the background, it was very wrong. Now after 10 years at the helm, he is Fifa. So how has he dealt with the many complex controversies surrounding the tournament? Why is it the biggest ever World Cup, spread over three countries? How can he be a friend to all, at all times, from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin? And how long will Infantino stay president of world football?Irish Times sports correspondent Gavin Cooney discusses his rise to the top of the international game. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.