FIFA President Gianni Infantino reportedly tried to roll into Canada like a head of state — and got shut down.
Ahead of FIFA’s annual congress in Vancouver, the soccer boss asked Canadian authorities for a “level four escort,” according to The Times—a high-powered motorcade setup that allows vehicles to blow through red lights and block off roads.
That kind of treatment isn’t typical for sports executives. It’s typically reserved for the president of the United States.
Even more eyebrow-raising: the requested escort would have outranked the one given to Canada’s own prime minister. It sits just below the level used for the pope — and above the country’s top elected official.
Vancouver police declined the request.
Infantino’s visit comes as Canada prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, with matches set to begin in just weeks. The tournament will be the largest in World Cup history, expanding to 48 teams and stretching across multiple cities in all three countries.
Vancouver is one of Canada’s key host cities, expected to draw massive crowds and global attention as the tournament ramps up.
But this isn’t the first time Infantino has pushed for VIP treatment abroad.
During the 2023 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, FIFA made a similar request for a police motorcade — only to be turned down.
“New Zealand police received a request” for a police escort, officials said at the time, but it “was declined after assessing it against standard operating procedures.”
New Zealand reserves motorcades for heads of state and select dignitaries — standards that, once again, didn’t apply.
With world leaders, celebrities, and massive security operations already in motion for the 2026 tournament, Infantino’s reported ask underscores the growing tension between FIFA’s global stature — and how far that status actually goes on the ground.
READ NEXT: Illegal Immigrant Advocacy Group Received Millions In Taxpayer Funds
Sponsored
