FIFA President Gianni Infantino sought support from the Trump administration after his plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights collapsed, according to the New York Post.
The proposal aimed to spin off FIFA's commercial assets into a new entity backed by private investors. However, the initiative failed due to resistance from stakeholders.
The amount Infantino aimed to unlock from private investors
The plan involved selling a roughly 20 per cent stake in a new entity that would oversee competitions, including the World Cup.
The New York Post reported that Infantino repeatedly tried to reach US President Donald Trump by phone but failed to do so after the proposal collapsed on a Friday. The report stated Infantino turned to Trump to save his job amid a revolt regarding the privatisation plan.
Following the collapse, Infantino scheduled private talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with sources confirming a call was set for just after 9 a.m. ET.
Infantino felt 'isolated' due to negative media coverage.
The 56-year-old president's bid for another term as FIFA president from 2027 to 2031 faces increased scrutiny following the failed initiative.
FIFA had no immediate comment regarding the reports, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
