US President Donald Trump stated that FIFA would be making a 'terrible mistake' if it considered replacing President Gianni Infantino. In a Truth Social post, Trump described Infantino as 'fantastic' and claimed the FIFA President had presided over a World Cup that was four times more successful than previous iterations.
Trump further stated that if Infantino leaves his position, the World Cup 'will never be as successful or profitable again!'
Estimated revenue generated by the 2026 World Cup.
Calls for leadership change
Infantino has faced pressure to resign following a controversial and abandoned plan to open FIFA to private investors. The proposed plan involved a commercial subsidiary known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would have allowed third-party investors to purchase stakes of up to 20% in FIFA's commercial operations and events. The project, which reportedly had backing from Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital, was ultimately not implemented.
UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC issued a joint letter calling for a change in FIFA leadership. The confederations accused Infantino of a 'fundamental breach of trust' and 'deception' regarding the aborted investment project.
'trust' had been 'broken through deception'
While according to reports, the US and Canada expressed a demand on X for 'significant changes to strengthen FIFA governance,' other groups have maintained their support. The Confederation of African Football has unanimously reconfirmed its support for Infantino, and the national federations of Argentina, Mexico, and Qatar have also expressed public support.
Political and judicial ties
According to reports, the relationship between Trump and Infantino dates back to 2018, when Trump hosted the FIFA President at the White House. In December 2025, Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural 'FIFA Peace Prize.'
Trump has also engaged with Infantino on football matters, including a call to discuss the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun. Regarding that matter, Infantino stated that the decision was taken by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and noted that FIFA's judicial bodies are 'independent.'
FIFA has denied reports that Infantino sought support from the White House regarding his investment plan, calling such reports 'fabricated.'
Future outlook
Infantino is reportedly seeking re-election as FIFA President in March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. During an event, Infantino reportedly confirmed that FIFA would build an academy and a 20,000-seat stadium in Gaza.
