FIFA President Gianni Infantino is reportedly seeking assistance from former President Donald Trump as he fights to retain his position amid a crisis triggered by his now-scrapped plan to sell a stake in the World Cup. Infantino is scheduled to speak with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday morning in what sources suggest is an effort to secure allies and bolster his leadership.
The controversy erupted after The Times reported Infantino's proposal to sell a $4.2 billion stake in FIFA's flagship tournament to a private equity firm led by Joshua Kushner. The plan faced significant opposition and has since been withdrawn, with UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation expressing disapproval.
An insider told the New York Post that Infantino's focus is on "job protection" and leveraging "soccer as soft power for America." Another source described Infantino as feeling "isolated" by the negative reaction to his proposal and actively looking for "allies of note to publicly support him."
This reported outreach to Trump comes after the former president publicly distanced himself from the plan. When asked if Infantino had consulted him, Trump initially responded with "Who?" before stating he had not spoken with Infantino about the proposal. This contrasts with earlier instances where Trump had expressed positive views of the FIFA president.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seeking a fourth term. However, his authority has been challenged by the recent controversy. England, Wales, and Finland are among the nations that have explicitly withdrawn their support for his re-election bid, with more UEFA nations expected to follow. Prior to the sale plan, Infantino had reportedly secured endorsements from nearly all of FIFA's 211 member associations.
Two of Infantino's close associates have resigned in the wake of the controversy: senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro, who had served as FIFA's liaison to the White House during the World Cup, and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour.
While UEFA and CONCACAF have called for Infantino's resignation, their efforts to remove him have encountered resistance. Kuwait, Qatar, Sri Lanka, and Lebanon have reiterated their confidence in his leadership. These continental confederations, along with African and South American nations, represent a significant bloc of support that could prevent a vote of no confidence, despite opposition from Europe and CONCACAF.