Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed FIFA President Gianni Infantino, calling him "fantastic" and warning that ousting him would be a "terrible mistake" that could lead to financial ruin for the organization. Trump's statement, posted on Truth Social, suggested that FIFA would not achieve the same level of success or profitability without Infantino.
The endorsement comes as Infantino faces significant pressure and allegations of deception from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF. These governing bodies accused Infantino of breaking trust through deception related to a now-abandoned proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors, including Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The confederations called for an independent review of his conduct, stating that "football's strength has always been its unity" and urging leadership that "serves football, not seeks to command it."
FIFA released a statement on Saturday criticizing what it called a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine both the organization and Infantino. UEFA announced it would continue to boycott FIFA competitions if Infantino remained in charge, following his controversial plans to sell stakes in the World Cup. The Norwegian Football Federation's president also called for Infantino's resignation.
However, Infantino has received support from other football federations, including Mexico, Argentina, Qatar, Paraguay, Morocco, and Egypt. Infantino is also facing allegations regarding a "departure payment" made by UEFA to a former employee with whom he was reportedly in a relationship while general secretary of the European body. UEFA confirmed a payment was made, while FIFA denied the allegation.
The next FIFA presidential elections are scheduled for March. Reports suggested Infantino had been seeking to align with U.S. political figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to bolster his position. However, an Assistant Secretary of State denied plans for such a call, stating the reports were inaccurate. A FIFA spokesperson also denied that Infantino had contacted the U.S. President or his administration, calling such claims "pure fiction."
Trump's prior comments have often been positive regarding Infantino's leadership, particularly in relation to the success of the 2026 World Cup. The "four times" remark in Trump's statement likely refers to the significant increase in viewership for the 2026 World Cup compared to the 2022 event.
