Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to a report by the New York Post.
The two men have collaborated in the past, notably on organizing the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted in the United States. During this period, Infantino's FIFA utilized office space within Trump Tower in New York City. Sources cited by the Post suggest Trump views Infantino as someone "respected by everyone around the world" with a "special ability to bring people together."
This endorsement comes as current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of Portugal is slated to retire at the end of the year. The selection process for the next Secretary-General involves endorsement from the 15 members of the UN Security Council, with the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—holding veto power. The General Assembly then votes to confirm a candidate.
Infantino's potential candidacy could disrupt the established precedent of geographic rotation, which currently favors candidates from Latin America, South America, or the Caribbean. Several candidates from these regions have already received official nominations, including former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency and are considered front-runners.
Infantino, a Swiss national, is also currently preparing to run for re-election as FIFA president in March. He earns approximately $6 million annually as FIFA president, a figure that would see a significant reduction to $418,000 if he were to assume the UN Secretary-General role.
Infantino and FIFA have faced criticism regarding various political, economic, and social issues that have surrounded recent World Cup tournaments. The White House has also previously reduced its contributions to the UN and withdrawn from several affiliated organizations during Trump's presidency.