Donald Trump issues strong warning to FIFA over Gianni Infantino’s future
Donald Trump has publicly defended Gianni Infantino and warned FIFA against replacing its president as opposition to his controversial World Cup commercial plan intensifies.
US President Donald Trump has warned FIFA against removing Gianni Infantino, describing any attempt to replace the organisation’s president as a “terrible mistake”.
Trump made the remarks on Truth Social as Infantino faces mounting pressure from football’s governing bodies over his controversial commercial plans.
Trump praised Infantino’s leadership and credited him with overseeing what he described as the most successful World Cup ever.
He also argued that FIFA’s future tournaments would not achieve the same level of success or profitability if the Swiss-Italian administrator left his position.
Infantino has come under intense scrutiny following FIFA’s proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial entity that would combine tournament operations with broadcasting, sponsorship, licensing and other commercial rights.
The plan included the possibility of minority investment from private investors.
The proposal triggered strong opposition across football, with UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC accusing FIFA’s leadership of damaging trust. The three confederations issued a joint letter calling for leadership that serves football rather than seeks to control it.
FIFA subsequently abandoned the proposal following widespread resistance. The governing body said the initiative was no longer being pursued, while also defending its commitment to good governance and insisting that its integrity should be protected.
The controversy has nevertheless continued to threaten Infantino’s position. Reports indicate that UEFA and the other confederations are exploring their options amid concerns over how the proposal was handled and the wider direction of FIFA under his leadership.
Trump’s intervention now adds another significant voice to the dispute, placing his public support for Infantino directly against growing opposition from several of FIFA’s continental confederations.
The confrontation could further intensify the debate over Infantino’s leadership ahead of FIFA’s next presidential election.
