Donald Trump publicly backed embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino as UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC jointly called for his resignation over a collapsed plan to sell World Cup commercial rights.
Gianni Infantino’s grip on FIFA’s presidency is facing its most serious challenge yet, but the embattled soccer chief just got a powerful ally in his corner: US President Donald Trump. As three of the sport’s most influential governing bodies publicly demanded Infantino’s exit, Trump used his Truth Social platform to declare that removing him would be nothing short of catastrophic for the organization.
Trump’s Public Show of Support
Writing on Truth Social Monday night, Trump didn’t hold back. “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” he wrote. “He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!”
The timing was notable — Trump’s post landed just one day after UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) jointly issued a pointed letter accusing FIFA’s leadership of a “fundamental breach of trust,” with trust having been “broken through deception,” and calling for new leadership that serves football rather than commands it.
What Sparked the Crisis
At the center of the controversy is FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a now-abandoned plan that would have sold private investors a 20% stake in the commercial rights tied to the World Cup, reportedly valued at around $4.2 billion. The proposal triggered accusations that Infantino was attempting to privatize one of the sport’s most central assets, largely because it had been developed without the knowledge of most senior football officials, bypassing standard organizational procedure entirely.
FIFA has since scrapped the plan and acknowledged that its rollout was mishandled, but the fallout has continued to deepen rather than fade. The controversy also cost FIFA a senior figure: Carlos Cordeiro, who had been serving as a representative for the organization on the White House’s World Cup task force, resigned from his role in protest over how the proposal was handled.
A Growing Institutional Revolt
The joint statement from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC represents an unusually coordinated show of opposition from three of the sport’s most powerful regional confederations. Their letter went beyond simply criticizing the FFE proposal, implying they would welcome Infantino’s resignation ahead of FIFA’s presidential election, scheduled for March at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco.
The pressure hasn’t stopped there. Several national football associations, including those representing England and Wales, have publicly distanced themselves from Infantino’s leadership. UEFA has gone as far as threatening to boycott FIFA competitions and has raised the possibility of pursuing legal action, while U.S. Soccer and Canada Soccer issued a joint statement calling for “meaningful change” focused on strengthening FIFA’s governance, transparency, and accountability.
Not Everyone Has Turned Against Him
Despite the mounting institutional pressure, Infantino’s support hasn’t collapsed entirely. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) delivered a significant counterweight, unanimously endorsing Infantino across all 54 of its member nations — a notable show of continued backing from one of football’s largest regional blocs, even as opposition mounts elsewhere.
FIFA itself has pushed back forcefully against the criticism, releasing a statement claiming there is “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” framing the backlash as a coordinated campaign rather than a legitimate governance concern.
The Trump-Infantino Relationship
Trump’s intervention isn’t happening in a vacuum — the two men have built an unusually close public relationship over the past year, one that has itself drawn scrutiny and raised concerns about FIFA’s independence as a governing body. Trump was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize before this year’s World Cup began, a decision that triggered widespread ridicule internationally. He also appeared alongside Infantino at the World Cup final in New Jersey in July, and the two have been photographed together in the Oval Office, where Infantino presented Trump with the men’s World Cup trophy as Vice President JD Vance looked on.
That closeness has occasionally created friction within FIFA’s own ranks. Members of the FIFA Congress reportedly walked out of last year’s annual meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay, after Infantino arrived several hours late, having chosen to join Trump’s tour of the Middle East instead. Trump has also claimed credit for influencing FIFA’s decision to make US men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun available for the team’s round-of-16 defeat to Belgium during this summer’s World Cup, despite a prior red card that would have otherwise affected his eligibility.
What Happens Next
With FIFA’s presidential election set for March at the Congress in Rabat, the coming months are likely to determine whether Infantino can weather this latest storm. It remains genuinely unclear what, if any, practical influence Trump’s public backing will have on Infantino’s actual re-election campaign, particularly given the coordinated opposition now coming from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC — three confederations that collectively represent a significant share of FIFA’s global membership and voting power.
For now, Infantino finds himself in an unusual position: publicly defended by one of the world’s most prominent political figures, while simultaneously facing a level of institutional pushback from within the sport itself that analysts describe as unprecedented for a sitting FIFA president.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Gianni Infantino facing calls to resign? The pressure stems from FIFA’s now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which would have sold private investors a 20% stake in World Cup commercial rights. The plan was developed without the knowledge of most senior football officials and collapsed after public backlash.
Q: What did Donald Trump say about Infantino? Trump posted on Truth Social that removing Infantino would be a “terrible mistake,” crediting him with overseeing the “most successful World Cup” ever and warning FIFA would lose success and profitability without him.
Q: Which organizations are calling for Infantino to step down? UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) jointly issued a letter accusing FIFA’s leadership of a “fundamental breach of trust” and implying support for Infantino’s resignation before the March 2026 election.
Q: Does Infantino still have any major support? Yes. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously endorsed Infantino across its 54 member nations, providing a significant counterbalance to the opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC.
Q: When is FIFA’s next presidential election? FIFA’s presidential election is scheduled for March, to be held at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco.
