U.S. President Donald Trump publicly came to the defense of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and warned that it would be “a serious mistake” to consider his departure from the organization amid the internal crisis currently facing the world of soccer.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Infantino as a “fantastic” leader and highlighted his role in organizing the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“FIFA would make a terrible mistake if, for any reason, it even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” the U.S. president stated.
Trump also asserted that Infantino had just presided over “the most successful World Cup ever held” and issued a warning about what might happen if the leader were to step down.
According to the U.S. president, if Infantino steps down as FIFA president, the tournament “will never again be as successful or profitable.”
Trump’s endorsement comes in the wake of the controversy surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, a proposal to sell a stake in World Cup rights that was ultimately withdrawn amid strong internal opposition.
The crisis escalated after UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF openly criticized Infantino over the project, which called for selling a 20% stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors for approximately $4.2 billion.
The three confederations accused FIFA of acting unilaterally and requested an independent review of the process, arguing that the initiative was proposed without sufficient transparency or consultation with member associations. Infantino subsequently apologized after the project was made public, although the controversy continues.
This situation also takes place against the backdrop of the upcoming FIFA Congress, scheduled for March 2027, where Infantino hopes to remain at the helm of the organization.
Despite criticism from some of the major confederations, the leader retains support within FIFA, primarily in South America and Africa, so he still has a chance of seeking another term.
With his message, Trump is publicly backing Infantino just as the FIFA president faces one of the most intense periods of pressure since he took office in 2016.
The relationship between the two grew particularly strong during the planning of the 2026 World Cup, a tournament that Trump considers a success for his administration.
