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Trump backs Infantino, says it would be ‘terrible mistake’ to replace FIFA president
United States president Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind the president of world football governing body FIFA, Gianni Infantino, who is currently facing criticisms on attempting to open up the World Cup to private investment.
Infantino who would be vying for reelection next March, has denied allegations of wrongdoing, with FIFA calling the backlash “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” the organisation.
Football organisations, including the Confederation of African Football and South American governing body CONMEBOL, have also shown support for Infantino.
A few others such as US, Canada and Central America and the Caribbean football bodies have issued statements criticising the football governing body’s decision.
FIFA had floated the privatisation plan, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which was proposed to run the World Cup and Club World Cup.
While there has been pressure and calls for Infantino to step down over the proposal, FIFA’s president last Wednesday received support from the body’s senior directors, with FIFA apologizing for the controversy surrounding the now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment.
In his support for Infantino, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” noting that the embattled president “presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times,” ever organized.
“If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again,” Trump wrote.
FIFA’s leadership which had earlier backed Infantino acknowledged “that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media,” noting that the project, if approved, would provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.
The backlash resulting from the proposed plan resulted in European football governing body UEFA opting to boycott the FIFA World Cup.
Infantino however shelved the plan, stating: “Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve.”
