Donald Trump supports Gianni Infantino’s management at the head of FIFA
Former United States President Donald Trump has come to the defense of Gianni Infantino, the current president of FIFA, at a crucial moment when the leader is facing unprecedented pressure. Various international confederations have questioned the direction of the world football governing body, demanding structural changes and greater transparency.
Through his digital platform, Trump described any attempt to remove Infantino as a catastrophic mistake. The U.S. president highlighted the organizational success and historic profitability achieved during the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, asserting that Infantino’s continuity is key to maintaining those standards of excellence in future editions.
FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if it considered replacing Infantino. His leadership has been fundamental to the success of the most important events in global football.
Donald Trump
The institutional crisis and the rejection of the FFE project
Tension at FIFA escalated due to the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, a proposal that sought to cede 20% of the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors for a sum close to 4.2 billion dollars. The initiative was withdrawn following massive rejection from UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
- Lack of prior consultation with member federations.
- Demand for an independent review of the project’s management.
- Concern regarding the violation of governance principles.
Divisions and alliances in world football
The current landscape reflects a deep fracture between the confederations. While the United States and Canadian federations have aligned with the critics, Mexico has shown its support for the Italo-Swiss leader. Despite strong opposition in Europe and Asia, Infantino retains solid backing from the African and South American federations, which proves decisive for his tenure.
Trump’s intervention adds a political nuance to this dispute, once again questioning the principle of neutrality that should govern the sports organization. With 211 national associations under scrutiny, FIFA’s future will be defined in the coming months through a power struggle that will test the stability of its current leadership.
