Trump backs Infantino and warns FIFA against making a “serious mistake”

13:20

By: Azzat Manal

Trump backs Infantino and warns FIFA against making a “serious mistake”

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly defended FIFA President Gianni Infantino, warning that replacing the football governing body’s leader would be a major mistake amid growing criticism of his leadership.

In a statement published on Truth Social on Monday evening, Trump described Infantino as an outstanding leader and argued that FIFA would make a serious error if it considered replacing him. The intervention comes as several football organizations have expressed opposition to a controversial investment proposal associated with the FIFA president.

Trump also praised Infantino’s management of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. president said the tournament had been highly successful and argued that FIFA would struggle to reproduce the same level of success and profitability without Infantino at the helm.

The comments underline the close relationship that has developed between Trump and Infantino in recent years. The FIFA president presented Trump with the organization’s Peace Prize in December 2025, an award that had been created specifically for the occasion.

Their relationship also attracted attention during the 2026 World Cup, when Trump reportedly asked Infantino to review a red-card decision involving a player from the U.S. national team. The episode further highlighted the unusual level of access between the two figures.

Infantino is seeking another term as FIFA president, but his position has come under increasing pressure following the emergence of a controversial proposal to allow greater private-sector investment in the organization’s competitions.

Although the plan was eventually abandoned, it triggered criticism from several football associations concerned about the potential implications for the governance and commercial structure of the sport’s most important competitions.

The controversy has also exposed differences within North American football. The U.S. Soccer Federation issued criticism of Infantino, while the Canadian federation and several football organizations from Central America and the Caribbean have also voiced opposition.

Trump’s intervention therefore places him at odds with parts of the football establishment in the region. His support could nevertheless strengthen Infantino’s position as the FIFA president seeks to maintain political and institutional backing ahead of the next stage of his leadership.

The dispute highlights the growing intersection between football, global sports governance and commercial interests. FIFA’s leadership faces the challenge of balancing the financial opportunities offered by private investment with concerns about transparency, institutional independence and the role of national and regional football associations.