Trump Warns FIFA Against Removing Infantino as President
US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that replacing Gianni Infantino as FIFA president would be a terrible mistake. Infantino has faced pressure after a failed plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. Trump described Infantino as 'fantastic'.
Trump's intervention followed Infantino's abandoned proposal to create Fifa Forward Enterprise, a company intended to manage tournament operations while selling roughly 20% of its shares to private backers. Infantino has since apologized for the scheme, which sparked widespread backlash.
Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation, and Concacaf have jointly accused Infantino of deception. These bodies have discussed staging their own competitions and previously threatened a boycott, while urging an independent review and hoping he steps down before next year's election.
This dispute could reshape global football governance, potentially fragmenting the sport if regional bodies create rival tournaments. Fans may face disrupted schedules or reduced access to marquee events. Trump's direct involvement highlights how sports leadership is increasingly entangled with international politics, which could influence other governments' responses to the crisis. The outcome may determine whether commercial interests or traditional confederations hold sway over the sport's future.