U.S. President Donald Trump said FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if the organization considered replacing President Gianni Infantino.
The endorsement comes as Infantino faces growing calls for his resignation. Trump's public support adds a high-profile political layer to the internal turmoil currently surrounding the global governing body of soccer.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said that "FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino" [1]. He said that replacing the chief would be a terrible mistake [3].
Trump linked Infantino's leadership directly to the financial and operational success of the sport's premier tournament. He said that Infantino is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times [4], ever presented.
According to Trump, the removal of the current president would jeopardize the future of the organization's revenue streams. He said that if Infantino is gone, the event will never be as successful or profitable again [4].
This public defense occurs as Infantino remains under pressure regarding a private sale controversy [1]. While critics have called for a change in leadership, Trump's comments emphasize a preference for the current administration's track record of profitability, and the demands for resignation.
FIFA has not issued a formal response to the president's comments. The organization continues to manage the fallout from the controversies that have sparked the current calls for Infantino to step down.
“"FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino."”
The intervention of a U.S. president in FIFA's internal leadership struggle highlights the intersection of global sports governance and political influence. By framing the issue around profitability and success metrics rather than ethics or governance, Trump is positioning Infantino as an indispensable executive, potentially complicating the efforts of those seeking his resignation.
