The President of the United States defended the head of the organization, who is seeking reelection in 2027 and came under pressure after the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise project
The future of Gianni Infantino at the helm of FIFA has begun to be embroiled in a political dispute just months before the organization's presidential elections. While different sectors of world football question his leadershipand demand a change in leadership, there are still figures who defend his management. One of them is none other than Donald Trump, who publicly came to the defense of the Italian-Swiss leader.
"FIFA would make a terrible mistake if, for any reason, it even considered for a moment replacing its president Gianni Infantino", wrote the U.S. president on his Truth Social network, in a strong endorsement of the head of the organization.
Trump's post on Truth Social
Trump described Infantino as a "fantastic" person and particularly highlighted his role during the 2026 World Cup, organized by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. "He just presided over the most successful World Cup", he stated, adding that if the leader leaves office, "the competition would never again know such success or profitability".
The support from the U.S. president came at a time of increasing tension within international football, following the controversy generated by a FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project promoted by Infantino himself that contemplated the possibility of incorporating private investors into the competitions organized by the organization. The initiative was ultimately abandoned, but it exposed the differences between the leader and various sectors of the leadership.
In this context, UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC released an open letter questioning the power dynamics within FIFA and called on the "football family" to support a change in leadership. "Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about retaining - or demanding - power for oneself", the three confederations stated. They added: "When trust is broken through deceit, when an individual places themselves above the collective that entrusted them with authority, that duty has been abandoned".
Infantino found himself in the eye of the storm after the failed FFE project
The demand, however, did not manage to unite all of international football. The CONMEBOLand CAF, considered two of Infantino's main supporters, did not endorse the document, nor did the OFC. Even within CONCACAF there were differences, with the federations of the United States (U.S. Soccer Federation) and Canada (Canadian Soccer Association) supporting the letter, but the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) distanced itself from the confederation's stance and reaffirmed its support for the current FIFA president.
With elections scheduled for March 2027, the scenario becomes even more significant. Infantino, who has held the presidency since 2016, is so far the only declared candidate and will seek to garner support for a new four-year term.
