Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), has received strong and direct support from US President Donald Trump, who warned FIFA officials against considering his removal amidst the escalating crisis within the football institution.
Trump defended Infantino via a message posted on his “Truth Social” platform, praising his management of the 2026 World Cup and hinting at sporting and financial consequences should he depart.
The American intervention comes at a highly sensitive time, as the circle of opposition against the FIFA president has widened to include three of the largest continental confederations, alongside several national federations demanding a change in global football leadership.
Trump’s Full Message of Support for Gianni Infantino
Trump stated: “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if it considered, for any reason, even just thinking about replacing President Gianni Infantino.”
He added: “He is fantastic, having just overseen the most successful World Cup ever presented, by a factor of four. And if he leaves, the tournament will never be this successful or profitable again! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT.”
The message clarifies that Trump is not merely endorsing Infantino’s continuation, but directly linking his presence at the helm of FIFA to the international federation’s ability to achieve commercial success and profits in upcoming tournaments.
Why is Infantino Facing Pressure Within FIFA?
The crisis erupted following the revelation of the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” project, which aimed to establish a commercial company to manage the operational and commercial aspects of FIFA tournaments, with a stake to be sold to private-sector investors.
The project provoked the ire of UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF, who accused FIFA’s leadership of deception and breach of trust, asserting that the management of such an important file occurred without properly involving football institutions.
Infantino was forced to withdraw the project and apologize for the mistakes accompanying its management. However, his retreat did not end the crisis, as Norway demanded his departure, while other federations withdrew their support for his re-election.
Conversely, senior FIFA staff announced their support for Infantino following a crisis meeting held in Morocco. However, the meeting itself faced criticism due to the absence of FIFA Council members and national federations.
A Strong Relationship Between Trump and Infantino
Trump’s support is unsurprising given the close ties between the two parties since Infantino’s first visit to the Oval Office in 2018, before they appeared together at numerous political and sporting events.
The FIFA president also attended Trump’s second inauguration and later presented him with the inaugural “FIFA Peace Award” during the 2026 World Cup draw, a move that sparked criticism regarding the international federation’s commitment to political neutrality.
Trump also intervened in the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, calling Infantino before the penalty was suspended and the player was allowed to participate against Belgium, an incident that remains under investigation.
Is Trump’s Support Enough to Keep Infantino?
Infantino secured the backing of the FIFA management board following a crisis meeting in Morocco, while the international federation accused its critics of waging an organized campaign to oust its president without going through elections and formal procedures.
Infantino remains supported by a large number of federations outside Europe, having increased financial assistance and expanded the World Cup to 48 teams. However, losing the support of Europe, Asia, and CONCACAF makes the upcoming elections significantly more complex.
The FIFA presidential elections are scheduled to be held in March in Rabat, with candidacy applications being accepted until November 18. Therefore, while Trump can provide his ally with political and media cover, he cannot grant him the federation votes that will decide his future.
