President Donald Trump issued a strong endorsement of FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Monday, cautioning the organization that any move to replace him would constitute a terrible mistake, according to the Arab Times. In his Truth Social post, the US president described Infantino as fantastic and credited him with delivering the most successful World Cup ever, by a factor of four, warning that its success and profitability would never recover if he were removed. The intervention comes at a time of significant internal tension within FIFA over a controversial and now abandoned proposal to sell stakes in its commercial rights to private equity firms.
The joint open letter from UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF, released the same day, sharply criticized the handling of the plan as a fundamental breach of trust and accused an individual of placing himself above the collective, a Reuters report detailed. The confederations stated that such actions amounted to abandoning the duty granted by those institutions, escalating calls for greater accountability in the sport’s governing body. This opposition followed earlier rejections by several member associations, including threats of boycotts from European teams.
In response to the backlash, FIFA convened a crisis meeting in Morocco where it issued an apology for procedural mistakes and declared the private equity proposal off the table. The organization reaffirmed full support for Infantino’s leadership while committing to measures that would protect its integrity, governance and reputation. These developments mark a significant retreat from the initiative that had aimed to create a $20 billion commercial subsidiary through minority stake sales.
Infantino has presided over FIFA since winning election in February 2016, with a subsequent reelection in 2023 that extended his tenure, FIFA’s historical records confirm. His time in office has seen the federation achieve substantial financial growth, with the cycle including the 2022 Qatar World Cup producing revenues of more than 7.5 billion dollars according to the body’s published figures. That tournament set new benchmarks for viewership and commercial returns, providing a foundation for the expanded 48-team 2026 edition co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
Trump’s vocal backing introduces an unexpected political element to the governance debate, particularly as the United States prepares for its role in the upcoming World Cup. The president’s comments emphasized the unparalleled success and profitability achieved under Infantino, framing any leadership change as detrimental to FIFA’s future prospects. Additional confederations have weighed in on the matter, with the African body CAF voicing its continued support for the president following the Morocco meeting, an ESPN analysis noted.
The proposal had sought to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise as a vehicle for enhanced funding toward global football development, though it encountered swift resistance from key stakeholders. Prior to its withdrawal, CONCACAF’s 41 member nations had formally rejected the model, joining UEFA in opposition to the equity involvement. FIFA now faces the task of rebuilding confidence among its member associations while navigating the heightened scrutiny on its decision-making processes.
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