Donald Trump says it would be a ‘terrible mistake’ to replace Fifa’s Gianni Infantino

Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Gianni Infantino's leadership of FIFA, declaring it would be a "tremendous mistake" to remove the Swiss administrator from his position as the global football governing body's president. Trump's backing comes amid mounting pressure on Infantino following the collapse of his ambitious plan to privatize stakes in the FIFA Men's World Cup tournament. The former and current US president praised Infantino as "fantastic" in a Truth Social post, signaling strong political support during a period of significant scrutiny on FIFA's direction and decision-making processes.

Infantino's contentious proposal aimed to sell partial ownership stakes in the World Cup to private investors, a scheme designed to generate substantial revenue for FIFA and participating federations. The plan generated fierce opposition from national football associations, players' unions, and fan organizations worldwide, who argued the move would fundamentally alter the competition's structure and values. Since taking office in 2016, Infantino has overseen major changes including expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams beginning in 2026, a decision that increased tournament matches from 64 to 80 fixtures and raised global broadcasting revenue significantly.

Trump's intervention adds an unexpected political dimension to FIFA's internal governance debates, potentially influencing how member associations approach leadership decisions at the organization's next congress. While Infantino faces criticism from certain quarters regarding his commercial strategies and administrative approach, retaining support from major world leaders strengthens his position considerably. The FIFA presidency election cycle occurs every four years, with the next scheduled opportunity for membership to challenge incumbent leadership occurring well into Infantino's current mandate, providing stability for his strategic initiatives regarding future tournament formats and commercial arrangements.