U.S. President Donald J. Trump has publicly backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino amid mounting pressure on the football governing body’s leadership, warning that removing him would be a “terrible mistake.”
In a post on Truth Social on Monday night, President Trump wrote: “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino. He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!”
The comments mark President Trump’s first public defense of Infantino since revelations emerged in late July of the aborted FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. That plan sought to create a new company to manage commercial and operational rights for FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, and sell an approximately 20-21% stake to private investors. Thrive Eternal, a venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner (brother of Jared Kushner), was reported as a potential lead investor.
The proposal triggered widespread criticism. On Monday, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued an open letter accusing Infantino of breaking trust “through deception,” stating he had “placed himself above the collective,” and calling for a fully independent review of the events. The letter stopped short of an explicit demand for resignation but reflected deep dissatisfaction among major confederations. U.S. Soccer and Canada Soccer aligned with the joint statement, while other bodies, including CONMEBOL and the Confederation of African Football, have expressed continued support for Infantino.
Infantino, who faces re-election in March 2027, has apologized for the handling of the FFE process and withdrawn the plan, acknowledging errors while maintaining the proposal itself was not inherently wrong. FIFA has defended its president against what it describes as efforts to undermine the organization.
President Trump and Infantino have maintained a close relationship in recent years. Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025. The two appeared together at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19, where Spain defeated Argentina and Trump helped present the trophy. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has been widely described as highly successful commercially.
The intervention by the U.S. President comes as Infantino navigates one of the most significant challenges of his tenure, with some European and other football officials exploring options including rival competitions or potential leadership changes.