US President Donald Trump has publicly thrown his support behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino, delivering a major show of confidence in the under-fire football chief as pressure continues to build following the collapse of FIFA’s controversial Forward Enterprise plans.
US President Donald Trump with FIFA President Gianni InfantinoTrump made his position clear on Tuesday, warning that removing Infantino from his position would be a “terrible mistake.” The US president praised the FIFA chief and pointed to the success of the 2026 World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Trump said Infantino had overseen what he described as the most successful World Cup ever and argued that FIFA would struggle to achieve the same level of commercial success without him.
The intervention comes at a particularly difficult moment for Infantino. FIFA recently abandoned its controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have created a new commercial structure and allowed private investors to acquire a stake in the commercial rights associated with the World Cup.
The proposal faced fierce resistance from football's governing bodies, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF among those criticizing the process. The confederations have accused FIFA of acting without sufficient consultation and described the proposal as a serious breach of trust.
FIFA eventually withdrew the plan after widespread opposition. Infantino also apologized, while senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, saying he could not support the idea of selling a stake in the World Cup.
The collapse of the project has placed Infantino under unprecedented pressure ahead of FIFA's presidential election scheduled for March 2027. Several football officials and national associations have questioned his leadership, while calls for greater accountability within FIFA have intensified.
Trump's public intervention could therefore prove significant. The US president has developed a close relationship with Infantino, particularly during preparations for and the staging of the 2026 World Cup. His latest comments represent one of the strongest public endorsements of the FIFA president at a time when opposition to his leadership is growing.
However, the support also adds another political dimension to an increasingly contentious battle over FIFA's future. Critics of Infantino may view Trump's involvement as further evidence of the close relationship between football's governing body and political leaders.
Infantino, meanwhile, appears determined to remain in control. Despite the criticism surrounding the failed Forward Enterprise initiative, he continues to have support among a significant number of FIFA's member associations. Reports indicate that he still has a path toward seeking another term, although the growing opposition from major confederations could make the road to re-election considerably more difficult.
