Former U.S. President Donald Trump has taken to his Truth Social platform to caution the world football governing body that ousting its current chief, Gianni Infantino, would be a grave mistake.
In a post early Tuesday, Trump praised Infantino’s stewardship of the sport, especially highlighting the unprecedented financial and popular success of the most recent men’s World Cup, which he described as the most lucrative tournament ever staged, delivering four times the revenue of previous editions. Trump warned that removing the Swiss‑based president would jeopardise future profitability and could diminish the tournament's global appeal. The criticism of Infantino stems from his ill‑fated attempt to commercialise a portion of the World Cup by creating a new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and selling roughly 20 percent of the competition’s commercial rights to private investors. The proposal sparked outrage across the sport’s continental confederations.
UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) each issued an open letter denouncing the plan as a breach of trust and a fundamental error in judgment. While the letters did not name Infantino directly, they condemned a leader who had "abandoned their duty" and "deceived" the football family.
The three‑page statements reiterated that the effort to monetize the World Cup was not a mere procedural slip but a serious violation of the fiduciary responsibilities FIFA owes to its 211 member associations. They argued that the attempt to sell a stake in the tournament represented a "profound failure of judgment" and threatened the integrity of the sport’s most iconic event. The confederations also expressed disappointment with the way a recent FIFA Management Committee meeting was conducted in Morocco, noting that the gathering concluded with a public endorsement of Infantino rather than addressing broader governance concerns at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich. In response, US Soccer and Canada Soccer – two of the three national federations that co‑hosted the 2026 World Cup – issued statements calling for substantive reforms.
They urged FIFA to improve transparency, strengthen governance structures, and increase accountability to its members. The joint communiqué from US Soccer, Canada Soccer, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) emphasized a shared desire for meaningful change that would protect the sport’s global mission. FIFA itself has pushed back against the criticism, accusing detractors of mounting a coordinated campaign to undermine the president and the organization.
A FIFA press release asserted that those who lack the backing of member associations should not resort to "allegation, insinuation or misinformation" to achieve their aims. The statement highlighted Infantino’s three‑decade career in European and world football, noting his contributions to expanding access, resources, and opportunities across the game.
It warned that while change can threaten entrenched interests, it does not justify attempts to subvert the democratic processes that elected the president. The controversy also revived past allegations concerning Infantino’s personal conduct during his tenure as UEFA general secretary.
UEFA confirmed that a "departure payment" had been made to a female employee who was alleged to have had a relationship with Infantino. According to reports, the payment amounted to a six‑figure sum and covered tuition for an MBA program, actions that UEFA said were consistent with its regulations at the time. This revelation added another layer of scrutiny to Infantino’s leadership, although FIFA’s official response focused on defending the president’s overall record rather than addressing the specific claim. Trump’s intervention in the debate reflects his broader pattern of commenting on international affairs and high‑profile organizations.
By characterising Infantino as "fantastic" and insisting that the World Cup would never again reach the same level of success without him, Trump aligned himself with the president’s supporters and underscored the economic stakes tied to the tournament’s commercial model. His remarks also served as a reminder that political figures can influence public perception of sports governance, especially when financial interests are at play.
The situation remains fluid. UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC have signalled that they will continue to monitor FIFA’s actions and may pursue further measures, including potential boycotts of FIFA competitions, if their concerns are not addressed. Meanwhile, FIFA has pledged to focus on its core mission of promoting football worldwide, emphasizing that the organization will not be diverted from its work by "inaccurate or misleading" reporting. As the debate unfolds, the key questions revolve around whether FIFA will revisit its commercial strategy for the World Cup, how the confederations will enforce accountability, and what role, if any, external voices like Trump’s will play in shaping the future of football governance.
The outcome will likely have lasting implications for the sport’s financial structure, its global reach, and the balance of power between the governing body and its constituent members.