US President Donald Trump on Monday backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is in hot water over allegations of a workplace affair and criticism of a failed private investment scheme.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, calling the Italian-Swiss lawyer “fantastic” and saying he “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!”
Trump’s backing of Infantino contrasts with the response of US Soccer, which issued a statement critiquing the FIFA leader alongside Canada Soccer and football organisations in Central America and the Caribbean.
Infantino, who faces reelection next March, has denied allegations of wrongdoing, and FIFA, for their part, has backed its besieged president, calling the backlash “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” the organisation.
Other football organisations, including the Confederation of African Football and South American governing body CONMEBOL, share Trump’s position in supporting Infantino.
FIFA floated the plan, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.
Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within his organisation, over his handling of the proposal, and calls for him to step down have grown since he abandoned the plan.
Infantino received the “full support” of FIFA’s senior directors last Wednesday, as the world football governing body apologised for the controversy surrounding the now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment.
Facing a barrage of criticism following the aborted plan, FIFA’s leadership acknowledged “errors”, while nonetheless backing under-fire Infantino following a crisis meeting in Morocco.
In a statement Wednesday, FIFA’s leadership acknowledged “that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media”.
It said that, if approved, the project could provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.
Instead of acting as a sweetener, it produced a furious backlash, with European football’s governing body UEFA resorting on Thursday to the nuclear option of boycotting the sport’s jewel in the crown, the World Cup.
Two weeks ago, Infantino held his hands up and withdrew the plan.
“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve,” said Infantino.
