Donald Trump has declared his support for the Swiss-Italian president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, at a time when pressure is mounting from a number of football federations calling for changes in leadership.
On Monday evening, the US president wrote on Truth Social platform that FIFA would be making a “huge mistake” if it considered replacing “fantastic” Infantino.
He added that Infantino had led “the most successful World Cup“, hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, warning that his departure would mean the tournament “would never again see such success or such profitability”.
Infantino has a fan in the president
Trump’s stance represents a renewal of the political support that Infantino enjoys from the US president, at a time when Infantino faces one of the most difficult crises since he took office in 2016.
It stems from a controversial proposal through which Infantino sought to open the door to private investment in FIFA and the rights to organise its competitions. The proposal was abandoned under widespread pressure.
FIFA subsequently acknowledged that there had been ‘mistakes’ in the way the project had been prepared in secret, but this failed to quell the anger of a number of continental federations.
Then, this week, it was reported that Infantino could be subject to an investigation relating to his time at UEFA.
During the 2026 World Cup, he also intervened in the case of a red card shown to a player from the US national team, asking the FIFA president to review the sanction, which resulted in the suspension being amended.
Last December, Trump also presented Infantino with the FIFA Peace Prize, before the World Cup draw.
UEFA and others step up campaign against FIFA boss
In response to US support, UEFA alongside the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation, issued a joint open letter reiterating their rejection of the way the crisis has been managed. They called for fundamental changes to FIFA’s leadership.
The federations emphasised that football “belongs to no one”, stressing that leadership “is not about holding on to or claiming power, but rather a duty to serve the football family”.
The federations regarded FIFA’s attempt to relinquish a share of the World Cup rights as a “serious misjudgement” and a “fundamental breach of trust” towards the institutions that the international federation is supposed to serve.
Nonetheless, Infantino continues to enjoy the support of the African and South American confederations, as well as Mexico, which has taken a different stance from that of CONCACAF, to which it belongs.
Meanwhile, FIFA has already responded to what it described as attempts to “undermine” the federation and its president.
An election battle looms
Since taking over as FIFA president in 2016, Infantino has faced repeated criticism over a number of decisions and issues, including:
- Awarding the 2018 World Cup to Russia
- Awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar
- Awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia
- Expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams
- Launching Club World Cup in its new format
Before this drama, Infantino appeared to be on course for a fourth and final term as FIFA president, following the success of the 2026 World Cup.
However, the landscape has changed with CONCACAF president, Victor Montagliani, beginning to emerge as a potential rival.
The names of the candidates must be announced by 18 November the election will follow in March 2027.
Featured image via the White House/ Instagram
By Alaa Shamali
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