FIFA Crisis: Trump Backs Infantino, Warns Against Removing FIFA President

United States President Donald Trump has publicly backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino amid growing pressure on the football administrator, warning that removing him from office would be a major mistake.

According to Ireporter Online, Infantino is facing mounting criticism over allegations concerning an inappropriate workplace relationship and controversy surrounding a proposed plan to bring private investors into World Cup-related commercial activities.

Trump expressed his support for the FIFA president in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he described Infantino as a highly effective leader and praised the success of recent FIFA tournaments.

The US president argued that replacing Infantino could have a negative impact on the organisation’s future and its ability to stage commercially successful competitions.

Trump’s position places him at odds with US Soccer, which has joined Canada Soccer and several football organisations across Central America and the Caribbean in raising concerns about Infantino’s leadership.

Despite the criticism, Infantino continues to enjoy support from several influential football bodies, including the Confederation of African Football and South America’s CONMEBOL.

The FIFA president, who is seeking another term in office next March, has denied allegations of wrongdoing and maintained that he remains committed to leading the organisation.

FIFA’s leadership has also defended Infantino, describing the criticism as part of an ongoing effort by some individuals to undermine the governing body.

At the centre of the current controversy is a proposed commercial initiative that would have opened aspects of the World Cup and Club World Cup to private financial investors.

Under the plan, FIFA intended to establish a new commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, which was projected to be valued at about $20 billion and generate approximately $4.2 billion in upfront revenue.

The proposal included plans to provide FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-time payment of $20 million by early 2027, while increasing their regular funding for the 2027–2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.

Rather than receiving widespread support, the proposal triggered strong opposition within the football community. UEFA reportedly threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plan proceeded.

Amid the backlash, Infantino withdrew the proposal and acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the handling of the initiative.

Following a crisis meeting in Morocco, FIFA’s senior leadership reaffirmed its support for Infantino while acknowledging shortcomings in the way the proposal was managed.

The organisation said errors occurred after details of the plan were leaked to the media but maintained that Infantino remained the appropriate person to lead FIFA into the future.

With Infantino seeking re-election, the growing divisions within global football are expected to keep the controversy in the spotlight as stakeholders debate the future direction of FIFA.