U.S. President Donald Trump has warned FIFA against replacing its president, Gianni Infantino, as the football governing body faces mounting pressure over a failed proposal to sell an interest in the World Cup to private equity investors.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.
Trump described Infantino as “fantastic” and claimed he had overseen the most successful World Cup ever held.
“If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again,” Trump added.
Trump’s intervention comes amid an escalating dispute between FIFA and some of football’s most powerful regional governing bodies.
UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation issued a joint open letter on Monday criticising FIFA’s handling of the proposal to sell an interest in the World Cup to private equity investors.
They described the plan as a “fundamental breach of trust” with the organisations FIFA is supposed to serve.
The three confederations accused FIFA’s leadership of deception and warned that its authority had been undermined when an individual placed himself “above the collective that entrusted him with authority”.
FIFA apologised last week for mistakes made in connection with the proposal and confirmed that the plan was “off the table”.
The organisation said senior officials had reaffirmed their full support for Infantino during a crisis meeting in Morocco.
FIFA also said it would take measures to defend its “integrity, good governance and due process” against what it described as attacks on its reputation.
Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump, particularly ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which was hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Trump’s public defence of Infantino adds a political dimension to the dispute, which has exposed deep tensions between FIFA’s leadership and some of the world’s most powerful regional football bodies.
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