Trump warns FIFA against removing Infantino

US President Donald Trump has warned FIFA against replacing Gianni Infantino, saying the football governing body would make a “terrible mistake” by removing its president.

Trump’s comments come amid growing pressure on Infantino from three major football confederations over a controversial proposal that could have transferred part of FIFA’s commercial and ticketing rights to a private investment group.

The US president made his position clear in a social media post, becoming the latest high-profile figure to publicly back Infantino as tensions rise within world football.

Trump praises Infantino’s leadership

“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote.

“He is fantastic, having just 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 intervention follows criticism from UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, which accused Infantino of damaging trust over the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise.

The plan, which was abandoned after becoming public, would have created a separate company to oversee commercial and ticketing rights for Fifa competitions, including the World Cup. A 21% stake in the proposed company was expected to be sold to a private investment group.

The proposed investors were reportedly expected to be led by Thrive Capital, the US venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Confederations step up pressure

UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC issued a joint statement accusing FIFA of failing to protect the interests of its member associations.

“When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned,” the confederations said.

Although Infantino was not named directly, sources indicated that the statement was intended to increase pressure on him to resign.

UEFA has also threatened to boycott FIFA competitions and pursue legal action over the proposed commercial structure.

There have reportedly been preliminary discussions about possible breakaway competitions if Infantino remains in office, although no substantive negotiations have taken place.

Infantino has maintained a close relationship with Trump. In December 2025, he presented the US president with FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize.