Trump warns FIFA against ousting Infantino amid governance crisis
Donald Trump has declared it a "terrible mistake" to remove Gianni Infantino from his position, following an open letter from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation accusing the FIFA president of deception over the aborted Forward Enterprise proposal.
US President Donald Trump has publicly intervened in the ongoing governance crisis at FIFA, warning the global football governing body that it would make a "terrible mistake" by replacing President Gianni Infantino. The intervention underscores the deepening political fracture within international football as allegations against the president’s leadership intensify.
Speaking on social media, Trump described Infantino as "fantastic," claiming he had presided over the "most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented." The comments mark the first time the US president has defended Infantino since the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plans were revealed on 28 July.
The backing comes in response to an open letter from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation, which accused Infantino of breaking trust "through deception" regarding the aborted FFE proposal. The plan involved creating a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights for all FIFA competitions, with 21 per cent of shares to be sold to a private investment group.
Trump, who received the FIFA Peace Prize from Infantino in 2025, praised the president’s leadership during the 2026 World Cup, which was co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. Spain were crowned champions after defeating Argentina in the final. Trump stated that if Infantino were removed, the tournament would never be as successful or profitable again.
The political alignment within football remains divided. While the three confederations have accused Infantino of a fundamental breach of trust, other major bodies support his tenure. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and South American body CONMEBOL share Trump’s position, aligning with the US president as he faces re-election next March.
Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was expected to lead the investor group for the FFE proposal. When addressing the FFE proposals for the first time on 31 July, Trump said he had not spoken to Infantino about the plans prior to their public disclosure.
FIFA’s management board met in Morocco last Wednesday to back Infantino, after which he apologised over the process of the rejected commercial rights plan. Meanwhile, legal scrutiny continues elsewhere, with attorneys-general from New York and New Jersey having issued a subpoena to FIFA regarding the pricing and seat allocation for the 2026 World Cup.
