US president Donald Trump has issued a warning to FIFA, stating that the organization would be making a “terrible mistake” if they proceed with plans to remove Gianni Infantino from his role as the head of world football’s governing body.
The comments, posted on the Truth Social platform early Tuesday, come as Infantino faces mounting pressure regarding his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the men’s World Cup to private investors.
In his statement, Trump praised the FIFA president, describing him as “fantastic” and crediting him with overseeing the most successful World Cup in history. Trump cautioned that if Infantino were to be removed, the tournament would likely never reach the same levels of success or profitability again.
The relationship between the two figures was also highlighted by an incident earlier this summer, when Trump reportedly called the FIFA president to request a review of a red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun.
The card was subsequently suspended, allowing the player to participate in the round of 16 match against Belgium.
Infantino is currently navigating significant backlash regarding his plan to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). This entity was intended to manage commercial and operational aspects of FIFA tournaments, with an initial proposal to divest approximately 20 percent of the company to private investors.
Although Infantino has since apologized for the proposal, the fallout has led to an open letter from the heads of UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Concacaf.
While not naming the Swiss official directly, the letter criticized the leadership, stating that “when trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”
Amid the growing crisis, Uefa and other confederations have held initial discussions regarding the possibility of organizing their own competitions. Uefa has previously threatened a boycott of FIFA events, a stance that has been reiterated despite Infantino’s attempts to de-escalate.
Furthermore, member associations, including those from England and Wales, have begun to officially withdraw their endorsements for Infantino’s re-election in 2027, as key bodies seek to insulate themselves from the unfolding situation.
