US President Donald Trump has waded into the escalating crisis at FIFA, publicly backing his ally Gianni Infantino as the organisation's president faces mounting pressure from several continental football bodies to step down. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Infantino as "fantastic" and warned that dismissing him would be a grave error.
"He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented," Trump wrote. "If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again."
The intervention comes at a delicate moment for Infantino, who has been fighting for his political survival since a controversial plan to sell stakes in a new FIFA commercial subsidiary was abandoned earlier this year. The proposed entity, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), would have managed the organisation's commercial operations and events, including the World Cup. Critics accused FIFA of attempting to "sell" the sport, and the plan was scrapped after widespread backlash.
FIFA has acknowledged that "mistakes" were made in handling the proposal, but the fallout has continued to grow. On Monday, the European governing body UEFA, together with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), issued a joint letter calling for a change in leadership at FIFA. The letter stated that "trust" had been "broken through deception" and urged unity in football's governance.
"Football's strength has always been its unity. We call for that unity to be honoured now, for leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it," the letter read. The move marks a rare show of solidarity between European, North American, and Asian football authorities, and has intensified speculation about Infantino's future.
Despite the pressure, Infantino retains significant support elsewhere. The Confederation of African Football has "unanimously reconfirmed its support" for the FIFA president, while Argentina, the World Cup runners-up, and Mexico, one of the tournament's co-hosts, have also rallied behind him. This geographical split underscores the deep divisions within global football governance.
Trump's friendship with Infantino under scrutiny
Trump's public endorsement is unlikely to surprise observers who followed the 2026 World Cup, which was held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The relationship between the two men had already drawn attention after Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural "FIFA Peace Prize" during the tournament.
More controversially, FIFA suspended a one-match ban for US striker Folarin Balogun ahead of a crucial knockout match against Belgium, following a phone call from Trump to Infantino. At the time, Infantino confirmed the call and said he had explained that "there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies."
The episode raised questions about the independence of FIFA's disciplinary procedures and the influence of political figures on football's governing body. Critics have pointed to the incident as evidence of an overly cosy relationship between Trump and Infantino, which they argue undermines the integrity of the sport.
As the crisis continues to unfold, the coming weeks will be critical for Infantino. The joint letter from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC represents a significant challenge to his authority, and the support of African and South American confederations may not be enough to secure his position. With the next FIFA Congress scheduled for later this year, the battle for control of world football's governing body is far from over.
