US President Donald Trump has defended FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is under pressure following a disputed and now abandoned plan to open FIFA to private investors.
Trump said on Truth Social that FIFA would make a terrible mistake if it considered replacing Infantino, calling him great. Trump said Infantino had just presided over the most successful World Cup, held in June and July across the United States, Mexico and Canada, and argued that without him the tournament would never again see such success or profitability.
Confederations push back
Infantino, who is seeking re-election as FIFA president, has faced weeks of criticism since his plan to bring in private investors was revealed and later dropped. Earlier on Monday, the European, North American and Asian confederations, UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC, issued a joint open letter saying football belongs to no individual and that leadership is not about holding or demanding power but a duty of service to the football family. The letter did not name Infantino directly.
A record World Cup
Until recently, Infantino had appeared headed toward a smooth re-election in March 2027, following a 2026 World Cup that generated close to 15 billion dollars in revenue, more than any before it. After two weeks of crisis, Infantino now has Trump's backing, along with support from the African and South American confederations and from Mexico, which has publicly broken from Concacaf's position. It remains to be seen whether that support will be enough to save his position.
