US President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying it would be a “terrible mistake” for the world football governing body to consider replacing him.
Gatekeepers News reports that Trump made the remarks on Monday in a post on Truth Social, describing Infantino, the Italian-Swiss lawyer, as “fantastic” and praising his leadership of the 2026 World Cup.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump said.
He added that Infantino “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 said.
Trump’s endorsement comes as Infantino faces growing criticism over allegations of a workplace affair and controversy surrounding a now-abandoned private investment plan.
Infantino, who is seeking re-election next March, has denied any wrongdoing. FIFA has also continued to support its president, describing the backlash as “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” the organisation.
However, Trump’s position differs from that of US Soccer, which issued a statement criticising Infantino alongside Canada Soccer and football organisations from Central America and the Caribbean.
Other major football bodies, including the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and South American governing body CONMEBOL, have backed Infantino.
The controversy intensified following FIFA’s proposal for a new commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which was projected to raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion.
The proposed entity was expected to manage major competitions and events, including the World Cup and Club World Cup, through private investment.
Infantino faced mounting pressure over his handling of the proposal, particularly after the plan was leaked to the media and subsequently abandoned.
FIFA’s senior directors last Wednesday gave Infantino their “full support” while the organisation apologised for the controversy surrounding the shelved investment plan.
In a statement, FIFA’s leadership acknowledged “that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media”, while maintaining its backing for Infantino.
FIFA said the proposed scheme could have provided each of its 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027 and increased their funding allocation for the 2027–2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.
Rather than easing concerns, the proposal triggered strong opposition, with UEFA threatening to boycott the World Cup in response to the plan.
Infantino eventually withdrew the proposal two weeks ago amid the backlash.
“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve,” Infantino said.
