FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing an escalating crisis, with widespread calls for his resignation following the collapse of a controversial plan to sell stakes in the governing body’s major tournaments to private investors. Amidst this turmoil, reports have emerged alleging that Infantino has been attempting to enlist the support of former US President Donald Trump and his administration to salvage his embattled position — claims vehemently denied by FIFA.
Infantino, who previously enjoyed the backing of over 200 of FIFA’s 211 member nations for re-election, saw his standing dramatically erode after details of his commercial scheme came to light. The plan involved creating a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to sell off broadcasting, sponsorship, licensing, and ticketing rights. Thrive Capital, a private equity firm run by Josh Kushner, was reportedly set to take a 20% stake in the venture for just over $4 billion, a plan first reported by The Times of London.
The initiative faced significant backlash, leading Infantino to scrap the plans. The fallout has been severe, with UEFA leading calls for his resignation. On July 30, UEFA voted unanimously to boycott all FIFA-organized competitions, including the next men’s World Cup in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in 2030. Nations like Wales, Serbia, and Finland have also withdrawn their support, while UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been vocal in his opposition. The movement to oust Infantino has even been nicknamed “Project Kill The Monster.” FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour expressed feeling “deceived” by Infantino’s actions, unaware of the secret talks.
Allegations of White House outreach
As pressure mounted, The New York Post claimed Infantino was “begging Trump and the White House to save his job.” The publication reported that Infantino sought private talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday and had “repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump by phone” since his commercial asset sale plan collapsed.
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The alleged outreach to Trump is not without precedent, given the former US President’s past praise for Infantino. During the recent World Cup, Trump lauded the FIFA President after USA star Folarin Balogun’s red card against Bosnia was suspended. “This man is a smart, tough man, Gianni Infantino. He’s a smart, tough man, and his stock has gone through the roof because the job he has done has been great,” Trump stated. Trump also presented the trophy to winners Chelsea at the Inaugural Club World Cup, held in the United States in 2025, and later called this summer’s World Cup “one of the all-time greatest sporting events in history.” The Telegraph further claimed that Trump would do “everything in his power” to save Infantino, having grown fond of him after he helped the United States host the “best World Cup ever.”
However, FIFA has strongly refuted The New York Post’s claims. In a statement on X, FIFA declared, “The FIFA President has not made any call to the U.S President, or any members of his administration, in recent days. It is pure fiction.” This denial was echoed by Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, who also posted on X.
Despite the official denials, The New York Post maintained its reporting, arguing that a senior FIFA source insisted the call had been scheduled but was axed after unwanted attention. An insider briefed on the matter commented on Infantino’s alleged motives: “He wanted to get online with the secretary and talk about how soccer can be a form of soft power for America. But we all know that it is about job protection. It is not about anything else at this point.” A second source told The New York Post that Infantino “is looking for allies of note to publicly support him.”
With calls for his resignation intensifying and a major boycott looming, Gianni Infantino finds himself at the centre of a storm. The allegations of seeking political intervention from the US administration, despite official denials, add another layer of complexity to an already precarious situation for the FIFA President.
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