FIFA Crisis: Trump Backs Infantino, Warns Ousting Him Would Be ‘Terrible Mistake’

By Reporter

The crisis rocking world football governing body, FIFA, has taken a new dimension after United States President Donald Trump threw his weight behind embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino, warning that replacing him would be a “terrible mistake.”

Trump’s intervention came as the leadership crisis surrounding Infantino deepened, with three of FIFA’s major continental confederations — UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF — mounting a fresh challenge to his leadership.

In a social media post on Monday, Trump described Infantino as a “fantastic” leader and warned FIFA against removing him. His intervention provides a significant political boost to Infantino as he faces growing calls for his resignation within the football community.

The dispute centres on a controversial proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in FIFA’s World Cup commercial rights to private investors for about $4.2 billion.

Although FIFA eventually abandoned the proposal following widespread opposition, UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF have accused Infantino of acting unilaterally and breaching the trust of FIFA’s member associations.

In a joint letter, the three confederations demanded an independent review of the proposal and questioned the manner in which the plan was conceived and presented. They also warned that further action could be taken if FIFA failed to provide assurances that similar moves would not be pursued without proper consultation.

The backlash has created one of the most serious leadership challenges of Infantino’s presidency, with some national football associations, including Norway and England, withdrawing support for his re-election and calling for change at FIFA.

However, Infantino continues to enjoy substantial backing from several football nations and confederations, particularly in Africa and parts of Asia and the Americas.

Trump’s intervention has now added a powerful voice outside football to the growing battle over Infantino’s future.

The American president has developed a close relationship with the FIFA boss, particularly during preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Trump had previously been reported to favour Infantino for a major international role, including the position of United Nations secretary-general.

The latest development has therefore transformed the FIFA dispute from an internal football governance crisis into a broader international power struggle over who controls the future direction of world football.

With Infantino facing opposition from influential football confederations but receiving strong backing from Trump and several member associations, the battle is expected to intensify ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.

The central question now is whether Infantino can survive the revolt and secure another term, or whether the growing coalition against him will succeed in forcing a change at the top of world football.