Trump warns FIFA against replacing Infantino

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday evening that FIFA would make a “terrible mistake” if it replaced its president, Gianni Infantino, who has faced strong criticism following his abandoned plan to open the world football governing body to private investors, AFP reports, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

“FIFA would make a terrible mistake if, for any reason, it were to consider, even for a moment, replacing its president, Gianni Infantino,” the U.S. president wrote on his Truth Social platform, describing the Swiss-Italian official as “formidable.”

“He has just presided over the most successful World Cup,” Donald Trump added, saying that if Infantino were to leave, “the competition would never again know such success or profitability.”

Gianni Infantino, who is running for another term as president of FIFA, is facing a deepening crisis following the disclosure of his controversial and ultimately abandoned plan to open FIFA to private investors.

Determined to secure his departure from the FIFA presidency, the football confederations of Europe (UEFA), North America (Concacaf) and Asia (AFC) sought on Monday, through a joint open letter, to mobilize the “football family,” which is deeply divided over the handling of the crisis, in support of their position.

Without ever mentioning Gianni Infantino by name, they rejected his attempts to save his position. Just a few weeks ago, Infantino appeared to be heading toward an easy re-election in March 2027, following a 2026 World Cup that was expected to be the most profitable ever.

Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump have openly displayed their close relationship since the Republican president returned to power. In December 2025, Infantino presented the U.S. president with the “FIFA Peace Award,” a distinction created specifically for that occasion.

Photo: White House