US President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino, warning the world football governing body that replacing him would be a “terrible mistake.”
Trump made the remarks in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday as Infantino faces mounting pressure over his leadership of FIFA and a controversial proposal involving private investment in World Cup commercial operations.
Describing Infantino as “fantastic,” Trump praised his leadership and credited him with overseeing what he called the most successful World Cup ever.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump said.
He added that Infantino had “just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented,” arguing that the tournament would not be as successful or profitable without him.
Trump’s intervention comes at a time when Infantino is facing growing criticism from several major football bodies over FIFA’s abandoned plan to commercialise part of its World Cup business through a private investment structure.
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UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have criticised FIFA’s handling of the proposal, with the three confederations accusing the organisation of a lack of transparency and describing the episode as a serious breach of trust.
The controversy has intensified calls for greater accountability within FIFA, with some football organisations and officials distancing themselves from Infantino’s leadership.
Despite the backlash, FIFA’s senior management has reaffirmed its support for Infantino following an emergency meeting, while the organisation has apologised for shortcomings in the handling of the investment proposal.
Trump’s public backing therefore places him firmly on the side of the FIFA president as pressure mounts ahead of the next presidential election.
The US president has maintained close ties with Infantino, particularly during preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.