Donald Trump backs Gianni Infantino and warns FIFA against replacing him

Gianni Infantino's Future at FIFA

The embattled FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has received public backing from US President Donald Trump, who warned that replacing him would be a "terrible mistake". This comes after Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors was met with widespread criticism and ultimately scrapped. According to Trump's post on Truth Social, "FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino. He is fantastic, having just 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's support for Infantino is not surprising, given their close relationship in recent years. The two were seen together at the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19, and Infantino had previously awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. As reported by The New York Times, Trump and Infantino have enjoyed a close relationship, with Trump attending the World Cup draw ceremony where he was awarded the prize. However, not everyone shares Trump's enthusiasm for Infantino. UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have all expressed their dissatisfaction with the FIFA president's leadership, accusing him of "deception" and "breaking trust". In an open letter, the three confederations stated, "Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding -- or demanding -- power to be held. It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it. When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned." The controversy surrounding Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors has sparked a heated debate within the football community. The plan, which was revealed on July 28, would have seen FIFA make stakes in its commercial and event operations available for private investment. However, the proposal was met with fierce opposition from several organizations, including UEFA, which threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plan went ahead. As reported by Yardbarker, Joshua Kushner, the founder of the American venture capital company Thrive Eternal, was reportedly leading a private investor group seeking to acquire a stake in the World Cup's commercial rights. Despite the backlash, Infantino has received support from some quarters, including the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and South American governing body CONMEBOL. Individual member associations, such as Mexico and Kuwait, have also expressed their backing for the FIFA president. According to The Express Tribune, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is viewed as a potential challenger to Infantino, who will be up for re-election for a fourth and final term at the FIFA Congress in March 2027. The future of Infantino's leadership at FIFA remains uncertain, with several potential challengers emerging for the upcoming election. As the debate over Infantino's leadership continues, Trump's public backing has added a new dimension to the controversy. While some may view Trump's support as a boost to Infantino's chances of remaining in charge, others may see it as a further indication of the FIFA president's isolation from the rest of the football community.

Infantino's Plan and the Backlash

Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors was met with widespread criticism, with many accusing him of attempting to enrich himself and his allies at the expense of the football community. The plan, which was revealed on July 28, would have seen FIFA make stakes in its commercial and event operations available for private investment. However, the proposal was quickly quashed after several organizations, including UEFA, spoke out against it. UEFA's threat to boycott the World Cup if the plan went ahead proved pivotal in Infantino's decision to withdraw the proposal. The backlash against Infantino's plan has been intense, with several organizations and individuals expressing their dissatisfaction with the FIFA president's leadership. The three confederations - UEFA, Concacaf, and the AFC - have called for an independent review into Infantino's plans and have threatened to organize their own competitions if he remains in charge. As reported by The New York Times, the confederations have accused Infantino of "deception" and "breaking trust", stating that "leadership in football is not a possession" and that Infantino has "abandoned" his duty to the football community.

Trump's Involvement and the Kushner Connection

Trump's public backing of Infantino has added a new dimension to the controversy surrounding the FIFA president's leadership. The US President's involvement in the situation has also raised questions about the potential role of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Kushner's brother, Joshua. As reported by Yardbarker, Joshua Kushner was reportedly leading a private investor group seeking to acquire a stake in the World Cup's commercial rights. The connection between Kushner and Trump has sparked speculation about the potential motivations behind Trump's support for Infantino. However, Trump has denied speaking to Infantino about the World Cup stake sale plans, and the situation remains unclear.