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Donald Trump has publicly warned FIFA against removing Gianni Infantino, calling such a move a “terrible mistake.”
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Infantino is facing growing opposition after a controversial proposal to sell part of FIFA’s commercial and operational rights was withdrawn.
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UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have criticised FIFA leadership, while CAF and CONMEBOL continue to back Infantino.
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The crisis threatens to turn the 2027 FIFA presidential election into one of the most fiercely contested votes in world football.
August 11, (THEWILL) — U.S. President Donald Trump has dramatically entered FIFA’s growing leadership crisis, throwing his support behind Gianni Infantino and warning that removing the FIFA president would be a “terrible mistake”.
Trump made the intervention in a post on Truth Social late Monday as Infantino faces mounting pressure from several of football’s most powerful confederations and growing uncertainty over his bid for a fourth term as FIFA president.
The U.S. president praised Infantino’s leadership and credited him with overseeing what he described as the most successful World Cup ever staged.
Trump also warned that FIFA “would never be as successful or profitable again” without the Swiss-Italian administrator before ending his message with: “Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT.”
The extraordinary intervention comes at a critical point in Infantino’s nine-year tenure.
The FIFA president is battling the fallout from a controversial proposal to sell approximately 20 per cent of the governing body’s commercial and operational rights to private investors through a vehicle known as FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The proposal sparked widespread concern among football stakeholders after it emerged publicly, with critics questioning the speed and transparency of the process.
Infantino eventually apologised and withdrew the proposal after the backlash intensified.
But the decision appears to have opened a much bigger battle over how FIFA is governed.
READ ALSO: UEFA-Infantino Allegations: 4 Things to Know About the Latest Controversy
Infantino faces growing opposition
On the same day Trump publicly defended Infantino, UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation issued a joint letter expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s handling of the commercial proposal.
The three confederations accused FIFA leadership of attempting to push the project through “on a compressed timeline, without meaningful consultation” and claimed that trust had been damaged “through deception.”
Although Infantino was not directly named, the message was widely viewed as a direct challenge to his leadership.
The confederations also delivered one of the strongest warnings yet about the direction of FIFA, declaring that “leadership in football is not a possession.”
The statement has increased speculation that Infantino could face a serious challenge when FIFA members gather to elect the organisation’s president in March 2027.
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani has reportedly emerged as a possible challenger, although the final field of candidates remains unclear.
Potential candidates have until November 18 to declare their intentions.
READ ALSO: UEFA Refuses To End FIFA World Cup Boycott Despite Infantino’s U-Turn
Trump and Infantino’s relationship
Trump’s intervention is particularly significant because of his longstanding public relationship with Infantino.
The FIFA president has maintained close ties with the U.S. president, particularly as the United States prepares to host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
Infantino also presented Trump with a FIFA Peace Prize during the World Cup draw in Washington last December.
Trump’s latest comments therefore add an extraordinary political dimension to what had previously been an internal football power struggle.
However, the president’s support for Infantino does not mean the entire American football establishment is on the same side.
U.S. Soccer has joined the wider criticism surrounding FIFA’s leadership, creating an unusual situation in which the White House and the country’s football governing body appear to have differing positions on the future of FIFA.
READ ALSO: Infantino Turns to White House as Pressure Grows to Oust Him as FIFA President
Africa could hold the key
The growing division among FIFA’s continental confederations could make African football increasingly important in determining Infantino’s political future.
While UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have openly challenged FIFA leadership, the Confederation of African Football and South America’s CONMEBOL have continued to back Infantino.
That support could prove crucial if the 2027 presidential election develops into a genuine contest.
CAF represents 54 member associations, giving Africa significant voting strength at the FIFA Congress.
For Nigeria and other African football nations, the outcome could have consequences extending beyond the presidential contest.
FIFA’s commercial strategy, development funding, competition structures and the distribution of revenues from future World Cup cycles could all be affected by the direction the organisation takes after 2027.
A battle bigger than Infantino
What began with an abandoned commercial proposal has now developed into a wider confrontation over FIFA’s governance and future direction.
Infantino has insisted that FIFA must continue to develop commercially and maximise the value of its competitions, while critics are demanding greater consultation and transparency before major decisions are taken.
Trump’s intervention has now raised the political stakes even further.
With the 2027 FIFA presidential election approaching, Infantino must not only defend his record but also convince enough of FIFA’s 211 member associations that he remains the right person to lead world football.
For now, he retains powerful allies in Africa and South America and has received an extraordinary public endorsement from the U.S. president.
But with three major confederations openly challenging his leadership and a potential rival already being discussed, the battle for control of FIFA is only beginning.
And if the current divisions continue, the 2027 presidential election could become one of the most consequential votes in the history of world football.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
