Trump warns FIFA of ‘terrible mistake’ if Infantino replaced
FIFA-Infantino crisis: Trump warns that replacing Infantino would impact World Cup success, as Infantino faces pressure from continental confederations over controversial investment plans.
US President Donald Trump expressed support for Swiss official Gianni Infantino’s continued leadership of FIFA, considering any attempt to replace him a “disastrous mistake” that would negatively affect the tournament’s success and profitability.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “FIFA would make a disastrous mistake if it considered, for any reason, replacing President Gianni Infantino,” adding: “He is a fantastic person, and has just overseen the most successful World Cup in history by four times over any previous edition, and if he leaves, the tournament will never be as successful or profitable again.”
Escalating pressure over controversial investment project
Trump’s comments come as Infantino faces growing pressure from continental confederations over his previous plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights to private investors, which drew widespread opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF.
The plan aimed to create “FIFA Forward Enterprise” to unify the federation’s commercial activities, before Infantino backed down from the project following sharp criticism.
The Guardian reported that preliminary talks were held between the three continental confederations to explore options for organizing parallel competitions, with accusations against Infantino of “deception” and “placing himself above the association that gave him the mandate,” calling for an independent review of the federation.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016, and was re-elected in 2019 and 2023, but the controversy over his investment project has reopened the file on the future of the federation’s leadership.
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TRUMP: Warns FIFA against replacing Gianni Infantino, citing World Cup four times more successful than any previous tournament pic.twitter.com/txrxSXA3bp
— Trump Truths (@trumptruthsbot) August 11, 2026
