US President Donald Trump has publicly backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino as major football confederations call for his resignation following a failed commercial proposal.
Key facts
- •Uefa, the AFC, and Concacaf have accused Infantino of breaking trust through deception.
- •The confederations are seeking an independent review of the failed FFE proposal.
- •Uefa has threatened a potential boycott of FIFA competitions and possible legal action.
- •The 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, with Spain winning the final against Argentina.
- •Infantino is facing pressure to resign before the next FIFA presidential election in March.
US President Donald Trump has warned that FIFA would be making a "terrible mistake" if it attempts to replace president Gianni Infantino. Trump's support comes as Infantino faces intense pressure from Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Concacaf, who have accused the FIFA leader of "deception" following his aborted plan to sell a stake in a new commercial entity, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The Fifa Forward Enterprise Controversy
Infantino faced backlash after proposing the creation of FFE, a company intended to manage the commercial and ticketing rights for FIFA competitions. The plan involved selling approximately 20% to 21% of the entity to private investors, with the American venture capital firm Thrive, founded by Joshua Kushner, expected to lead the investment group. Infantino has since apologized for the proposal. In an open letter, the heads of Uefa, the AFC, and Concacaf criticized the move, stating that trust had been broken through deception. The confederations have called for an independent review of the scheme and have held preliminary discussions regarding the potential organization of breakaway competitions should Infantino remain in power.
Trump's Support for Infantino
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Infantino, describing him as "fantastic" and crediting him with overseeing the most successful World Cup in history. Trump argued that FIFA would not be as profitable or successful without Infantino's leadership. This marks the first time Trump has publicly defended the FIFA president since the FFE plans were revealed on July 28. Infantino and Trump maintain a close relationship, with the FIFA president awarding Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025.
Timeline
- December 2025Gianni Infantino awarded Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
- July 28The FFE plans were first brought to light.
- July 31Donald Trump addressed the FFE proposals for the first time.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Sport, BBC Sport.
