Global Politics · 11 August, 2026 · 2 min read
Donald Trump Warns FIFA Against Replacing Gianni Infantino, Calls It a Terrible Mistake
Trump used Truth Social to defend Infantino amid backlash over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise. Replacing Infantino would be a terrible mistake, Trump warned during his post.
13 outlets, one story, no spin found.
11 of 12 outlets skipped it: outlets cite FIFA statutes routes to remove Infantino early.
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Trump backs Infantino
US President Donald Trump backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino and warned that FIFA would be making a “terrible mistake” if it considered replacing him amid pressure over allegations tied to a failed private investment scheme.
“FIFA would be making a “terrible mistake” if they get rid of Gianni Infantino”
In a Truth Social post, Trump said, “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” and he described Infantino as “fantastic” for presiding over “the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented.”
The dispute centers on Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the men’s World Cup to private investors, which triggered backlash from major football bodies and led FIFA to back its president after a meeting on Wednesday.
FIFA has also said the proposal was “now off the table” and pledged to take measures to protect its integrity, governance, due process, name and reputation following a crisis meeting in Morocco.
Revolt and open letters
While Trump’s intervention supported Infantino, UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC accused him of “deception” and held initial talks about organising competitions themselves amid the backlash.
A joint open letter from UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC urged FIFA to hold an independent review into Infantino’s scheme, and it said, “Leadership in football is not a possession.”
FIFA management board backing followed a meeting in Morocco last week, and FIFA described the backlash as “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” the organisation.
The Times of India reported that UEFA said its stance “changes nothing” about its opposition even after Infantino withdrew the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal and apologized for the process.
What’s at stake next
The crisis has become a governance fight inside FIFA, with opposition seeking ways to oust Infantino before his term ends, including a vote of no confidence via an Extraordinary Congress.
“a minimum of 20% of FIFA’s member associations (43 out of 211 national federations)”
Daily Trust outlined a pathway under FIFA Statutes, saying “a minimum of 20% of FIFA’s member associations (43 out of 211 national federations)” must submit a written request to convene an Extraordinary FIFA Congress.
The same source described the March 18, 2027 FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco as the point when Infantino’s current term officially concludes, while a legal removal before 2027 would require member associations to field an alternative candidate before the November 18, 2026 nomination deadline.
As the dispute continues, Trump’s public backing adds a political dimension to the dispute, with the Arab Times reporting that his intervention “adds a major political dimension to the dispute” as pressure grows within international football over FIFA’s leadership and decision-making.