US President Donald Trump said on Monday it would be “a terrible mistake” to replace Gianni Infantino, the embattled FIFA president who recently attempted and failed to sell off part of the World Cup to private investors. Trump’s vocal support arrives as Infantino faces renewed fire in an open letter signed by three major confederations—Europe’s UEFA, North and Central America’s CONCACAF, and Asia’s AFC—accusing the football boss of breaking trust “through deception.”
Trump, who was awarded a “FIFA Peace Prize” by Infantino at the World Cup draw ceremony last year, took to Truth Social to back the embattled leader. He described Infantino as “fantastic” and credited him with presiding over the most successful World Cup ever presented, claiming it was four times more successful than any previous tournament. “If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!” added Trump, who attended the final last month alongside the FIFA president.
Infantino had previously looked certain to be unopposed for a fourth term after overseeing a successful 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. However, his standing shifted dramatically once his plans to introduce private investment into FIFA competitions were revealed. While UEFA threatened to boycott tournaments if the plan proceeded, labeling it a “shabby, opaque, backroom deal,” Infantino eventually withdrew the proposal in the face of widespread criticism.
The 56-year-old Swiss, who has led FIFA for 10 years, maintains pockets of support despite the backlash. He has received backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while South American governing body CONMEBOL remains largely supportive. Additionally, Infantino retains support from Mexico—part of the CONCACAF region—and two AFC members, Kuwait and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, where he maintains a personal residence.
Despite this, Trump’s endorsement puts him at odds with US Soccer, which has joined the voices lining up against the FIFA president. The joint letter from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC retorted that leadership is not about demanding power. “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 letter stated.
FIFA attempted to hit back on Saturday against efforts to undermine its governing body. However, the three confederations dismissed a recent emergency meeting in Morocco, where senior directors offered Infantino their “full support,” as meaningless. They noted that the meeting, attended by a select number of members of the FIFA Management Committee, “represents a continuation of the very pattern of conduct that brought us to this moment.”
The critics further argued that Infantino’s behavior is not that of a custodian of the game, but of one who believes football is answerable only to him. “Under Infantino’s leadership, there is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness,” the confederations stated. They emphasized that the growth of the sport over the past decade was a shared achievement, not the work of one individual.
“The expanded tournaments were shared achievements, agreed together, delivered together,” the letter continued. The confederations asserted that their stance was taken out of duty to the sport, concluding that “football’s strength has always been its unity.” Individual member associations, rather than the confederations themselves, will ultimately decide the outcome of the election.
Infantino is currently up for re-election for a fourth and final term at the FIFA Congress scheduled for March 2027. With the deadline for candidates to declare set for November 18, the political landscape within the organization remains volatile. While Infantino had been basking in the afterglow of the largest-ever 48-team tournament, his recent strategic missteps have left his future as the head of world football increasingly uncertain.
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