U.S. President Donald Trump publicly backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday, calling him “fantastic” and warning that replacing him would be a “terrible mistake.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said FIFA would err if it considered ousting Infantino, whom he praised for leading “the most successful World Cup ever.” He added that without Infantino, the tournament would “never be as successful or profitable again.”

The endorsement came as Infantino faced mounting pressure over a failed plan to sell commercial rights to the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments to private investors. The proposal, which would have involved technology investor Joshua Kushner, drew sharp criticism from continental football bodies. On Monday, UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC issued a joint open letter accusing Infantino of deception and a breach of trust, demanding an independent investigation into his leadership.

Norway’s football association had already withdrawn confidence in Infantino. Its president, Lise Klaveness, stated last week that “there is no way back for Gianni Infantino” and called for his immediate resignation, citing “irreversible oversteps.” Norway had also opposed Infantino’s re-election in 2023.

FIFA previously denied reports that Infantino sought White House support for his investment plan, calling claims of calls to Trump or other U.S. officials “freely invented.” Trump confirmed he had not discussed the matter with Infantino.

Infantino, a Swiss national, has led FIFA since 2016. Under his tenure, FIFA awarded the 2026 World Cup to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He and Trump have appeared together publicly, including at the 2026 World Cup final trophy ceremony and Trump’s second presidential inauguration in early 2025. Infantino has previously referred to Trump as a “great friend” and awarded him the FIFA Peace Prize in 2025.

U.S. Soccer, the national governing body, joined other football organizations in criticizing Infantino, placing it at odds with the White House’s stance. The dispute has exposed deep divisions within global football governance, with multiple confederations now openly challenging FIFA’s leadership.

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Articles

Trump estime que la Fifa commettrait une "terrible erreur" si elle remplaçait Infantino à sa tête Donald Trump a affirmé lundi soir que la Fifa commettrait une "terrible erreur" si elle remplaçait son patron Gianni Infantino, vivement critiqué après le projet avorté douverture à des investisseurs privés. ...

la libre · about 2 hours ago

Trump stützt Fifa-Chef Infantino: „Er ist fantastisch Der US-Präsident spricht sich gegen eine Ablöse von Infantino als Chef des Weltfußballverbands aus und lobt ihn in den höchsten Tönen.

die presse · about 2 hours ago

Trump advarer mot å bytte ut Infantino USAs president advarer FIFA mot å bytte ut fotballpresidenten.

aftenposten · about 2 hours ago

Lettet over visepresidentenes Infantino-kritikk Fotballpresident Lise Klaveness er glad for at Uefa står samlet i «Fifa-krisen» og tror at det europeiske forbundet vil…

aftenposten · about 2 hours ago

Trump stützt nach Kritik Fifa-Präsident Infantino: "Er ist fantastisch" Der US-Präsident ist wenig überraschend gegen eine Ablöse des unter Druck stehenden Fußball-Präsidenten Gianni Infantino

der standard · about 2 hours ago

Trump med støtte til Infantino: – Han er fantastisk USAs president advarer FIFA mot å bytte ut fotballpresidenten.

aftenposten · about 3 hours ago

Klaveness lettet over visepresidentenes Infantino-kritikk – møter flere styremedlemmer onsdag Fotballpresident Lise Klaveness er glad for at Uefa står samlet i «Fifa-krisen» og tror at det europeiske forbundet vil…

aftenposten · about 3 hours ago

„Er ist fantastisch: Trump warnt Fifa vor Ablösung Infantinos US-Präsident Donald Trump spricht von einem „schrecklichen Fehler, sollte die Fifa erwägen, ihren umstrittenen Präsidenten Infantino abzulösen. Immer wieder hagelte es Rücktrittsrufe.

tagesspiegel · about 3 hours ago

Trump: Replacing Infantino would be a terrible mistake US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that FIFA will make a terrible mistake if it considers replacing President Gianni Infantino. Trumps support contrasts with U.S. Soccer, which issued a statement criticizing the FIFA president alongside other football organizations. Infantino has faced strong backlash after FIFA worked to create an independent commercial company to […]

cphpost · about 3 hours ago

Mattias Grafström, le numéro deux de la FIFA qui na pas pu sémanciper de Gianni Infantino Le secrétaire général de la Fédération internationale de football a affiché son soutien au président controversé de linstance, malgré un courriel interne daté du 4 août, dans lequel il prenait ses distances avec le plan de création dune société commerciale. Un projet quil avait pourtant approuvé.

le monde · about 3 hours ago

Trump: Det vil være en forfærdelig fejl at erstatte Infantino

dr.dk · about 3 hours ago

FIFA-Präsident in der Kritik: Trump stützt Infantino: „Er ist fantastisch FIFA-Präsident Infantino steht massiv unter Druck. In höchster Not springt ihm nun ein guter Freund bei - und warnt den Fußball-Weltverband vor einem schrecklichen Fehler.

tagesspiegel · about 3 hours ago

+++ USA +++: Trump stützt Infantino – „Er ist fantastisch Mehrheit der US-Bürger für schärfere Aufsicht von Social-Media-Firmen +++ US-Senat einigt sich auf Übergangshaushalt +++ Der Newsblog.

handelsblatt · about 3 hours ago

USA unter Trump: Trump: Entmachtung von Infantino wäre ein „schrecklicher Fehler Liveticker zur US-Politik unter Donald Trump / Trump soll republikanischen Senator angeschrien haben / Jetzt lesen im Liveticker der FAZ

faz · about 4 hours ago

Donald Trump szerint a FIFA „borzalmas hibát vétene, ha leváltaná Gianni Infantinót Az amerikai elnök kiállt a vele jó viszonyt ápoló Infantino mellett, aki nélkül Trump szerint a vébé sohasem lenne újra olyan nyereséges, mint idén.

hvg.hu · about 4 hours ago

Trump přiznal chyby při renovaci jezírka, tvrdí však, že ‚za vážnější poškození nemůže firma, ale vandalové Americký prezident Donald Trump přiznal, že renovace Zrcadlového bazénu, kterou nařídila jeho administrativa, u Lincolnova památníku v hlavním městě Spojených států byla uspěchaná a odvedena nekvalitně. Přesto tvrdí, že za poškození památky, kterou navštíví ročně miliony lidí, mohou údajní vandalové.

irozhlas.cz · about 4 hours ago

Trump: Misstag att byta ut Infantino Fifas ordförande Gianni Infantino har fått omfattande kritik de senaste veckorna.Nu kommer USA:s president Donald Trump till hans försvar.Han är fantastisk, skriver presidenten.

svenska dagbladet · about 4 hours ago

Match-fixing: Champions League tie played in England was fixed

gdeltproject.org · about 4 hours ago

Trump neemt het op voor FIFA-voorzitter Infantino De Amerikaanse president Donald Trump neemt het op voor FIFA-voorzitter Gianni Infantino.

rtl nieuws · about 5 hours ago

BREAKING Trump backs FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is in hot water over allegations of a workplace affair and criticism of a failed private investment scheme

bluesky_AFP English · about 5 hours ago

Försvarar Infantino Oväntade hyllningen från Trump till Fifapampen

expressen · about 5 hours ago

Its football, not PlayStation - Uefa refs chief on VAR Uefa referees chief Roberto Rosetti says some video assistant referee reviews "were not connected with football".

bbc sport · about 7 hours ago

Három nagy kontinentális fociszövetség azonnal kidobná Infantinót, levelet is írtak erről, a kanadai Montagliani lehet a jelöltjük A Guardian szerint a szeptemberi U20-as női vébén az európai válogatottak biztosan nem indulnak el, de nem lehetetlen, hogy a hármak ellentornát szervezzenek addig.

444.hu · about 8 hours ago

UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC accuse FIFA of deception and breach of trust over World Cup plans UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC believe that FIFA president Gianni Infantinos recent plans to sell an interest in the World Cup was a fundamental breach of trust with…

japantoday · about 8 hours ago

Forest to host Leeds in EFL Cup - second-round draw in full Nottingham Forest will face Leeds in the Carabao Cup in the only all-Premier League tie in the second round of the competition.

bbc sport · about 8 hours ago

Una carta, acusaciones de chantaje, Trump... todas las armas que hay para derrocar a Gianni Infantino La UEFA lidera una misiva firmada por tres confederaciones que culmina un proceso de crítica contra la gestión del fútbol llevada a cabo por el presidente de la FIFA Leer

elmundo · about 8 hours ago

Jalkapallo | Kolme maanosaliittoa arvostelee Fifaa poikkeuksellisen kovin sanoin Uefa, Pohjois- ja Keski-Amerikan sekä Karibian alueen jalkapalloliitto Concacaf ja Aasian jalkapalloliitto AFC paonistavat Fifaa.

helsingin sanomat · about 9 hours ago