Trump: I will do “everything possible” to keep Infantino - Sarmad
US President Donald Trump said he would do “everything possible” to keep Gianni Infantino as president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), amid growing pressure on the latter following a plan to sell stakes in World Cup commercial rights.
According to the British Telegraph, Infantino is facing mounting calls for his resignation after the collapse of his $15 billion plan, which aimed to open the door for investors to enter football’s commercial assets, before it was withdrawn last Friday.
Reports spoke of the possibility of Infantino holding talks with several members of the Trump administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an attempt to bolster his position, but FIFA and the US State Department denied the validity of these reports.
A senior US administration official, close to Trump and Infantino, said the US president has developed great respect for the FIFA president due to his contribution in organizing “the best World Cup ever” in the United States, and that he wants him to remain in his post.
The official noted that the tournament sparked controversy after Trump revealed that he had asked Infantino to lift the suspension of player Folarin Balogun before the match between the United States and Belgium in the Round of 16.
The official said: “Gianni helped us a lot in delivering the best World Cup ever. The president has great admiration for him, and I am confident that he will do everything possible to help him.”
He added: “I don’t think the president will change his stance on him, because he is a loyal person. Gianni delivered the World Cup for the United States in the way we had hoped, and we appreciate that.”
Before the crisis erupted, reports indicated that Trump wanted to see Infantino as Secretary-General of the United Nations, an organization that the US president had previously criticized and considered no longer performing its role as required.
Infantino assumed the presidency of FIFA in 2016, leaving a striking impression on Trump during their first meeting in August 2018, when he presented him with two cards, one yellow and one red, joking that they “might be useful” in dealing with the media.
Since then, the relationship between the two men has strengthened; Infantino presented Trump with a golden cup bearing his name, as well as a medal hung around his neck, during the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup. Trump also received the “FIFA Peace Award” in the same month.
Reports also stated that Infantino tried to contact Trump after the collapse of the World Cup commercial rights sale project, but was unsuccessful, while Trump confirmed last Friday that he had not spoken with the FIFA president regarding this file.
Paulo Zambrani, the Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, stated that Infantino’s record consists of expanding the game to include more countries, communities, and children, emphasizing that he responded to the concerns raised and withdrew the proposal, and that the real discussion should focus on how to distribute football’s wealth and opportunities among all 211 member associations.
Any vote of no confidence against the FIFA president requires prior notice of up to three months, making the element of time crucial for associations seeking to form an opposing alliance.
