Former US President Donald Trump recently defended FIFA president Gianni Infantino, calling the prospect of his removal a significant error. Infantino is currently facing intense scrutiny following a controversial and ultimately abandoned attempt to sell portions of World Cup rights to private entities. Despite this, Trump praised Infantino on his social media platform, describing him as a fantastic leader who oversaw an exceptionally successful World Cup.
However, major soccer confederations, including Europe’s UEFA, North and Central America’s CONCACAF, and Asia’s AFC, have publicly criticized Infantino. In a joint letter, these organizations accused him of deception and a failure to maintain trust. This friction stems from plans Infantino introduced to invite private investment into FIFA competitions, a strategy that faced massive backlash, particularly from UEFA, which threatened a boycott.
While Trump claims that FIFA would lose success and profitability without Infantino, the FIFA president’s standing is increasingly tenuous. Although he remains in power after a decade, recent leadership meetings intended to provide him with full support have been dismissed by critics as inadequate. With the next FIFA Congress approaching in 2027, the internal divisions within the sport continue to deepen as member associations weigh their options against the incumbent.
