Gianni Infantino is clinging to the FIFA presidency by his fingernails, and the only hand reaching down to pull him up belongs to Donald Trump.
The Swiss administrator triggered a full-scale revolt after pushing a plan to sell off a significant portion of rights to FIFA competitions — including the World Cup itself. The backlash was severe enough that the plan was scrapped. But the political damage wasn't.
An open letter, and then Trump
On Monday, the presidents and general secretaries of UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation signed a joint open letter calling for Infantino's resignation. That's Europe, North and Central America, the Caribbean, and Asia — collectively representing the majority of world football — telling the man in charge to go.
"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 read. It's hard to dress that up as anything other than a formal vote of no confidence.
UEFA had already threatened to pull all European nations from FIFA competitions. CONCACAF followed. Asian federations said they stood with them. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham publicly criticised Infantino. The walls were closing in.
Then Trump posted on Truth Social.
"FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino," the president wrote. "He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!"
How Infantino built this friendship
The backing didn't come from nowhere. Infantino spent months before the 2026 World Cup cultivating Trump with extraordinary dedication — gold gifts, endless flattery, a FIFA office opened inside Trump Tower, and the Club World Cup trophy placed in the Oval Office. He also created a FIFA Peace Prize and awarded it to the president.
The financial incentives are plain enough. Joshua Kushner — brother of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner — was reported to be lined up to invest in the rights sell-off through his firm Thrive Eternal. Infantino's $6 million annual salary would have jumped to $30 million if the deal had gone through.
Last week, separate reporting from the Daily Telegraph revealed that Infantino allegedly had an affair with a junior UEFA employee while serving as its general secretary, with the woman reportedly receiving a six-figure settlement upon leaving the organisation. Infantino has not addressed the claims directly.
FIFA's official response called the pressure campaign "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President." Infantino himself described critics as being "consumed by hate and criticism" — language lifted almost directly from Trump's own rhetorical style.
- CONMEBOL (South America) and CAF (Africa) have backed Infantino
- Mexico has broken from CONCACAF to support him individually
- UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC have formally demanded his resignation
For anyone with money riding on who runs football over the next World Cup cycle, the picture isn't clear yet. Infantino still has the backing of South America and Africa. But the organisation's credibility with European broadcasters, sponsors, and federations — the ones who actually make the tournament commercially viable — is taking a serious hit every day this drags on.
"Leadership in football is not a possession," the confederations wrote. Whether that message lands depends on who's still counting votes inside FIFA House.
