US President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino amid mounting criticism over a failed private investment proposal and allegations of a workplace affair.
Trump said FIFA would be making a “terrible mistake” if it considered replacing Infantino, describing the FIFA president as “fantastic” and praising his leadership of the 2026 World Cup.
“If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Monday.
Trump’s backing contrasts with the position of US Soccer, which joined Canada Soccer and football organisations in Central America and the Caribbean in criticising Infantino.
Infantino, who is seeking re-election next March, has denied wrongdoing. FIFA has also defended its president, describing the criticism as part of what it called a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine the organisation.
The Confederation of African Football and South American football governing body CONMEBOL have also backed Infantino.
The FIFA president has faced increasing pressure over the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a proposed commercial subsidiary that was expected to raise up to $4.2 billion based on a $20 billion valuation.
The proposed entity was intended to manage commercial activities linked to major FIFA events, including the World Cup and Club World Cup.
Criticism intensified after details of the plan emerged, with some FIFA officials and football bodies questioning how it was handled.
FIFA’s senior directors last Wednesday gave Infantino their “full support” following a crisis meeting in Morocco, while the organisation apologised for the controversy surrounding the proposal.
FIFA acknowledged that “errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media”, but maintained its support for Infantino.
The governing body said the proposed investment structure could have provided each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, while increasing funding allocations for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.
However, the proposal triggered strong opposition rather than support, with European football’s governing body UEFA even threatening to boycott the World Cup.
The controversy has increased pressure on Infantino as he prepares to seek another term as FIFA president.
