Trump Backs Gianni Infantino Amid Backlash Over 20% World Cup Stake Sale Plan

President Donald Trump warned that replacing Gianni Infantino would be a "terrible mistake" following a failed proposal to sell interest in the World Cup.

President Donald Trump issued a statement on Truth Social Monday night defending FIFA President Gianni Infantino, asserting that the global soccer governing body would never be as "successful or profitable" without his leadership. This defense follows a Monday "open letter to the football family" issued by federations in Europe, North America, and Asia, which characterized Infantino’s recent commercial maneuvers as a "fundamental breach of trust." Infantino, who has served as president since February 26, 2016, recently apologized for a proposal to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company designed to manage commercial and operational aspects of tournaments by selling approximately 20% of the entity to private investors.

Trump’s social media post at 12:13 AM ET on August 11, 2026, claimed Infantino presided over a World Cup that was "the most successful, by four times, ever presented." The President warned soccer federations that ousting the Swiss executive would be a "terrible mistake." Meanwhile, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC countered that the duty of authority had been abandoned when an individual placed himself above the collective. These three confederations argued that the FFE proposal was pushed on a compressed timeline to limit scrutiny and avoid meaningful consultation with member associations.

Global Federations Demand Governance Review

The joint letter from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC urged FIFA to launch an independent review of the FFE scheme. The document stated that attempting to sell an interest in the FIFA World Cup was a profound failure of judgment rather than a mere procedural misstep. U.S. Soccer, a member of Concacaf, released its own statement on Monday alongside Canada Soccer, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), and the Central American Football Union (UNCAF). These organizations collectively called for changes to strengthen FIFA’s transparency, accountability, and governance structures.

UEFA previously indicated last week that its participating members might boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, despite the apology issued by Infantino. The confederations maintained that soccer belongs to the players, fans, clubs, and member associations rather than any single individual or institution. They described the FFE proposal as inherently wrong and a deception that broke the trust of the institutions FIFA is meant to serve.

Infantino Re-election Bid and Tenure Details

Gianni Infantino’s current term as FIFA president is scheduled to run through 2027. He has already announced a bid for re-election, seeking to extend his tenure at the head of the organization until 2031. The backlash centers on the FFE plan, which critics say ignored the fact that the World Cup is a shared global passion. The federations alleged that the proposal was advanced toward a deadline before the terms could be properly reviewed by the governing body's members.

Trump concluded his Monday night message by thanking the public for their attention to the matter, signing off as "President DJT." The controversy remains active as the three major confederations continue to speak collectively against the failed commercial proposal. While Infantino has acknowledged the procedural flaws of the FFE plan, the opposing federations insist that the attempt to involve private investors in the World Cup interest remains an unresolved breach of the governing body's foundational duties.