US President Donald Trump declared on Monday that replacing Gianni Infantino, the troubled FIFA president who attempted and failed to sell a portion of the World Cup to private investors, would be “a terrible mistake.”
In an open letter signed by three confederations—Europe’s UEFA, North and Central America’s CONCACAF, and Asia’s AFC—Infantino faced fresh criticism for allegedly betraying trust “through deception.”
However, Trump supported Infantino, who presented the US president with a “FIFA Peace Prize” during the World Cup draw ceremony last year.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino.”
Trump described Infantino as “fantastic” and claimed that he “presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented.”
“It won’t be as profitable or successful after he leaves!” Trump, who accompanied Infantino to the World Cup final last month, continued. said Gianni Infantino, the troubled FIFA president who tried and failed, should not be replaced because it would be “a terrible mistake.”
US Soccer has joined the voices against the FIFA president in opposition to Trump’s support of Infantino.
Infantino announced a plan to integrate private financing into FIFA competitions, including World Cups, but then retracted it in response to harsh criticism.
FIFA retaliated on Saturday against attempts “to undermine” Infantino and the football governing organization.
But in response, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC sent a united letter on Monday that said, “Leadership in football is not a possession.” It has nothing to do with desiring or possessing power.
“That obligation has been neglected when trust is betrayed by dishonesty and when a person elevates himself above the group that gave him power.”
Victor Montagliani, the president of CONCACAF, is seen as a possible rival to Infantino, who will run for reelection at the FIFA Congress in March 2027 for a fourth and final term. The deadline for declaring candidates is November 18.
After leading a successful World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada, Infantino appeared destined to be unchallenged for a fourth term until his plans were made public.
The Confederation of African Football has backed the 56-year-old Swiss, who has been in the region for ten years, while CONMEBOL, the South American regulatory body, is generally in favor.
Infantino’s decision to back out of his sell-off proposal was largely influenced by UEFA’s threat to boycott World Cups should the private investment plan proceed.
On Monday, UEFA attacked Infantino once more for a “failure of judgment” and referred to it as “a shabby, opaque, backroom deal.”
In an emergency meeting in Morocco last week, senior FIFA executives gave Infantino their “full support” following the controversy, but the three confederations claimed it was pointless.
They claimed that the last gathering, which included “a select number of members of the FIFA Management Committee, represents a continuation of the very pattern of conduct that brought us to this moment.”
“It is the behavior of someone who feels the game is answerable to him, not a custodian of the game.”
Before his intentions split the sport, Infantino was enjoying the aftermath of the biggest-ever World Cup with 48 teams.
“There has been significant improvement over the last ten years, but no single person has been responsible for all of that progress. FIFA, the Confederations, the Member Associations, and the countless of individuals who devote their lives to the game all contributed to its creation.
The letter stated, “The expanded tournaments… were shared achievements, agreed upon together, delivered together.”
“There is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness” under Infantino’s direction. We have adopted this position out of obligation to the game we support, not carelessly or alone, but collectively.
“The unity of football has always been its strength,” they stated.
