<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump has at last voiced his support for Gianni Infantino, amid mounting pressure on the embattled FIFA boss.<\/p>\n
Infantino has a close relationship with the controversial leader of the free world.<\/p>\n
He awarded the 80-year old with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in late 2025, while Trump publicly boasted of personally calling Infantino to defer Team USA star Folarin Balogun\u2019s red card suspension midway through the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n
That relationship is among a long list of black marks against the 56-year old\u2019s name in the eyes of his long list of critics.<\/p>\n
But it has taken until now for Trump to weigh in on Infantino\u2019s behalf, weeks after a football civil war erupted following FIFA\u2019s hastily aborted plan to sell off a stake in its organisation and major events, including World Cups, to private equity.<\/p>\n
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n The proposal, which would have seen the creation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), would have sold around 20 per cent of FIFA tournaments to investors, was scrapped after an avalanche of backlash from around the football world.<\/p>\n The staunchest opposition has come from Europe\u2019s UEFA, who announced they will boycott FIFA tournaments while the FFE plan remained in place, and will not been satisfied by the backtrack until the governing body vows it will not be repeated.<\/p>\n Posting to Truth Social, the President urged FIFA to stick fat with Infantino, citing the financial success of the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, as proof he remains the right man for the job.<\/p>\n \u201cFIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cHe 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!\u201d<\/p>\n While the 2026 World Cup did shatter attendance records and set a new financial record for FIFA, it is closer to double the previous benchmark on both counts, in contrast to the President\u2019s claimed quadruple.<\/p>\n According to reports, Infantino has been urging Trump to release a statement of support since the scandal broke in July.<\/p>\n He has previously denied all knowledge of the ill-fated sell-off plan, among whose investors included Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump\u2019s son-in-law Jared.<\/p>\n LATEST ON FIFA CIVIL WAR<\/b><\/p>\n REBEL WORLD CUP? Shock new FIFA threat emerges<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018HAVE TO FIRE HIM\u2019: Infantino\u2019s alleged affair exposed<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018ABUSE OF POWER\u2019: Brutal call reveals extent of FIFA crisis<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n The President\u2019s message comes after the USA\u2019s own football administration, US Soccer, stood alongside governing body CONCACAF in an open letter signed jointly with the presidents of UEFA and Asia\u2019s AFC to demand an overhaul of FIFA\u2019s governance.<\/p>\n The letter accused Infantino of \u201cdeception\u201d and claimed that trust had been \u201cbroken\u201d over the sell-off plan.<\/p>\n \u201cThere remains no recognition that attempting to sell an interest in the FIFA World Cup was a profound failure of judgment \u2013 not just a procedural misstep, but a fundamental breach of trust with the very institutions FIFA exists to serve,\u201d it reads.<\/p>\n According to reports, the three federations are in discussions about staging a breakaway competition outside FIFA\u2019s jurisdiction should their demands, which include \u2013 but have not been stated outright \u2013 Infantino\u2019s resignation, are not met.<\/p>\n However, South America\u2019s CONMEBOL and the Confederation of African Football are both staunchly in Infantino\u2019s camp, with the former receiving strong support from FIFA over their proposal to expand future World Cups from 2026\u2019s 48 teams \u2013 itself a jump from 32 in previous tournaments \u2013 to 64 in 2030.<\/p>\n Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n That would allow an increase in the six South American nations able to participate in the World Cup finals, which has resulted in several of the world\u2019s biggest footballing nations miss the cut.<\/p>\n Wenger the latest to whack Infantino | 00:54<\/p>\n It would also allow for a greater share of games at the 2030 World Cup, which will be held primarily across Morocco, Portugal and Spain but with three matches reserved for Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to commemorate the tournament\u2019s 100-year anniversary.<\/p>\n According to The Times, Infantino has informed South American football administrators that he will support their proposal.<\/p>\n Mexico\u2019s FMF, aligned with the North and Central American and Caribbean-based CONCACAF, is also backing Infantino, with the hope that FIFA will grant a request to switch federations to CONMEBOL.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n