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Donald Trump has warned that FIFA would be "making a terrible mistake" if Gianni Infantino, who is facing mounting pressure and scrutiny after a botched attempt to launch the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)—a scheme designed to sell shares in future World Cups—were to be ousted as president.
"FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"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!"
The close ties between Trump and Infantino are well known. FIFA's president has even been pressed to address questions about the nature of their relationship and whether it has unduly influenced his conduct in the role.
Infantino has managed to retain public backing from FIFA itself after calling an emergency meeting in Morocco, though even that gathering drew criticism, as only FIFA's management committee and senior staff were invited—not elected FIFA Council members or member associations. That meeting secured his continued presidency.
Infantino had hoped Morocco would put the matter to rest.
UEFA, AFC, Concacaf Hold Enough Power to Remove FIFA President
A FIFA statement aiming to close the chapter on the controversy declared that the governing body "will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation."
Infantino has held onto support from certain national federations, including Argentina, as well as the African confederation—CAF.
However, on Monday, UEFA, AFC and Concacaf jointly accused the president of "deception" and a breakdown of trust. Infantino had offered a partial apology over the FFE debacle, but directed it at the "process" rather than the concept itself.
UEFA, AFC and Concacaf regarded it as far more than a simple oversight, viewing it as deliberately concealed: "A proposal advanced on a compressed timeline, without meaningful consultation, and pushed toward a deadline before Member Associations could properly review its terms is not the product of an oversight—it is the product of a design intended to limit scrutiny."
In their view, neither Infantino nor FIFA acknowledged in their response that the "proposal itself was inherently wrong." It was, they contend, "a profound failure of judgment" and a "fundamental breach of trust with the very institutions FIFA exists to serve."
Crucially, the three confederations representing Europe, Asia, and North and Central America and the Caribbean collectively hold sufficient voting power to remove Infantino should a vote of no confidence be called—a majority of 106 out of 211 FIFA members would be enough to remove him, while just 43 votes are needed to trigger such a ballot. The three confederations together account for 136 members—though Mexico has broken from Concacaf's broader stance to back Infantino.
BBC Sport cites sources close to the situation suggesting this moment is being presented as an "opportunity" for Infantino to step down voluntarily and exit with "dignity" before any formal proceedings begin. Should he be forcibly removed, his legacy would inevitably be defined by disgrace.
U.S. Soccer Not Aligned With Trump, White House
U.S. Soccer has aligned itself with Concacaf's position on the issue, joining Canada Soccer, the Caribbean Football Union and the Central American Football Union in calling for "meaningful change that strengthens FIFA's governance, transparency and accountability."
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Yet a clear divide has emerged within America on this matter. Before Trump's public comments on Infantino's future, an unnamed White House official made the administration's support plain.
"Gianni helped us a lot to deliver the best World Cup ever. The president likes him a lot. I am sure the president will do everything possible to help him," the senior figure said last week. "I don't think the president will change his mind on him, because he is a loyal person. Gianni really delivered the World Cup for the United States. We value that."
The credit that Trump and the White House attribute to Infantino does not belong to any single individual, UEFA, AFC and Concacaf argue, but rather to the "thousands of people who dedicate their lives to the game" at every level of FIFA, the confederations and the member associations.