Trump says ousting Infantino as FIFA president would be ‘terrible mistake’

U.S. President Donald Trump has cautioned that removing FIFA President Gianni Infantino would be a "terrible mistake." Infantino has faced opposition from three out of six continental confederations due to his failed attempt to privatize the men's World Cup. Trump praised Infantino's leadership, citing the most successful World Cup in history, and warned that without him, future tournaments would not be as successful or profitable.

Trump's statement was shared on both Truth Social and X, his social media platforms. Despite Trump's support, Infantino's presidency has been marred by controversy, including the controversial privatization attempt and his perceived influence over FIFA's decisions during the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

Infantino's efforts to privatize FIFA's commercial aspects led to pressure from the European governing body UEFA, who threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments. Since then, Infantino has faced potential legal action from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation.