Trump backs Infantino as FIFA faces backlash over World Cup stake plan
Trump said replacing Gianni Infantino would hurt World Cup profits, as regional soccer bodies challenge FIFA’s withdrawn investment proposal.
By Maya Okafor · Markets Writer
· 3 min read
Trump backs Infantino as FIFA confronts opposition from major regional soccer bodies over a withdrawn plan that could have brought outside investors into a World Cup-related operating company. For fans and investors watching sports business, the dispute centers on governance: who controls the tournament and how its commercial future is managed.
President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post Monday night that FIFA would make a “terrible mistake” by replacing its president, Gianni Infantino. He said the World Cup would not be as successful or profitable again if Infantino were removed, according to CNBC.
Trump did not provide a basis for that profitability prediction, Forbes reported. The available reporting does not include financial figures or analysis that can test whether a change in FIFA leadership would reduce the tournament’s future profits.
Why are soccer bodies challenging Gianni Infantino?
The immediate issue is an abandoned proposal connected to the FIFA World Cup’s operations. CNBC reported that Infantino’s plan involved forming a subsidiary to run the tournament, which could have allowed investors to purchase as much as a 20% interest in a separate company.
That is different from selling FIFA itself or selling the World Cup outright. A minority stake would give outside investors an ownership interest in a World Cup-related entity, while FIFA would remain the governing body. The proposal collapsed after opposition across the sport, CNBC reported.
UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation then issued a joint letter criticizing Infantino and FIFA. The groups said trust had been broken “through deception” and described the effort to sell an interest in the World Cup as a serious failure of judgment and a breach of trust, according to CNBC and Forbes.
The criticism reflects a dispute over how the proposal was handled as well as the proposal itself. Forbes reported that FIFA apologized to member associations for errors in its handling of the initiative, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, and acknowledged that the process should have been handled differently. FIFA said the project had been withdrawn.
What does Trump’s intervention change?
Trump’s statement is a public show of support for Infantino, rather than evidence of a formal FIFA decision. The reporting does not establish a removal process, vote schedule or final outcome for Infantino’s leadership.
Support within soccer is divided. CNBC reported that the national federations of Argentina, Mexico and Qatar have publicly backed Infantino staying in office. Forbes also reported that FIFA leaders had reaffirmed support for him, while several soccer bodies, including UEFA, said they had lost confidence in his leadership.
The abandoned plan was backed by Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner, according to CNBC. The key confirmed development remains the withdrawal of the proposed minority-stake structure. Trump’s view that Infantino’s departure would permanently weaken World Cup profitability remains his assessment, not a conclusion supported by financial evidence in the reporting.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.
