US President Donald Trump has warned FIFA against removing president Gianni Infantino, saying it would be a “terrible mistake” as pressure mounts on the football chief over a controversial commercial proposal.
Trump’s intervention comes after UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) accused FIFA of breaking trust over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan.
The proposal would have created a new company to manage the commercial and ticketing rights for FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. A 21% stake in the proposed company was expected to be sold to a private investment firm.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote on social media.
“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 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Spain beating Argentina in the final to win the tournament.
Trump had previously said, when the FFE plans were first discussed publicly on 31 July, that he had not spoken to Infantino about the proposal.
Infantino faces mounting pressure
Infantino has maintained a close relationship with Trump. In December 2025, the FIFA president awarded Trump the organisation’s inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
The proposed FFE investor group was expected to be led by Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The FFE plan has triggered a major backlash among FIFA’s confederations.
UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC issued an open letter accusing FIFA of damaging trust, stating that “when trust is broken through deception” and an individual puts himself above the collective that gave him authority, that responsibility has been abandoned.
Although Infantino was not named in the letter, sources told BBC Sport that it should be viewed as an opportunity for him to resign and leave his position with dignity.
UEFA has also threatened to boycott FIFA competitions and said it could pursue legal action over the failed FFE proposal.
BBC Sport reports that preliminary discussions have taken place between UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC about possible breakaway competitions if Infantino remains in office. However, substantive talks have yet to begin.
FIFA has described the criticism as part of a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine the governing body and its president.
