Trump Pushes FIFA Boss Gianni Infantino for UN Secretary-General Role
Donald Trump is reportedly backing Gianni Infantino for the UN Secretary-General position, a move that could shake up global politics.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seen as a potential successor to Antonio Guterres, who is expected to step down at the end of December 2026 after nine years in the role.
Trump views Infantino as a unifying figure with global credibility, thanks to his extensive work with soccer leagues, national associations, and major sponsors. This endorsement comes on the heels of an embarrassing moment for Trump involving a World Cup star that was broadcast worldwide.
The relationship between Trump and Infantino solidified during the 2026 World Cup, where they made several public appearances together. Infantino may still seek a fourth term as FIFA president when his current term ends in 2027.
After Spain's victory over Argentina in the World Cup final, Trump declared on Truth Social, "The World Cup turned out to be a spectacular SUCCESS!" He praised law enforcement and others involved, singling out Andrew Giuliani and Infantino for their contributions.
Trump stated, "Few people will ever be able to accomplish what he has done in elevating the World Cup to a level that nobody thought was possible."
Trump and Infantino were seen together after England's semifinal loss to Argentina and during Spain's trophy presentation.
However, Trump cannot directly appoint Infantino to the Secretary-General position. Article 97 of the UN Charter stipulates that the General Assembly selects the Secretary-General based on a recommendation from the Security Council.
A candidate must first be proposed by a member state, followed by public questioning and Security Council straw polls before any formal recommendation is made.
The main hurdle lies in securing at least nine votes from the Security Council while avoiding a veto from any of its five permanent members: the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, or China.
Trump can advocate for Infantino and leverage his influence in this pursuit. Their connection drew scrutiny after Trump reached out to Infantino before FIFA suspended U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's red card prior to the Round of 16 match against Belgium.
This ruling led to further allegations of corruption, although FIFA insisted that Trump's involvement did not influence the decision. Reports indicated that FIFA Disciplinary Committee chairman Mohammad al-Kamali made the ruling without consulting the other 18 committee members.
The 2026 World Cup final set records with 62.8 million TV viewers and generated $15.2 billion in revenue, achieving unprecedented highs in both categories.
