Trump Backs Infantino Amid FIFA Controversy and Criticism

United States President Donald Trump publicly supported FIFA President Gianni Infantino on social media, warning that any attempt to remove him would be a "terrible mistake." This statement comes as Infantino faces criticism from major continental football confederations, including UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation, over the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which aimed to create a new company to manage FIFA's commercial rights. The proposal, which included selling 21 percent to a private investor group, was abandoned following backlash.

Trump praised FIFA's preparations for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, predicting it could be the most successful World Cup ever. The controversy surrounding the FFE proposal intensified scrutiny of FIFA's commercial strategy and Infantino's leadership, particularly due to the involvement of Thrive Eternal, led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.