Donald Trump is reportedly keen to see FIFA president Gianni Infantino become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, with the pair’s close relationship fuelling speculation over an extraordinary political move.
The US President believes Infantino would be an ideal candidate to succeed António Guterres when the current UN chief completes his second and final term at the end of 2026.
A source close to Trump told the New York Post that the President has been left unimpressed by the current field of candidates and believes the FIFA boss possesses the qualities needed to lead the world’s largest international organisation.
The source claimed Trump believes Infantino “is respected by everyone around the world, and recognises he has a special ability to bring people together.”
It remains unclear whether Trump has personally discussed the possibility with Infantino or whether the 56-year-old would have any interest in pursuing the role.
The pair have developed a close public friendship in recent years, regularly appearing together during major FIFA events.
Their relationship was again on display throughout this summer’s World Cup, with Trump praising Infantino on several occasions during the tournament.
The US President also hailed the competition as “the most spectacular by far” and credited the FIFA president with transforming the tournament into a global success.
Donald Trump is reportedly keen to see FIFA president Gianni Infantino become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, with the pair’s close relationship fuelling speculation over an extraordinary political move
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“The World Cup turned out to be a spectacular success,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added: “Thank you to… the fantastic president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, on a job well done!
“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.”
If Infantino did pursue the UN position, he would be taking a significant financial hit.
Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino have a close relationship
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The FIFA president is reportedly paid around $6million (£4.48m) annually, while the UN Secretary-General earns approximately $418,000 (£312,000).
His candidacy could also create another complication, having already declared his intention to seek re-election as FIFA president.
Several high-profile figures have already emerged as potential successors to Guterres, including former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Grossi, UN Conference on Trade and Development secretary-general Rebeca Grynspan and former Senegal president Macky Sall.
Whoever eventually secures the role will inherit responsibility for overseeing the United Nations’ global operations, managing tens of thousands of staff, supervising its budget and helping mediate international disputes and conflicts.
Trump’s reported enthusiasm for Infantino has also received backing from Paolo Zampolli, the Italian-American businessman and diplomat who serves as the President’s US Special Representative for Global Partnerships.
“Only Trump could have such a genius idea,” Zampolli told the New York Post.
He added that Infantino “would do a great job” and is “liked by everybody”, before suggesting there are similarities between leading FIFA and heading the United Nations.
“At the United Nations, you have to deal with 193 member states,” he said.
Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino gave Spain players the World Cup trophy on Sunday
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“In FIFA, there are over 200 members and Gianni’s great record shows he knows how to manage.”
However, Infantino’s leadership of world football has also come under renewed scrutiny following several controversial decisions during the World Cup.
One of the most debated involved the reversal of United States striker Folarin Balogun’s red card after reports of significant political pressure.
UEFA condemned the decision as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”, adding that FIFA had “crossed a red line”.
European Parliament members Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang also criticised the decision in a joint statement, describing it as “a disgrace and a perversion of justice”.
“Once again, we’ve seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration,” the statement read.
It continued: “The beauty of sport is that it is based on impartial and transparent rules.
“When Infantino allows political pressure to determine who gets to play, this sense of fairness goes out the window.”
