Donald Trump slams 'terrible mistake' as he defends Gianni Infantino after World Cup

Gianni Infantino has been at the centre of major football scandal after it was reported that FIFA planned to sell around a 20% stake in the group, a move that has been widely criticised

Tannur Anders UK & World News Reporter

03:31, 11 Aug 2026Updated 03:45, 11 Aug 2026

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Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump.(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

US President Donald Trump has said FIFA would be "making a terrible mistake" if the football governing body replaced its president Gianni Infantino.

Mr Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Monday, August 10: "FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino.

"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!"

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US President Donald Trump has backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Mr Infantino has been at the centre of major football upset after it was reported that FIFA planned to raise up to $4.2 billion (3.1 billion) by selling around a 20% stake in the group.

The new arm would have been valued at $20 billion (14.8 billion).

According to reports, the deal involved Thrive Capital, a firm run by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner - US President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

But Mr Infantino said one-and-a-half weeks ago that FIFA Forward Enterprise project plan will not go ahead.

He said in a statement posted to X: "Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place."

"As a result, this proposal will not proceed."

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President Donald Trump holds up a red card during a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino(Image: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Before his announcement to cancel the proposal, Mr Infantino reportedly gave FIFA's 211 member nations until September 19 to back the deal, dangling pay-outs of up to $40 million each.

Mr Infantino received backlash for the proposed sale of the World Cup, even amongst his inner circle.

The situation was dubbed 'a bribe with a deadline' by critics and has placed pressure on his grip on the presidency ahead of the election in March.

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