FIFA President Gianni Infantino sought support from the Trump administration following widespread criticism and the collapse of his plan to sell a stake in the organization’s World Cup commercial rights, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The proposal, which aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion from private investors by selling approximately 20% of a new entity responsible for managing key competitions including the World Cup, was abandoned last Friday amid strong opposition from FIFA stakeholders. The failure of the initiative has intensified scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership and raised questions about his prospects for re-election in 2027.

Sources indicated that Infantino attempted multiple times to contact then-U.S. President Donald Trump by phone after the plan’s rejection but was unable to reach him. The FIFA chief reportedly felt isolated amid a surge of negative media coverage following the setback.

Infantino and Trump have maintained a close relationship, having appeared together at several prominent football events, including the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Their association was underscored in December 2025 when Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, making the former president the award’s first honoree.

The controversial proposal was poised to be supported by Thrive Capital, a private investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, further fueling interest in the nature of the ties between FIFA’s leadership and U.S. political figures.

In addition to reaching out to Trump, Infantino scheduled private discussions with then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Reports suggested a call was planned for shortly after 9 a.m. local time; however, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson later clarified on social media that such a conversation was not scheduled, stating there were “no plans” for Rubio to speak with the 56-year-old Swiss-Italian official that morning.

FIFA did not provide immediate comment on the developments. The organization now faces ongoing challenges as it navigates the fallout from the proposal’s failure and its implications for the future governance of the world’s leading soccer institution.