Gianni Infantino, president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), is facing intense scrutiny amid controversy over his close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump and a series of contentious decisions within the organization. His recent attempt to broker a sale of the World Cup to Josh Kushner, sibling of Jared Kushner—Trump’s son-in-law—has sparked backlash from the global football community.
Since the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Infantino has openly aligned himself with Trump’s political faction. In mid-2025, he advocated for FIFA’s New York World Cup office to be established in Trump Tower, and later that year, he presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. In February 2026, Infantino also appeared wearing a red “USA” cap referencing Trump’s presidencies during his participation in the U.S. President’s Board of Peace. These actions have been perceived as increasingly erratic, particularly given the mounting criticisms from various football associations.
Infantino’s efforts extended beyond symbolic gestures. He proposed the creation of a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), intended to oversee the commercial rights of football tournaments, promising a lucrative role reportedly earning £30 million annually. However, this initiative was abandoned following widespread opposition.
Further complicating Infantino’s position are revelations involving FIFA’s partnership with ADI Predictstreet, an official prediction market partner utilizing a cryptocurrency linked to World Liberty Financial. This company, initially majority-owned by Trump’s family and later partially acquired by the Abu Dhabi royal family—investors in ADI Predictstreet—reportedly allocated 75% of net proceeds from token sales to the Trump family. These financial intersections have raised questions about conflicts of interest within FIFA’s leadership.
Infantino’s association with Trump reflects a broader pattern rooted in his past. Prior to becoming FIFA president, when he served as UEFA’s general secretary, Infantino was connected to individuals later convicted of wire fraud and racketeering in U.S. courts. Specifically, contracts he signed enabled marketing agents Hugo and Mariano Jinkis to resell television rights at significantly inflated prices. His unexplained trips to New York during 2015, coinciding with major corruption investigations within FIFA, have added to skepticism about his conduct.
Amid growing dissent, FIFA member associations opposing Infantino are reportedly mobilizing to demand an extraordinary congress that could vote on his removal. Forty-three member associations would need to support this initiative, which must be convened within three months of the request, with at least two months’ notice given. If removed, FIFA’s longest-serving vice-president, Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, would assume the presidency on an interim basis.
Infantino remains the sole declared candidate for the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 18, 2027. Though he retains strong backing in regions such as Africa and South America, his support may not suffice if UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation unite behind an alternative contender. Victor Montagliani, president of Concacaf, is being mentioned as a potential challenger.
The unfolding situation places Infantino’s leadership at a critical crossroads amid growing calls for change within football’s governing body. Whether he will choose to step down or seek to weather the current crisis remains uncertain.