The internal crisis at FIFA continues to escalate, and President Gianni Infantino's situation is becoming increasingly difficult. Reports indicate that the head of the highest authority in international football is seeking public support from his friend, US President Donald Trump, to assure him that he still enjoys the trust of Trump and his core team.
The New York Post reports that Gianni Infantino is currently facing multiple pressures. He previously proposed selling some of the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors, but was ultimately forced to abandon the plan due to significant controversy. Furthermore, his management style has been fiercely criticized, and there are reports that UEFA may take legal action. Against this backdrop, Infantino has reportedly sought political support from the Trump administration.
The report states that after abandoning related business plans on the night of July 31 to August 1, Infantino felt "isolated" and made several unsuccessful attempts to contact Trump. The FIFA president had originally planned to speak with US Secretary of State Rubio on Monday morning US time.
The White House has not confirmed whether Trump continues to support Infantino.
On Monday afternoon, L'Équipe contacted the White House press office regarding whether the Trump administration supported Gianni Infantino. The White House did not directly respond, instead referring the reporter to a previous social media statement by Dylan Johnson, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Global Public Affairs.
Johnson stated, "Secretary of State Rubio currently has no plans to meet with Infantino, nor is there a plan to speak with him this morning."
Subsequently, L'Equipe inquired whether Trump would still support Infantino in the FIFA presidency and related responsibilities, but the White House press office did not provide a specific response.
Whether Gianni Infantino can continue to receive support from the United States has become a focus of attention. With the 2026 World Cup to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the relationship between FIFA and the US government is also attracting more attention.
