President Donald Trump has reportedly thrown his support behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, according to a report from the New York Post. The move would elevate the close friendship between the two leaders into a formal working relationship on the global stage.
Trump believes Infantino is «respected by everyone around the world,» a source told the Post, and that after the first-ever FIFA World Cup hosted across three countries, the world «recognizes he has a special ability to bring people together.» The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on the matter.
Infantino, the Swiss-born president of soccer's largest governing body, grew close to Trump while organizing the World Cup. Trump was involved in several aspects of the tournament, including receiving FIFA's inaugural Peace Prize from Infantino in December. He also handed out the Club World Cup trophy last year at MetLife Stadium and presented Spain's Rodri with the World Cup trophy on Sunday after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 to win the tournament at the same venue.
During the final match, Trump was seated between First Lady Melania Trump and Infantino, with the World Cup trophy visible in his suite before he presented it on the pitch. The next UN secretary-general will be elected later this year and will begin their term on Jan. 1, 2027, succeeding Portugal's António Guterres, who steps down in December.
Whether Infantino will be considered for the role remains uncertain. He must first be endorsed by all 15 members of the Security Council before receiving confirmation from the General Assembly. The Security Council's five permanent members each hold veto power. Infantino must also want the post himself, and it is unclear whether that is the case. FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
If Infantino chooses to run, Trump believes he would face seven «lame» candidates, including Chile's former socialist president, Michelle Bachelet. Argentina's Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, could also be a contender, though he may face resistance from the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, a disputed situation that surfaced during the World Cup.
Paolo Zampolli, Trump's special envoy for global partnerships, told the Post that Infantino «would do a great job,» adding that he is «liked by everybody.» Zampolli, a former ambassador to the UN for Dominica, has dealt with FIFA in the past, including pitching to Infantino to replace Iran with Italy for the World Cup to repair relations between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. «At the United Nations, you have to deal with 193 member states. In FIFA, there are over 200 members [and] Gianni's great record shows he knows how to manage,» Zampolli said.
Infantino has faced criticism from some soccer organizations after the reversal of Folarin Balogun's red card for Team USA ahead of their Round of 16 match against Belgium. Trump confirmed he called Infantino to review the controversial red card, which would have caused Balogun, the team's leading goal scorer at the time, to miss the crucial match.
Infantino faces his own election next year, with the FIFA Congress deciding in March 2027 whether he will run for a fourth term. Trump has not shied away from his views on the UN since returning to office, cutting U.S. contributions to the organization and withdrawing from the World Health Organization, UNESCO, and the UN Human Rights Council.
If Infantino does not pursue the UN post and is re-elected as FIFA president, he will organize another tournament in 2027: the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, followed by the 2030 FIFA World Cup. To honor the tournament's 100th anniversary, matches will begin in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay before the majority are played in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal. Like this year's World Cup, history will be made as no tournament has ever been played in six different countries and three different continents.