FIFA denies Infantino sought Trump backing after failed World Cup selloff

What the report says

FIFA has rejected a New York Post report claiming that its president, Gianni Infantino, was seeking help from US President Donald Trump’s administration after a proposed sale of part of FIFA’s World Cup commercial rights collapsed. In a statement cited by Reuters and published by Al Jazeera, FIFA called the claim “pure fiction” and said Infantino had not recently called Trump or anyone in the administration.

The dispute follows backlash over Infantino’s plan to create a new investor-backed entity and raise up to $4.2 billion by selling about a 20 percent stake in commercial assets tied to competitions such as the World Cup. According to the report, that proposal fell apart after resistance from stakeholders, leaving questions about the FIFA president’s standing and the future of his leadership.

Al Jazeera reported that the controversy is also drawing attention because Infantino has cultivated close ties with Trump, including public appearances at major football events and a December 2025 FIFA Peace Prize presentation to the former US president. The newspaper article also said the New York Post claimed Infantino had hoped to speak with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while a State Department official said no such meeting was planned.

The episode matters because it adds to scrutiny over FIFA’s commercial strategy, Infantino’s political connections and his prospects for another presidential term beginning in 2027, though any future outcome remains uncertain.