Donald Trump Reportedly Proposes FIFA President Gianni Infantino for UN Role

Trump’s Vision for a FIFA-to-UN Transition

As the term of current UN Secretary-General António Guterres concludes at the end of December, reports have emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump is actively advocating for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to succeed him. The plan suggests that Trump views the 56-year-old sports administrator as a candidate uniquely capable of building support across diverse geopolitical regions.

The relationship between the two figures has reportedly strengthened during recent international football events. In early December 2025, Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Award, marking the American president as the organization’s first recipient. Trump believes that the FIFA president cieszy się szacunkiem na całym świecie i ma wyjątkową zdolność jednoczenia ludzi.

Procedural Barriers and Geopolitical Realities

Transitioning from the leadership of a global sports federation to the head of the United Nations is a complex undertaking. To secure the position, a candidate must navigate the 15-member UN Security Council—where the five permanent members hold veto power—and subsequently receive approval from the General Assembly. It remains entirely unclear whether Infantino has any interest in pursuing this transition or if formal discussions between the two have occurred.

Furthermore, the selection process is traditionally guided by an informal rotation policy, which currently favors a candidate from Latin America or the Caribbean. Potential contenders often cited include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Rafael Grossi, the Argentine director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Trump perceives these existing candidates as relatively weak, with one source describing them as a group of miernych pretendentów.

The Perspective of U.S. Global Partners

The proposal has found support within the current U.S. administration’s circle. Paolo Zampolli, the special representative for global partnerships, has publicly championed the idea. Zampolli argued that Infantino’s experience managing a global organization with over 200 member federations is directly transferable to the UN’s 193-member structure. Infantino wykonałby świetną pracę. Jest lubiany przez wszystkich, Zampolli stated.

Analysts note that such an appointment could potentially bridge the gap between the Trump administration and the United Nations. Since returning to the White House, Trump has taken a critical stance toward the organization, limiting its funding and overseeing U.S. withdrawals from agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNESCO. A shift in leadership, in the administration’s view, might offer a path toward improved cooperation.

Infantino’s Current Mandate and Financial Stakes

Gianni Infantino is currently focused on his own professional future at FIFA. He has already announced his intention to run for another term as president of the world football federation. The election is scheduled for March of next year, and he is widely considered a favorite, having secured support from federations across Africa, Asia, and South America, despite a lack of backing from UEFA.

The financial shift would be substantial. As the head of FIFA, Infantino earns millions annually, whereas the UN post carries a lower salary. As the political landscape evolves toward the end of the year, the primary uncertainty remains whether the FIFA president will entertain a pivot away from the sport that has occupied his career since 2016.

Sources: Meczyki, WP Wiadomości.