Media reports say U.S. President Donald Trump is privately backing FIFA President Gianni Infantino to become the next United Nations Secretary-General after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though there has been no official nomination from the White House or confirmation from FIFA.
U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly pushing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to multiple media reports citing sources familiar with the matter.
The reports claim Trump has privately discussed the idea with allies, arguing that Infantino’s international profile and experience leading world football make him a suitable candidate to succeed António Guterres, whose term as UN Secretary-General ends later this year.
However, neither the White House nor FIFA has officially confirmed the reports, and there is no indication that Infantino has accepted or declared interest in seeking the position.
Reports emerge after 2026 FIFA World Cup
The speculation follows the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Trump and Infantino worked closely throughout the tournament, with the FIFA president repeatedly praising the U.S. administration’s support for the competition. The two also appeared together during the World Cup final trophy presentation, highlighting their increasingly close relationship.
According to the reports, Trump believes Infantino enjoys widespread international recognition and possesses the leadership skills required to manage one of the world’s largest multilateral organisations.
No official nomination yet
Despite the reports, there has been no formal nomination of Infantino for the UN’s top job.
Under the UN selection process, candidates are nominated by member states—not by individuals—and the eventual Secretary-General must first receive the recommendation of the UN Security Council before being appointed by the UN General Assembly.
As of publication, Infantino does not appear among the officially declared candidates listed in the ongoing UN Secretary-General selection process.
Strong political hurdles remain
Even if Trump publicly endorsed Infantino, the FIFA president would still need broad international support to secure the position.
The UN Secretary-General selection requires consensus among the Security Council’s permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States—any of which can block a candidate through a veto before the matter proceeds to the General Assembly.
Analysts note that the current race already includes several officially nominated candidates, making any late entry politically complex.
White House, FIFA yet to comment
Media reports indicate that requests for comment from both the White House and FIFA were declined or had not been answered at the time of publication.
As a result, the reports remain based on unnamed sources familiar with discussions rather than official government announcements.
Gianni Infantino has served as FIFA President since 2016 and currently leads football’s global governing body.
His relationship with Trump has attracted significant public attention during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the pair appearing together at several official events.
The office of the UN Secretary-General is expected to change hands at the end of 2026 when António Guterres completes his term. The selection process is currently underway.