Published : 23 Jul 2026, 04:15 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:27 AM
US President Donald Trump is backing FIFA President Gianni Infantino to succeed Portugal’s Antonio Guterres as United Nations secretary-general following the 2026 World Cup, The Independent reports.
Citing a White House insider via The New York Post, The Independent details how Trump believes his close ally possesses a "special ability to bring people together" and is "respected by everyone around the world” with Guterres due to step down from the role in December.
Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships Paolo Zampolli hailed the proposal as "genius”, drawing parallels between governing FIFA’s 200-plus member associations and the UN’s 193 member states.
Infantino, a Swiss lawyer, has already said he intends to seek a third term as FIFA president and has not commented on Trump's reported proposal.
Any bid for the UN's top post would require approval from the Security Council and the General Assembly. He would also face potential rivals including former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi.
According to The Independent, the move would involve a sharp pay cut, with Infantino's reported annual FIFA salary of about $6 million falling to around $418,000 as UN secretary-general.
Trump and Infantino strengthened ties during the US, Canada and Mexico-hosted World Cup, which ended with Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina.
Trump joined Infantino in presenting the trophy to Spain and later praised the FIFA chief despite criticism over the tournament, including its expansion to 48 teams, ticket prices and FIFA's decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's suspension after reported pressure from the US president.
