FIFA president Gianni Infantino has allegedly sought backing from the Trump administration as pressure grows over his future following the collapse of a controversial plan to sell a stake in the governing body's commercial business.
Talks with US officials reported
According to the New York Post, Infantino was due to hold private talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday as calls for him to resign intensified after the proposed deal unravelled. Infantino's position as president has been placed under serious doubt after the shock resignation of his closest adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, last week.
The newspaper, citing two sources familiar with the matter, reported that the pair were scheduled to speak shortly after 9am ET. One insider briefed on the discussions told the publication: "He wanted to get online with the secretary and talk about how soccer can be a form of soft power for America. But we all know that it is about job protection. It is not about anything else at this point."
A second source claimed the 56-year-old Swiss-Italian football chief had become increasingly isolated amid the backlash. "He is looking for allies of note to publicly support him," the source said. However, the US State Department publicly disputed the report.
Responding to the New York Post's story on X, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Dylan Johnson wrote: "There are no plans for @SecRubio to speak with Infantino and there is no call this morning. @nypost should check their sources or they could have just asked us."
Collapse of FIFA commercial deal
The New York Post also reported that Infantino has repeatedly attempted to contact US President Donald Trump by telephone since Friday, when his proposal to spin off FIFA's commercial assets into a separate company collapsed, but had been unable to reach him.
The proposal centred on the creation of a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would have overseen FIFA's broadcasting, sponsorship, licensing and ticketing rights. Under the reported plans, Thrive Capital – the private equity firm run by Josh Kushner, the younger brother of President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner – would have acquired a 20% stake in the venture for just over $4 billion.
The proposal, first reported by The Times, sparked opposition from football federations around the world, with the New York Post reporting that several claimed they had only learned of the plans through media reports. The newspaper also reported that the collapse of the proposal has fuelled an internal revolt against Infantino's leadership.
Internal revolt and UEFA boycott
One FIFA executive reportedly told the publication that officials were seeking to remove the president through a campaign nicknamed "Project Kill The Monster". Kevin Lamour, FIFA's chief operating officer, also criticised the handling of the proposal. Speaking to the Associated Press on Friday, Lamour said he felt "deceived" by Infantino's actions and claimed he had not been aware of the confidential negotiations.
The New York Post further reported that UEFA voted unanimously on July 30 to boycott all FIFA-organised competitions, including the 2030 men's World Cup, which is due to be staged in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. According to the newspaper, such a move could raise the unprecedented prospect of two host nations refusing to take part in their own tournament while also preventing some of Europe's biggest stars, including Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, from featuring.
Infantino has not announced his resignation and remains FIFA president. The Express has contacted FIFA for comment amid the New York Post's allegations.
