Just days after handing out the trophy at the World Cup final in New Jersey, Donald Trump is reportedly looking to give Gianni Infantino a much bigger gig than running soccer.
The New York Post broke the story that Trump wants the FIFA president to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations. According to a source close to the situation, Trump believes the 56-year-old Swiss-Italian executive is admired globally and has a real knack for getting people on the same page.
This isn’t some random late-night thought, either. Trump and Infantino have gotten tight over the past year. Infantino presented Trump with FIFA’s first-ever Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw back in December 2025. He’s been openly complimentary about the U.S. president throughout the tournament buildup and execution. Trump also personally handed out trophies at the Club World Cup final in July 2025 and again at the World Cup final on July 19, where Spain took the title at MetLife Stadium.
But getting into the UN’s top spot isn’t just about having a powerful friend in your corner. The current secretary-general, António Guterres of Portugal, steps down in December 2026, and a replacement needs to be selected this year. Infantino would first have to get through the 15-member Security Council, including the five permanent members who each hold veto power. Then the General Assembly gives the final thumbs up. It’s a long process with plenty of potential roadblocks.
It’s worth noting that the Post’s reporting says it’s currently “unclear” whether Infantino actually wants the job or if Trump has even discussed the role with him directly. So this might be more of a trial balloon than a done deal.
Infantino has been running FIFA since 2016, taking over after the massive corruption scandals that rocked the organization. During his tenure, he’s expanded the World Cup to 48 teams, pushed through a revamped Club World Cup, and overseen the awarding of the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia, which has drawn plenty of criticism from human rights groups.
For now, this feels like a classic Trump move — floating a name, seeing what sticks, and keeping the rumor mill spinning. Whether Infantino ends up at the UN or back in Zurich running soccer, the speculation alone says something about how the relationship between the White House and world football’s governing body has evolved in 2026.
Leave a Comment