FIFA President Gianni Infantino has found himself in one of the most difficult situations of his tenure as the head of world football. According to the New York Post, citing Reuters, Infantino has repeatedly tried in recent days to reach U.S. President Donald Trump, but without success. Trump, the New York Post reports, has not returned his calls since Infantino’s major business plan collapsed on Friday. According to the same sources, the FIFA president felt “isolated” amid a wave of negative media coverage.
A $20 Billion Plan Falls Apart
Infantino has come under intense criticism after abandoning a proposal to sell approximately a 20 percent stake in a new entity that would manage FIFA’s commercial rights, including the FIFA World Cup.
The project, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was expected to attract about $4.2 billion in private investment, while the entire venture was valued at approximately $20 billion. However, the proposal faced near-unanimous opposition from major football confederations, including UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC, which argued that such a move could undermine FIFA’s independence and the long-term governance of the sport.
According to U.S. media reports, the idea for FFE emerged last year during private discussions between Infantino and Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law. Kushner’s investment firm, Thrive Capital, was expected to lead a consortium of investors purchasing a 20 percent stake for around $4 billion.
FIFA CEO Kevin Lamour told the Associated Press that he felt “betrayed,” claiming he had not been informed about the negotiations. The global players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the decision to abandon the plan, calling it “a victory for the entire game” and insisting that “football is not for sale.”
An Ironic Twist – Just Weeks Ago, It Was the Other Way Around
Today’s situation is particularly striking because the relationship between Trump and Infantino appeared to be exceptionally close until recently.
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, U.S. striker Folarin Balogun received a red card in the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina after colliding with Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović. The dismissal automatically meant a one-match suspension, forcing Balogun to miss the next match against Belgium.
According to reports at the time, Donald Trump personally called Infantino and asked FIFA to review the decision. A few days later, FIFA suspended the enforcement of the ban for one year under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium even though the red card itself remained on his record.
The decision sparked widespread controversy throughout the football world. UEFA said FIFA had created a dangerous precedent, while the Belgian Football Association unsuccessfully challenged the ruling. Trump later publicly confirmed that he had spoken with Infantino, saying he had simply asked for a review because he did not believe the incident warranted a red card.
Infantino also confirmed receiving the president’s call, saying that he regularly speaks with heads of state about matters related to the FIFA World Cup.
Ultimately, Balogun’s return made little difference. The United States lost 4-1 to Belgium and was eliminated from the tournament.
Today – The Roles Have Reversed
Just a few weeks later, according to the New York Post, the situation has completely changed.
This time, it is Infantino trying to reach Trump. According to the newspaper, the U.S. president has not responded to his calls. The New York Post also reported that Infantino attempted to arrange a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson posted on X that no such conversation was scheduled.
Following the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, attention is now turning to the potential consequences for Infantino and his leadership within FIFA. The failed attempt to privatize part of FIFA’s commercial rights has raised serious questions about his management of the organization, with some media outlets already speculating that the crisis could affect his future as FIFA president.
FIFA has not commented on reports that Infantino attempted to contact President Trump or claims that he felt isolated after the project’s collapse. The White House also did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Sources: Reuters, New York Post, AP News, CNBC, CBS News, Al Jazeera, and Sky Sports. X (@MadridXtra).