Infantino sought Trump support after failed Fifa World Cup rights plan, report says

Fifa president Gianni Infantino sought backing from the Trump administration after abandoning a plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup, the New York Post has reported.

The newspaper, citing sources familiar with the matter, said Infantino had repeatedly attempted to contact United States president Donald Trump by telephone since the proposal was withdrawn on Friday.

It added that the Fifa president felt “isolated” as criticism of the plan intensified across the media.

Fifa has not immediately commented on the report.

Infantino’s proposal involved separating Fifa’s commercial assets from the governing body and placing them in a new entity supported by private investors.

The plan was intended to raise as much as $4.2bn by selling an approximate 20% stake in the new company. The entity would have overseen commercial interests connected to competitions including the World Cup.

That proposal was abandoned on Friday after strong opposition from stakeholders, bringing the initiative to an abrupt end and increasing pressure on Infantino.

Attention has since shifted to what the failed plan could mean for the Swiss-Italian’s position at the head of world football. Infantino is seeking another term as Fifa president, which would run from 2027 to 2031, but the decision to abandon the investment model has placed that bid under greater scrutiny.

Relationship with Trump

Infantino and Trump have developed a close relationship in recent years and have appeared together at major football events, including this year’s World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Their association attracted particular attention in December 2025, when Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize. Trump became the first recipient of the award.

That relationship was examined more closely after the proposed commercial deal emerged, partly because Thrive Capital was expected to play a central role in the transaction. The investment firm was founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The New York Post also reported that Infantino had arranged private discussions with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

According to two sources familiar with the matter, the Fifa president was expected to speak with the country’s top diplomat shortly after 09:00 Eastern Time, or 15:00 South Africa time.

However, Dylan Johnson, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, rejected that part of the report in a post on X.

Johnson said there were “no plans” for Rubio to speak with 56-year-old Infantino and added: “there is no call this morning”.