FIFA president Gianni Infantino attempted to secure support from Donald Trump’s administration following widespread backlash over a controversial plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights. The proposal—designed to raise up to $4.2 billion by privatizing about 20 percent of a newly formed entity overseeing World Cup competitions—was abandoned last Friday after fierce resistance from stakeholders.
Infantino’s outreach came amid intense criticism of his leadership and questions about his bid for re-election for the 2027–2031 FIFA presidency. He reportedly tried multiple times to reach Trump by phone after the sell-off strategy unraveled, feeling “isolated” by the negative media attention.
## Stakeholder Pushback Halts the Deal
The defunct proposal involved spinning off FIFA’s commercial rights into a private vehicle. Under this model, investors would receive a minority stake—around 20 percent—and expected returns would be backed by major events, including the World Cup. However, key parties raised objections regarding loss of public control, transparency, and potential conflicts of interest.
By late last week the plan collapsed. Critics from the media and within FIFA amplified concerns that the privatization would jeopardize FIFA’s mission and compromise its governance structure.
## Trump Connection and Concerns Over Influence
Infantino’s relationship with Trump has been under increasing scrutiny in the wake of these revelations. During the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the two leaders appeared together at multiple high-profile events. In December 2025, Infantino presented Trump with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize—further fueling speculation about political influence within FIFA.
According to the report, a private investor slated to anchor the controversial deal—Thrive Capital—is connected to Trump via Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. This added to concerns over potential nepotism and conflicted interests tied to the scheme.
## Political Maneuvering and Internal Crisis
After the plan’s failure, Infantino allegedly arranged private discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Sources claimed there was supposed to be a call around 9 a.m. ET shortly after the proposal folded. However, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, Dylan Johnson, stated via X that there were “no plans” for such a call, confirming “there is no call this morning.”
This sidelining, both in public perception and from expected political channels, appears to have deepened perceptions of Infantino’s vulnerability—especially as pressure mounts surrounding his leadership and integrity.
## Implications for FIFA’s Leadership
With FIFA’s commercial rights plan withdrawn, attention has shifted to the imminent 2027 presidential election. Infantino’s proposal and perceived association with Trump and Thrive Capital have become central to arguments from opponents who say the aborted strategy exposed structural weaknesses in governance and accountability at FIFA.
The backlash could also test FIFA’s stakeholder relations—among football associations, sponsors, and member nations—many of whom expressed concern over losing control of football’s biggest revenue sources.
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