Fragmented by the controversy over his now abandoned plan to sell World Cup shares, Gianni Infantino would seek the support of Donald Trump's administration to strengthen his position at the head of FIFA.
According to the New York Post and the BBC, FIFA's president is scheduled to meet with several US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on Monday, August 3, 2026, to obtain public support. According to sources quoted by the American daily newspaper, this approach would primarily aim to preserve his position, while Infantino would try to portray football as an instrument of « soft power » for the United States.
This initiative comes as the challenge against the leader intensifyes. Following the abandonment of the controversial project, several federations, including Finland, Sweden and Wales, announced that they would no longer support its re-election next March. England could follow the same path, while UEFA calls for its departure and Concacaf calls for a comprehensive review of FIFA governance.
