Trump Proposes FIFA Chief Infantino for UN Secretary-General

President Donald Trump has proposed FIFA President Gianni Infantino as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, an unexpected nomination that has ignited debate in diplomatic circles about the future leadership of the world’s premier international organization. The proposal, first reported by the New York Post, comes just days after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Trump believes Infantino “is respected by everyone around the world, and recognizes he has a special ability to bring people together,” a source close to the president told the New York Post. The Swiss-Italian football administrator, 56, grew close to Trump during the World Cup’s organization, with the two jointly presenting the trophy to Spain at the final on July 19 at New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Context and Background

The proposal arrives as current UN Secretary-General António Guterres of Portugal prepares to retire at the end of December 2026 after two terms. His successor must be elected this year through a process that requires endorsement from 9 of the 15 Security Council members, with no veto from any of the five permanent members (United States, China, Russia, France, United Kingdom), followed by confirmation by a majority of the 193-member General Assembly.

Infantino’s path to the role faces significant obstacles. As Euronews noted, “Gianni Infantino would not have a clear path to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations, even with Donald Trump’s backing.” An informal tradition of geographic rotation suggests the next Secretary-General should come from Latin America or the Caribbean, a region last represented by Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru (1982-1991). Infantino, as a European succeeding a European, would break this convention.

The Trump-Infantino Relationship

The two leaders developed a notably close relationship during the World Cup planning process. Infantino awarded Trump FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize in December 2025, and Trump later personally called Infantino to advocate for overturning a red card suspension for US striker Folarin Balogun during the tournament. FIFA subsequently suspended Balogun’s one-match ban for a one-year probationary period, a decision that outraged European nations and raised questions about FIFA’s disciplinary independence.

Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, publicly endorsed the idea, telling the New York Post that “only President Trump could have such a genius idea.” Zampolli noted similarities between the roles: “At the United Nations, you have to deal with 193 member states. In FIFA, there are over 200 members [and] Gianni’s great record shows he knows how to manage.”

Analysis and Implications

Infantino’s candidacy would face multiple hurdles beyond geographic rotation. There is growing momentum for the first female Secretary-General — all ten previous holders have been men — with several qualified women already in the race, including former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, UNCTAD head Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, and former foreign ministers María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador and Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett of Guyana.

According to Wikipedia, Infantino’s tenure at FIFA has been marked by significant commercial expansion — revenues have more than doubled, with $14 billion projected for the 2027-2030 cycle — but also by controversies including centralization of power, human rights concerns over World Cups in Russia and Qatar, and questions about governance integrity. Critics have described his management style as maintaining tight personal control over the organization.

Trump’s relationship with the UN has been antagonistic since he re-entered office in January 2025. He has slashed US contributions and withdrawn from over 30 UN organizations, including the World Health Organization, UNESCO, and the UN Human Rights Council. Installing Infantino could improve Trump’s relationship with the institution, though the proposal may further strain ties if it faces rejection.

What’s Next

It remains unclear whether Infantino actually wants the position or has discussed it with Trump. The FIFA president has declared his candidacy for re-election as FIFA president, with that election scheduled for March 2027, and has lined up endorsements from nearly all of FIFA’s 211 member associations. The United Nations, FIFA, and the European Commission have all declined to comment on the proposal.

The UN Security Council is expected to begin considering candidates in late July, with a town hall debate titled “UN Town Hall: The Next Secretary-General” scheduled for July 23 in New York. Whether the United States formally nominates Infantino or this remains an exploratory suggestion will determine how seriously the diplomatic community must engage with what is, for now, one of the most unconventional candidacies in the organization’s history.