U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for the selection of Gianni Infantino, president of the world football governing body FIFA, as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. The New York Post, citing informed sources, reported that Trump views Infantino as a globally respected figure with a unique ability to bring nations and countries closer together.
Gianni Infantino, 56, a Swiss-born football administrator, developed closer ties with Trump during this year’s FIFA World Cup. He appeared alongside the U.S. president at several official events, brought FIFA’s gold trophies to the White House, and in December 2025 presented Trump with FIFA’s first-ever Peace Prize.
One source close to Trump told the New York Post that the U.S. president considers Infantino a leader capable of fostering unity among nations and governments, a quality he views as important for leading the United Nations.
The new UN Secretary-General is expected to be selected this year. The current Secretary-General, António Guterres, is scheduled to leave office in early 2027, and the process of choosing his successor will be conducted through the UN Security Council and General Assembly.
Under the UN selection process, a candidate for Secretary-General must first secure the support of the Security Council. The five permanent members of the Security Council hold veto power, after which the candidate must be approved by the UN General Assembly.
The New York Post reported that it remains unclear whether Infantino is interested in accepting the position or to what extent Trump has discussed the matter with him. According to the newspaper, Trump believes that among the seven current candidates, there is still an opportunity for Infantino to enter the race and that he does not consider the other candidates particularly strong.
Among the prominent figures, Michelle Bachelet, the former president of Chile, is regarded as one of the best-known candidates, although she may face opposition from the United States. Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is also considered a leading contender, though some reports suggest that the United Kingdom may not support his candidacy due to its dispute with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.
According to an informal tradition, the next UN Secretary-General is expected to come from Latin America or the Caribbean region. The last UN chief from this region was Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru, who served from 1982 to 1991.
However, several sources told the New York Post that this tradition is not legally binding and would not prevent Infantino from being nominated. According to these sources, a number of countries could potentially support his candidacy.
Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, described the proposal as “smart.” He said Infantino’s managerial experience at FIFA and his international standing could bring fresh energy to the United Nations and allow the organization to use the power of sport to strengthen relations among nations and inspire younger generations.
Zampolli also said that FIFA and the United Nations share notable similarities. He noted that the UN has 193 member states, while FIFA has more than 200 member associations, and argued that Infantino’s record demonstrates his ability to manage an institution of such global scale.
Zampolli, who is a close friend of Infantino and a former ambassador of Dominica to the United Nations, said he did not discuss the proposal with the FIFA president during their meeting at the World Cup final and was surprised when the idea emerged publicly.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the United Nations’ performance in addressing global crises and conflicts in recent years. Last year, he established an initiative known as the “Board of Peace,” which led to speculation that it could become a rival institution to the UN. Trump rejected that interpretation, saying he hoped the United Nations would play a more active role in resolving global crises.
After returning to the White House, the U.S. president significantly reduced American financial contributions to the United Nations and withdrew the United States from several UN-affiliated bodies, including the World Health Organization, UNESCO, and the Human Rights Council.
If Infantino were selected, some observers believe relations between the Trump administration and the United Nations could improve. However, accepting the role would mean a significant reduction in his annual income, as his salary at FIFA is estimated at around $6 million per year, while the UN Secretary-General earns approximately $418,000 annually.
Infantino is also seeking re-election as FIFA president in the next election scheduled for March 2027. Reports indicate that he has already secured support from nearly all of FIFA’s 211 member associations.
Nevertheless, Infantino has faced criticism following Trump’s intervention in the case of U.S. national team player Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension. Before the United States’ match against Belgium, Trump reportedly asked the FIFA president to overturn the player’s one-match suspension. Balogun’s return to the field drew objections from several European countries, although the United States’ defeat to Belgium reduced the intensity of those reactions.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is also among Infantino’s critics and has called for him to step down. Blatter’s presidency was marked by corruption and bribery scandals surrounding the awarding of the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosting rights to Qatar.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
