Trump Nominates Infantino for UN Secretary General

U.S. President Donald Trump wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to become the next UN Secretary General, following the success of this summer’s World Cup, according to a news report on Wednesday.

With Portuguese Antonio Guterres set to step down as UN Secretary General in December, Trump believes Infantino is "respected by everyone around the world and knows his unique ability to unite people," a White House source told the New York Post.

Infantino, 56, a Swiss lawyer, has previously announced his intention to run for a third term as FIFA president and has not yet commented on Trump's proposal, which requires approval from the UN Security Council and then the General Assembly.

Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, told the Washington Post that "only the US president could have such a brilliant idea" in proposing Infantino to lead the UN.

Zampolli added that Infantino would "do a fantastic job," stressing that he is "very popular" and hinting that the FIFA chief would bring the same vitality he showed in the world of football to a broader stage.

Zampolli, a former UN ambassador to Dominica, said there are "some similarities" between the positions of FIFA president and UN Secretary General.

He explained: "At the UN, you have to deal with 193 member states. At FIFA, there are more than 200 member states, and Gianni’s track record shows he can manage."

However, for this unlikely scenario to happen, Infantino would also have to overcome several prominent rivals, including former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Argentine Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

It would also mean a significant pay cut for Infantino, whose current annual salary at FIFA is about $6 million, dropping to just $418,000 as UN Secretary General.

But this outcome would please Trump, who has strongly criticized what he calls the UN’s ineffectiveness in ending global conflicts and has withdrawn the US from several UN agencies, including the World Health Organization, the Human Rights Council, and UNESCO.

Trump's relationship with Infantino strengthened during preparations for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, which concluded last Sunday after 104 matches and five weeks of intense competition, with Spain winning the title by beating Argentina 1-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Trump joined Infantino in presenting gold medals and the trophy to the Spanish players, eight months after the FIFA president awarded the US president the controversial "FIFA Peace Award."

Infantino’s management of the World Cup sparked wide debate, drawing sharp criticism before the tournament for the excessive expansion to 48 teams, sky-high ticket prices, and many other issues.

During the World Cup, Trump pressured Infantino to overturn the red card received by US star Folarin Balogun, which would have suspended him for a crucial knockout match against Belgium.