Donald Trump has shocked the world by demanding to appoint FIFA president Gianni Infantino as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations in place of Antonio Guterres, whose term is due to end at the end of December. The unusual proposal comes at a time when relations between Trump and Infantino have become increasingly close, especially during the run-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Swiss football chief also awarding the US president FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize last December.
Infantino, 56, is considered by Trump to be someone capable of unifying nations, a quality considered essential to leading the United Nations. A source close to the US President told Post Trump believes the FIFA chief is “respected by everyone around the world” and has a “special ability to bring people together.” However, to make the appointment a reality, Infantino would first need the support of the UN Security Council, where the five permanent members have veto power, before being confirmed by the UN General Assembly. It is unclear whether Swiss officials are interested in playing this role or to what extent the possibility has been discussed with Trump.
Infantino’s selection would break with the tradition of appointing a secretary-general from Latin America or the Caribbean, a region that has not held the post since Peru’s Javier Pérez de Cuéllar served between 1982 and 1991. Nevertheless, the same source emphasizes that geographical rotation is not an insurmountable obstacle and that the FIFA President can receive multiple nominations. The leading contenders for the post are former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who may face opposition from the United States, and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose candidacy could be challenged by the United Kingdom because of the Falkland Islands dispute.
Paolo Zampolli, the US Special Representative for Global Partnerships and a close friend of Infantino, praised the initiative, saying that “Only President Trump could come up with such a brilliant idea.” Zampolli believes the FIFA president “will do an excellent job”, bringing new energy to the UN bureaucracy while using sport as a tool to build bridges between nations. “There are some parallels” between the roles of FIFA president and UN Secretary-General, he said, noting that Infantino has experience managing the complexities of an organization with more than 200 members, like FIFA, while the UN comprises 193 member states.
Such an appointment could also improve strained relations between Trump and the United Nations, as the US president has cut funding and withdrawn the United States from several UN agencies since returning to the White House. However, the move would result in a significant salary cut for Infantino, who reportedly earns around €5.5 million per year at FIFA, compared to the approximately €366,000 earned by the UN Secretary General.
Despite speculation, Gianni Infantino has already announced his candidacy for re-election as FIFA president, with the vote to take place in March 2027. Although he has the support of the majority of FIFA’s 211 member associations, the Swiss official has faced criticism over Trump’s alleged interference in overturning the suspension of player Folarin Balogun during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a move that sparked outrage across Europe. At present, the future of this ambitious proposal is surrounded by uncertainty and diplomatic tension.
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