According to news reports, President Donald Trump favors Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, for the upcoming United Nations Secretary-General post in what has become an interesting turn of events in politics following a sports friendship. The news report, which emerged in major news sources on July 21–22, 2026, claims that Trump thinks Infantino is exceptionally gifted in bringing people together and would be able to follow up António Guterres when his term elapses in December. This news report is important because it is not presented as an official nomination by either the United States government or the UN, but as a personal choice of the president expressed to his allies and sources close to him.
Why Infantino
The central argument in the reports is that Trump views Infantino as a global figure with broad recognition and a talent for mediation. One source quoted in the New York Post said Trump believes Infantino is
“respected by everyone around the world”
and has
“a special ability to bring people together.”
That language reflects the broader image Trump and his circle appear to be building around Infantino: not just as FIFA’s president, but as a cross-border dealmaker whose profile has been amplified by football’s global reach. Reports also note that Infantino’s relationship with Trump intensified through the 2026 World Cup, where the two were frequently linked in public and private settings.
World Cup backdrop
Timing is closely tied to the World Cup. According to multiple sources, Trump and Infantino’s friendship flourished because of the World Cup, which was jointly hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, with the FIFA head making continuous efforts to remain close to Trump through this time. Sources report that Infantino himself got FIFA’s first Peace Prize in December, an award that reflected on their unique friendship. In addition, according to one of the sources, Infantino grew close to Trump while working with him to organize the World Cup, adding to the reputation that the football official has gained from being more than a sports administrator for Trump.
UN succession process
Even if Trump wants Infantino in the role, the path to the UN’s top job is highly formal and politically demanding. The next Secretary-General must win backing from the 15-member UN Security Council, where the five permanent members hold veto power, and then receive approval from the General Assembly.
This makes the alleged preference for Trump just the first step in a much more complex procedure. It is reported that the incumbent from Portugal named António Guterres will be retiring by the end of December 2026; this means that the procedure will get more intensive during the coming months. One of the major uncertainties related to this matter is the desire of Infantino to get this position. Indeed, several reports specifically note that it is not known for sure whether Infantino is interested in getting this position or whether Trump has even discussed this issue with him. This uncertainty becomes very important given the fact that Infantino already has a public future in football. For example, one of the reports states that Infantino officially stated his intention to run for the presidency of FIFA again.
Political implications
The reported move has wider implications beyond Trump and Infantino. One report says the idea could disrupt long-standing expectations that a candidate from Latin America or the Caribbean might succeed Guterres under the UN’s informal regional rotation norms.
This is one of the reasons that have made the tale capture the interest of not only politicians but football fans as well. If there is a serious possibility that the FIFA president becomes a candidate for the UN post, then the issue is likely going to change from personal issues to issues of governance, legitimacy, and the lines that exist between sports influence and diplomacy. This is a very good example of how sports leaders, diplomacy, and presidency can interact in the present-day world. Here are the simple facts: Trump apparently backs Infantino, Guterres leaves at the end of the year.
