FIFA President Gianni Infantino sought Donald Trump’s support after FIFA abandoned its $4.2-billion private-investment plan, Reuters reported. The approach came amid calls for his resignation.
The New York Post said Infantino repeatedly failed to reach Trump by phone after FIFA abandoned the plan Friday.
The report said mounting criticism left Infantino isolated and searching for prominent allies.
However, FIFA offered no immediate response to the report. The Post also reported that Infantino sought private talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Separately, State Department official Dylan Johnson said Rubio had no plans to speak with Infantino. FIFA withdrew its FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal on July 31 after major football bodies opposed it.
The plan aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling investors roughly 20% of a new commercial entity.
The proposed transaction valued the entity at about $20 billion. That company would have overseen commercial rights for tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup.
UEFA’s 55 associations unanimously rejected the proposal and threatened to boycott FIFA competitions until it was withdrawn.
After FIFA withdrew it, UEFA said Infantino’s leadership had lost the confidence of many football bodies. The controversy now threatens Gianni Infantino’s reported bid for another term from 2027 through 2031.
Read: FIFA President Gianni Infantino “Not Right Man to Lead Football Forward”
Trump and Infantino worked closely during the 2026 World Cup, which the United States, Canada and Mexico co-hosted.
Previously, Infantino also presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025. Meanwhile, reports linked Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, to the abandoned plan. Joshua Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.
