President Trump is pushing FIFA President Gianni Infantino as the next UN Secretary-General following the record-breaking success of this summer’s World Cup, the New York Post reports.
Trump and Infantino strengthened their already close friendship during the ramp-up to the 2026 World Cup — which became the most watched and heavily attended event in tournament history.
The bond between the two grew so tight that Infantino presented Trump with FIFA’s Inaugural Peace Prize in December.
A source told the Post that Trump sees Infantino as the ideal fit because he “is respected by everyone around the world and recognizes he has a special ability to bring people together.”
“Gianni is respected by everyone around the world and recognizes he has a special ability to bring people together.”
The current secretary-general, António Guterres of Portugal, retires in late December.
Infantino would need approval from the 15-member Security Council first — where the five permanent members hold veto power. If cleared, his nomination would then move to the General Assembly.
The Swiss-born Infantino has not indicated whether he wants the position.
Other contenders include Chile’s socialist former president Michelle Bachelet — who would likely face US resistance — and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, the current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Trump’s push would upend the expected selection of a candidate from Latin America or the Caribbean, a region last represented by Peru’s Javier Pérez de Cuéllar between 1982 and 1991.
But Infantino’s European background wouldn’t necessarily derail his candidacy, according to the Post.
US Special Representative for Global Partnerships Paolo Zampolli drew a direct comparison between the roles.
“There is some similarity,” Zampolli said. “At the United Nations, you have to deal with 193 member states. In FIFA, there are over 200 members [and] Gianni’s great record shows he knows how to manage.”
The job would come with a pay cut.
The UN Secretary-General earns $418,000 per year. Infantino’s current FIFA salary pays him $6 million annually.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump reportedly wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to be selected as the next United Nations SECRETARY-GENERAL this year, per NYP
PLEASE make it happen, the meltdowns would be enormous 🤣
Infantino is a BIG Trump fan who saw just how amazing America… pic.twitter.com/qlTHK6xoI5
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 21, 2026
