The US President probably wants to recommend his partner for a position outside of football. But does he actually want that? Ultimately, Infantino would probably have to forego a lot of money.
July 22, 2026, 12:40 p.mJuly 22, 2026, 12:40 p.m
US President Donald Trump is apparently bringing a surprising name into play for the head of the United Nations. According to information from the New York Post, he would like FIFA President Gianni Infantino to be the next UN Secretary General.
The 56-year-old Swiss is said to have gotten closer to Trump while organizing this year’s World Cup. According to a source close to the newspaper, the US president believes Infantino is “respected by everyone around the world and recognized as having the special ability to bring people together.”
The current UN Secretary-General António Guterres will step down at the end of December. The election of a successor is expected to take place this year. To do this, a candidate first needs the support of the 15-member Security Council, in which the five permanent members have veto rights. The general meeting must then approve.
“Only President Trump could come up with such a brilliant idea.”
According to the report, it is unclear whether Infantino is even seeking the office. It is also not known whether Trump has already spoken to him about it.
However, according to an insider, Trump sees an opportunity in the field of candidates. The best-known candidates are Chile’s former president Michelle Bachelet and Rafael Grossi from Argentina, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency.
By supporting Infantino, Trump would also deviate from the previously expected appointment of a person from Latin America or the Caribbean to the post. However, several sources told the newspaper that this geographical orientation does not have to rule out the FIFA president’s candidacy.
Trump and Infantino at the World Cup final.Image: keystone
Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, told the New York Post: “Only President Trump could come up with such a brilliant idea.”
He added that Infantino “would do a great job” and was “popular with everyone.” In his view, the FIFA President could bring new impulses to the UN and use sport to build bridges and inspire young people around the world. There are parallels between the two offices, says Zampolli.
He said: “At the United Nations you are dealing with 193 member states. There are over 200 members at FIFA and Gianni’s impressive track record shows that he knows how to handle such tasks.”
According to his own statements, Zampolli met Infantino last weekend at the World Cup final in New Jersey. However, they did not discuss a possible candidacy there.
Trump regularly criticizes the United Nations
Trump has repeatedly criticized the United Nations in the past for what he sees as its inadequate role in mediating international conflicts. Since returning to the White House, his administration has cut U.S. contributions to the UN and withdrawn from several affiliates, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Council.
An election for Infantino could improve relations between Trump and the United Nations. For the FIFA President, however, the office would entail significant financial losses. According to the report, Infantino earns around $6 million a year at FIFA. The UN Secretary General’s salary was most recently around $418,000.
Infantino has already announced his candidacy for another term as FIFA president. The election is scheduled for March.