Trump backs FIFA chief Infantino for UN secretary

President Donald Trump is reportedly backing FIFA President Gianni Infantino to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to unnamed sources close to the U.S. president. The news follows the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, where the relationship between the two men was prominently showcased.

Trump believes Infantino, who leads soccer's global governing body, is "respected by everyone around the world" and possesses a "special ability to bring people together." The Swiss-Italian administrator has led FIFA since 2016, overseeing a network of 211 national football associations. Their partnership deepened during the recent World Cup, where Infantino gave Trump a central role at events and presented him with FIFA's inaugural Peace Prize in a ceremony last December.

The current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres of Portugal, is scheduled to retire at the end of December 2026. The process to select his successor is already underway, with several officially nominated candidates, including former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi. Traditionally, the position is expected to go...