Why is Gianni Infantino seeking help from the Trump administration?

Infantino is facing growing pressure to resign following the failure of his plan to sell World Cup commercial rights to a private investment fund, so he is seeking powerful allies who would publicly support him.

Is a meeting scheduled between Infantino and Marco Rubio?

According to the New York Post, Infantino scheduled a private conversation with Rubio for Monday, but Dylan Johnson, an assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State, denied this information, stating there are no plans for a meeting.

What was the controversial plan that triggered the crisis at FIFA?

Infantino planned to spin off the World Cup commercial rights into a new company, FIFA Forward Enterprise, and sell a 20 percent stake to Thrive Capital for over four billion dollars, which sparked a unanimous rebellion from UEFA and threats of a boycott.

Who is Josh Kushner and what is his role in this story?

Josh Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, and the founder of private investment firm Thrive Capital, which was set to acquire a 20 percent stake in FIFA's new commercial venture.

World

Infantino in Desperation Seeks Trump's Help, White House Rebuffs Him

A.D. · Prije 4h | 3 min

FIFA president reportedly tried to contact Donald Trump multiple times without success, while the State Department denied a scheduled meeting with Marco Rubio.

Summary

Gianni Infantino reportedly seeks help from Donald Trump's administration to retain his position as FIFA president.
The New York Post claims Infantino scheduled a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but the State Department denies it.
Infantino repeatedly tried to reach President Trump by phone without success after the collapse of the plan to sell World Cup commercial rights.
The failed plan sparked an open rebellion within FIFA, and UEFA threatened to boycott all competitions.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is under immense pressure and is attempting to secure political support from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to maintain his position. According to an exclusive report by the New York Post, the 56-year-old Infantino scheduled a private conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for Monday.

However, the State Department quickly issued a sharp denial. "There are no plans for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to meet with Infantino, and there was no call this morning," said Dylan Johnson, an assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State, via the social media platform X. Johnson even suggested that the New York Post should have checked its sources or simply asked the State Department.

Attempts to Save His Position

Sources close to the situation claim that since Friday, when his controversial plan collapsed, Infantino has repeatedly tried to reach the 80-year-old Trump by phone without success. "He wanted to contact the Secretary and discuss how soccer can serve as a form of 'soft power' for America," one informed source told the New York Post. "But everyone knows this is purely about saving his position. At this point, nothing else matters."

Another source adds that the Swiss-Italian sports official feels "isolated" due to a series of negative media reports and is "seeking strong allies who will publicly support him."

Failed Plan and Rebellion Within FIFA

The root of the crisis lies in Infantino's attempt to spin off the commercial rights of the World Cup, including broadcasting, sponsorships, licensing, and ticket sales, into a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise. The plan, first reported by The Times of London, envisioned private investment firm Thrive Capital, led by Josh Kushner, the younger brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared, taking a 20 percent stake for just over four billion dollars. Football officials worldwide learned of the plan through the media, further enraging the federations.

This move sparked a fierce reaction. UEFA unanimously rebelled and threatened to boycott all competitions organized by FIFA, including the next World Cup, which is jointly hosted by Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. Kevin Lamour, FIFA's chief operating officer, told the Associated Press that he felt "betrayed" by Infantino's actions, emphasizing that he was unaware of the secret talks.

Within FIFA, headquartered in Zurich, an open rebellion has erupted. One official revealed to the New York Post that colleagues want to oust Infantino as part of an operation they have dubbed "Project: Kill the Monster."