Trump Pushes FIFA President Gianni Infantino as Candidate for UN Secretary‑General

Overview

• The New York Post reported Tuesday that President Donald Trump wants FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to run to succeed António Guterres as UN secretary‑general.
• Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, publicly endorsed the idea and said Infantino would do a strong job leading the UN.
• There is no public indication that Infantino has agreed to run or that Trump has formally approached him, and Infantino has announced plans to seek re‑election as FIFA president in March 2027.
• Any candidacy must win recommendation from the UN Security Council with at least nine votes and no veto from any of the five permanent members before the General Assembly can approve it, a high bar that invites geopolitical resistance.
• The proposal highlights closer Trump‑Infantino ties built around the 2025 FIFA Peace Prize and the 2026 World Cup and raises practical questions about pay, mandate and how a sports‑sector leader would manage a diplomatic body of 193 states.