Overview
- Citing the New York Post on Tuesday, multiple outlets reported that President Trump is promoting Gianni Infantino, saying Trump views him as a consensus-builder after their public ties during the 2026 World Cup.
- The report stresses the claim is unconfirmed because neither Infantino, the White House, FIFA nor the UN have publicly said he is interested or that a formal approach took place.
- A successful bid would need a Security Council recommendation where five permanent members hold veto power and then a formal vote in the 193-member General Assembly.
- Infantino currently leads FIFA, has announced he will seek re-election there, earns far more as FIFA president than the UN secretary-general would be paid, and has faced criticism for concentrated power at FIFA.
- If advanced, the proposal would break informal expectations that the next UN secretary-general come from Latin America or the Caribbean and could reshape U.S. influence over the UN selection process.