TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. President Donald Trump wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to serve as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), the US media outlet New York Post reported on Tuesday, citing a source close to the American leader.
According to the source, Trump regards Infantino as a globally respected figure possessing the ability to unite nations.
However, it remains unclear whether Infantino is willing to head the international body, or whether Trump has discussed the proposal directly with him.
Incumbent UN Secretary-General António Guterres will complete his second term on December 31. To secure the role, any winning candidate must gain approval from the 15-member UN Security Council.
The proposal follows the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final at New Jersey Stadium. Trump attended the match alongside Infantino, joining the FIFA chief on the winner's podium to hand out gold medals and the trophy to the Spanish squad. Their joint presence highlighted a close rapport developed throughout the tournament, coming eight months after Infantino presented Trump with FIFA's inaugural "Peace Prize".
Despite the success, Infantino's handling of the tournament faced heavy criticism. Before kickoff, the administrator drew fire over high ticket prices and the tournament's expanded 48-team format.
Tensions escalated further when Trump pressured Infantino to overturn a red card given to American player Folarin Balogun. FIFA's subsequent decision to suspend Balogun's ban broke with standard precedent, prompting public outrage over perceived political influence before the American team ultimately lost 4-1 to Belgium.
Following the decision, several members of the European Parliament urged an investigation into Infantino, while human rights group FairSquare filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee alleging he violated political neutrality rules.
While acknowledging receiving a call from Trump regarding the Balogun incident, Infantino defended the disciplinary action, insisting FIFA’s judicial bodies remain independent.
Antara contributed to this article.
Read: Spain Won the World Cup, but Donald Trump 'Cast a Shadow'
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