United States President Donald Trump is reportedly interested in seeing FIFA President Gianni Infantino take over as next secretary-general of United Nations.
According to a report by New York Post, the US president believes that Infantino, a Swiss football executive, possesses a unique talent for bringing different nations together.
This assessment follows their frequent interactions and close cooperation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
A ‘genius’ proposal
The suggestion comes as the global body prepares for the departure of the current Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second five-year term is scheduled to conclude in December 2026.
Trump reportedly views the existing pool of potential successors, including former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi, as lacking strength.
Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s special envoy for Global Partnerships, described the idea of Infantino heading the UN as “genius”.
Zampolli argued that the experience required to oversee FIFA’s 211 member associations is fundamentally similar to the challenges of leading the 193 member states of United Nations.
The rapport between Trump and Infantino grew throughout 2026 tournament, with FIFA chief appearing at various White House events. Notably, in December of last year, Infantino presented the US president with FIFA’s first-ever Peace Prize.
Formidable obstacles
Despite the president’s reported preference, significant challenges remain for such a transition. It is currently uncertain if Infantino has any interest in the role, as he has already said his intention to run for another term as FIFA president in March 2027 elections.
A move to UN would also result in a substantial reduction in earnings; the FIFA presidency carries an annual salary of roughly $6 million, whereas the UN Secretary-General receives approximately $418,000 per year.
The appointment process is highly complex and competitive. A successful candidate must avoid a veto from any of five permanent members of Security Council, the US, UK, France, Russia, and China, before being confirmed by General Assembly.
Additionally, many diplomats anticipate that the next leader should come from Latin America or the Caribbean, following informal traditions of regional rotation.
Reshaping UN relations
The proposal emerges against a backdrop of strained relations between the Trump administration and the United Nations. Since his return to the White House, Trump has been a vocal critic of the organisation, slashing funding and withdrawing the US from several bodies, including the World Health Organization, UNESCO, and the UN Human Rights Council.
The New York Post suggested that placing a trusted associate in the UN’s top position could be a strategic move to fundamentally alter the relationship between Washington and the international body.
