Trump nominates Infantino for UN Secretary-General.Will he leave FIFA?
The New York Post has revealed that US President Donald Trump is seeking to nominate FIFA President Gianni Infantino to succeed Antonio Guterres, who is set to retire at the end of December 2026.
The newspaper reported that sources close to the White House said that the US president wants to push Infantino to assume the highest position in international multilateral organizations, noting that the relationship between the two parties witnessed a great consolidation during the organization of the last World Cup, where the Swiss football official presented the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to Trump last December.
The same sources confirmed that Trump sees Infantino as a widely respected figure at the international level who has a special ability to unite peoples. The newspaper outlined the comprehensive procedural points required to assume this international post, as Infantino needs to obtain the approval of the 15-member Security Council without the use of veto power from the five permanent members, followed by ratification by the 193-member United Nations General Assembly.
Assessment of candidacy opportunities and challenges of the financial situation
US media explained that Infantino's final position on the candidacy is still unannounced, as he prepares to be re-elected as FIFA president in the selection process scheduled for next March.
The sources said that taking over the position of UN Secretary-General will require him to make significant financial concessions, given that his current salary at FIFA is about $6 million per year, while the announced salary of the UN Secretary-General is only about $418,000.
The New York Times quoted Paolo Zamboli, President Trump's special envoy for global partnerships, as saying that the idea represents an extraordinary step that will bring new energy to the bureaucracy of the United Nations. Zamboli pointed out that there is a similarity in the management mechanisms between the two organizations, explaining that the FIFA president is responsible for managing more than 200 member states, which enhances his ability to deal with UN files and employ sports to build bridges and develop relations between countries.
International Competition and Exceeding the Rules of Geographical Rotation
According to reports in the US media, Trump's nomination for Infantino comes in light of the presence of a list of contenders for the position, most notably former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Argentina's Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The sources indicated that the U.S. nomination could change the traditional expectations regarding the desire of some parties to choose a figure from Latin America or the Caribbean, a region represented by Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru between 1982 and 1991.
Media sources continued that geographical rotation will not be an inevitable obstacle for Infantino, as he can get multiple nominations along with American support.
At the same time, reports pointed out that the FIFA president is facing criticism from some European associations against the background of previous administrative decisions that received political support, but this did not affect the support of FIFA member associations for his next candidacy.