Trump Pitches FIFA Boss Gianni Infantino as Next UN Secretary-General: Report

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

President Donald Trump is privately pressing for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to become the next United Nations secretary-general in private after the conclusion of this summer’s World Cup, according to a new report.

Current UN Secretary-General António Guterres is due to leave office in December and, according to the New York Post, Trump believes Infantino “is respected by everyone around the world, and recognizes he has a special ability to bring people together,” citing a White House insider.

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016 and has already announced his intention to seek a third term as president of world soccer’s governing body, has not publicly responded to the reported suggestion.

Any bid for the U.N.’s top job would require approval from the Security Council before being confirmed by the General Assembly.

Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, endorsed the idea in comments to The Post, saying “only President Trump could have such a genius idea” and adding that Infantino “would do a great job” because he is “liked by everybody.”

Zampolli, who previously served as Dominica’s ambassador to the United Nations, argued there is “some similarity” between leading FIFA and the UN.

“At the United Nations, you have to deal with 193 member states,” he added. “In FIFA, there are over 200 members [and] Gianni’s great record shows he knows how to manage.”

The reported backing comes days after the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, which ended Sunday with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 in New Jersey.

Trump and Infantino appeared together during the trophy presentation, with the president stepping onto the winners’ podium alongside Spain’s players after helping distribute medals.

The pair have developed a close relationship in recent months, one that generated scrutiny during the tournament when Trump touted how he called Infantino to intervene and lift a red card given to USMNT striker Folarin Balogun.

Should Infantino pursue the UN role, he would face off against other potential candidates, including former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Rafael Grossi.

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