Trump would like to nominate the Infanta for Secretary General of the United Nations.

Donald Trump has proposed that Gianni Infantino, the president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), should succeed António Guterres as the next United Nations Secretary-General. According to reports from The Telegraph, citing sources close to the American president, Trump believes Infantino would be an ideal candidate due to his international reputation and ability to bring people together. Guterres' current term is set to expire in December 2026. The suggestion comes amid a period of close collaboration between Trump and Infantino during the preparations and execution of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United States. Their relationship dates back to 2018, when Trump invited Infantino to the White House during the initial bidding process for the tournament. In 2020, Trump again invited Infantino to Washington for the signing of the Abraham Accords, further strengthening their ties. A former UEFA general secretary has noted the effort put into maintaining this relationship with Trump. Infantino's public gestures toward Trump have included awarding him the first FIFA Peace Award in December 2025, a move critics argue was essentially a custom-made honor since Trump had not received the Nobel Prize. Additionally, Infantino ensured that a red card issued to an American player, Folarin Balogun, was overturned during a recent summer tournament, reportedly at Trump’s request. During the World Cup, Infantino presented Trump with a golden trophy bearing his name and a medal around his neck, while Trump remained on the stage even after the Spanish team’s victory celebration. In early 2026, Infantino participated in a meeting with members of Trump’s Council on Peace, during which he pledged support for a $7 billion aid package that included the construction of a new stadium, a FIFA academy, and additional sports facilities in Gaza. This commitment has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, including Fair Square, which filed a complaint against Infantino with FIFA’s ethics committee, alleging repeated violations of the organization’s political neutrality code. They cite his public endorsement of Trump’s policies and actions as evidence of such breaches. The potential candidacy of Infantino for the UN Secretary-General position would require approval through a complex process. First, he would need the recommendation of the 15-member UN Security Council, with at least nine members voting in favor. None of the five permanent members, United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom, should exercise their veto power. Once approved by the Security Council, the General Assembly would formally confirm the appointment. If selected, Infantino’s nomination would break from the informal regional rotation tradition, under which the next Secretary-General typically hails from Latin America or the Caribbean. While this practice is not codified, it has been followed since 1982, when Peru’s Javier Pérez de Cuéllar held the office until 1991. Infantino’s candidacy does not automatically violate this norm, though it would represent a departure from historical precedent. Infantino has not yet responded to suggestions of a possible run for the UN leadership role. He has already announced his intention to seek re-election as FIFA president, with elections scheduled for March 2027. If he were to transition to the UN, his salary would significantly decrease, from approximately six million dollars annually at FIFA to roughly 418,000 dollars as the UN Secretary-General.