Media sources have reported an inclination by US President Donald Trump to support the nomination of Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations. This move is based on the strong relationship that has developed between the two men in recent years, especially with the United States' involvement in preparations to host the World Cup finals, which has enhanced mutual trust between the White House and the leadership of the world's highest football organization.
Press reports indicated that Trump views Infantino as a successful administrator who has proven his ability to lead an international organization comprising over 200 national associations, which he sees as sufficient qualification to manage the affairs of the United Nations, which includes 193 member states. This proposal comes shortly after a symbolic gesture by Infantino, who awarded the US President the newly established 'FIFA Peace Award,' a move observers considered evidence of the growing political harmony between the two parties.
Despite this presumed support, Infantino's path to New York faces complex legal and diplomatic challenges, as the mechanism for selecting the UN Secretary-General requires a direct recommendation from the UN Security Council. The candidate needs to obtain the approval of a majority of the 15 Council members, provided that none of the five permanent member states use their veto power, before moving to the final voting stage in the UN General Assembly.
In a related context, the FIFA president faces internal and European pressures that could hinder his political ambitions, as 72 members of the European Parliament have called for official investigations into his role in disciplinary cases related to players in the US national team. Accusations against Infantino of succumbing to political pressure during major tournaments are increasing, which has prompted human rights organizations to file official complaints with the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate a breach of the principle of neutrality.
For his part, Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish League, launched a sharp attack on Infantino, demanding his departure from his current position, accusing him of spreading lies and harming the interests of global football. These criticisms add to the intensity of the debate surrounding Infantino's personality and his suitability for an international position that requires broad consensus and complete neutrality in addressing complex geopolitical disputes away from the football fields.
In addition to political obstacles, financial disparities emerge as a barrier that could make the UN position less attractive to Infantino, as he currently earns an annual salary of up to $6 million from FIFA. In contrast, the UN Secretary-General's salary does not exceed $500,000 annually, which raises questions about the realism of this transition given the significant disparity in financial benefits between the two sports and political organizations.
Trump sees Infantino as an internationally respected figure with experience in managing a major global organization, which qualifies him to deal with UN member states.
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Reports on Trump's inclination to support Infantino's nomination for UN Secretary-General