Lead

FIFA has dismissed as “pure fiction” a report that its President Gianni Infantino sought support from the Trump administration after the collapse of a plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights. The denial came after the New York Post reported that Infantino had repeatedly tried and failed to reach US President Donald Trump by phone since the proposal was abandoned, and that the FIFA chief felt isolated amid mounting criticism.

Coverage Comparison

The New York Post, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported on Monday that Infantino sought support from the Trump administration after his plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights collapsed. The report said Infantino had repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump by phone since the proposal was dropped on Friday, and that the FIFA chief felt “isolated” by an avalanche of negative media coverage.

FIFA responded on Tuesday with a statement to Reuters: “The FIFA President has not made any call to the US President, or any members of his administration, in recent days. It is pure fiction.”

A separate report, also carried by the New York Post, said that Infantino left New York City last week with letters pledging election support, and that his senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, had resigned and called the plan a “bad deal.”

Key Claims

  • The New York Post reported that Infantino sought support from the Trump administration after his plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights collapsed, citing sources familiar with the matter. FIFA denied the report, calling it “pure fiction.”
  • Infantino’s plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights collapsed after strong resistance from stakeholders. The proposal would have unlocked up to $4.2 billion from private investors by selling a roughly 20% stake in an entity overseeing competitions including the World Cup.
  • UEFA pledged to boycott all FIFA competitions until Infantino dropped the plan, according to reports. Opposition also came from European football federations, Asian and North American football bodies, and fans worldwide.
  • Trump and Infantino have a close relationship, having appeared together at major football events including this year’s World Cup. Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025, making him the first recipient of the award.
  • Thrive Capital, founded by Trump’s son-in-law Joshua Kushner, was set to anchor the deal to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights, according to reports.

Perspectives

FIFA

FIFA denied that Infantino sought support from the Trump administration, calling the report “pure fiction” and stating that the FIFA President had not made any call to the US President or his administration in recent days.

The Trump administration

The Trump administration has not publicly commented on the report. The New York Post reported that Infantino had repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump by phone.

The New York Post

The New York Post reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Infantino felt “isolated” and sought support from the Trump administration after his plan collapsed. The report also noted the close relationship between Trump and Infantino.