Donald Trump ‘to push’ Gianni Infantino for UN secretary-general | OneFootball

Donald Trump is said to be privately pushing FIFA president Gianni Infantino to pursue the role of UN secretary-general.

The New York Post reported the idea and cited a source saying the US president sees Infantino as widely respected and capable of uniting people, a line the Telegraph said it had confirmed.

Infantino is campaigning for a fourth term as FIFA president in 2027, and it is unclear whether the Italo-Swiss is interested. Seven candidates have already declared to replace Antonio Guterres, who steps down in December.

Paolo Zampolli, an Italo-American diplomat and Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, said only Trump could have had such an idea. He argued Infantino would do an excellent job and is widely liked.

He also pointed to Infantino’s experience with more than 200 FIFA members, compared with 193 at the UN, and to what he views as a strong record in office. Any Infantino appointment could improve Trump’s frosty relations with the UN, and the pair have grown close around the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States. Neither responded to requests for comment.

Source: L'Équipe