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Former United States President Donald Trump has reportedly nominated FIFA President Gianni Infantino to succeed Antonio Guterres as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Antonio Guterres, the current UN Secretary-General, is set to step down in December. Trump’s latest gesture towards Infantino — who has long sought his favour — appears to be a recommendation for one of the most powerful positions in global diplomacy.

Infantino has drawn criticism for his close association with Trump, not only due to their political alignment but also because it limits FIFA’s credibility in addressing repeated breaches by the United States of its obligations as a World Cup host nation.

World Cup 2026, which was held mainly in the United States during June and July, was marred by several controversies.

Iran’s fair participation in the tournament was undermined when FIFA failed to act against U.S. policies that conflicted with established World Cup regulations.

Somali referee Omer Artan saw his World Cup aspirations crushed after being denied entry at the U.S. border and sent home. FIFA’s inability to intervene — seen by many as a result of Infantino’s alliance with Trump — was widely condemned.

During the competition, the decision to suspend the automatic ban on U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, who had received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, attracted significant criticism. Many saw this as evidence of undue influence and inconsistency in FIFA’s disciplinary process.

Infantino’s perceived subservience to Trump has damaged his reputation within global football. Whether or not Trump’s claim that he personally intervened to have Balogun’s ban overturned is true, the mere plausibility of such a statement reflects poorly on both FIFA and its president.

Now, the same Trump — who received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize only months before a major conflict erupted — is reportedly seeking to return the favour by pressing for Infantino’s appointment to the UN’s top post.

According to journalist Lily Shanagher of The Telegraph, “Mr Infantino would need to be endorsed by the UN Security Council and confirmed by the General Assembly to become the next Secretary-General.”

Shanagher added, “Sources indicated that he might secure several nominations in addition to Mr Trump’s. It remains unclear whether Mr Infantino is genuinely interested in the position or if Mr Trump has discussed the matter directly with him.”

The optics of Infantino’s continued alignment with Trump are troubling for FIFA. There is a growing concern that football’s global governing body could become entangled in Trump’s political strategies.

By publicly naming Infantino as his preferred candidate for the UN, Trump appears to be using his influence over the FIFA chief — who is meant to represent football’s global interests — for political leverage.

Trump has previously voiced strong criticism of the United Nations, accusing it of fostering “uncontrolled migration” and “sabotage,” while also slashing America’s funding and mandatory payments to the institution.

In the view of FourFourTwo, even the mere suggestion that Infantino is being considered for the UN’s top office underscores how his association with Trump conflicts with FIFA’s proclaimed principles and undermines the organisation’s independence.