Trump wants FIFA chief as UN Secretary-General, reports NYT

U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly put forward FIFA President Gianni Infantino as his preferred candidate for the next United Nations Secretary-General, according to sources cited by The New York Times. Trump allegedly believes Infantino is a figure respected worldwide, possessing a special talent for bringing people together.

Infantino has met with Trump on multiple occasions, partly due to the United States co-hosting the recent World Cup. The current UN Secretary-General António Guterres's successor is set to be chosen this year. For Infantino to secure the position, he would require the support of both the UN Security Council and the General Assembly. It remains unclear if the 56-year-old Swiss official is interested in the role or has discussed it with Trump.

Should Infantino pursue the position, his candidacy would challenge the traditional expectation of a UN Secretary-General being selected from the Latin America and Caribbean region. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru was the last representative from this region to hold the post, serving from 1982 to 1991. However, sources suggest that geographical rotation does not necessarily preclude Infantino, who might secure additional nominations beyond Trump's backing.

Paolo Zampolli, Trump's special envoy for global partnerships, told The New York Times that the idea was "genius" and that Infantino would "do a great job" and is "loved by everyone." FIFA faced criticism during the World Cup, including for a decision involving U.S. player Folarin Balogun. Trump admitted to asking Infantino to review a red card suspension for Balogun, though the U.S. team lost their subsequent match.