Trump's UN Secretary-General Pick
President Trump Considers FIFA's Infantino for UN Secretary-General, Citing Sports Diplomacy
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Paolo Zampolli, the US Special Representative for Global Partnerships and a close ally of President Trump, is cited as a key figure in discussions about Infantino’s potential nomination to the UN secretary-general post.
2
UK officials could oppose Rafael Grossi’s bid for UN secretary-general over the Falkland Islands dispute, highlighting potential regional obstacles to Infantino’s Western backing and the broader rival candidacies.
3
Infantino publicly praised Trump during a World Cup-related event, saying the tournament’s success would not have been possible without the US president’s involvement, underscoring the close personal ties fueling the bid.
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Infantino’s potential UN post would pay substantially less than his FIFA salary (reported around $6 million annually), illustrating a meaningful salary gap if he pursued a transition to the UN.
President Donald Trump wants to nominate FIFA President Gianni Infantino as the next United Nations secretary-general, according to The Sun. Trump has told allies that Infantino's global connections and sports diplomacy make him the right fit to lead the world body after the 2026 World Cup ends.
The current UN secretary-general, António Guterres, finishes his second term in December 2026. That timeline lines up neatly with the close of the World Cup, which the US, Canada, and Mexico are co-hosting, giving Trump a natural window to push Infantino forward, HITC reported.
Trump and Infantino's Unusually Close Personal Bond
The two men have built a striking friendship over the past year. Infantino awarded Trump the FIFA Peace Prize, a move that drew sharp criticism from sports observers. At a World Cup-related event, Infantino publicly praised Trump, saying the tournament's success "would not have been possible" without the US president's involvement, according to The Sun.
Paolo Zampolli, the US Special Representative for Global Partnerships and a close Trump ally, is a key figure pushing the idea, IBTimes reported. Zampolli has been in talks with officials about positioning Infantino for the role, underscoring that this is more than casual speculation from Trump's inner circle.
How the UN Selection Process Could Block or Enable the Bid
Getting to the UN's top job is not simple. A candidate first needs backing from the Security Council, where any of the five permanent members — including Russia and China — can veto a pick. Then the full General Assembly votes. Trump's influence over the process is real but limited, HITC reported.
Regional rotation is also a factor. The UN traditionally cycles the secretary-general role across different parts of the world. Infantino, a Swiss-Italian citizen who also holds Moroccan residency, does not fit neatly into the Latin America or Eastern Europe blocs seen as next in line. That mismatch could fuel opposition from member states that follow the rotation norm closely.
Rival Candidates and the Falklands Wildcard
Infantino would not have a clear path. Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is among the names being discussed for the role. But The Sun reported that UK officials could oppose Grossi's bid over the Falkland Islands dispute, a reminder that geopolitics shapes every corner of the UN selection race.
Other serious contenders are expected to emerge from Eastern Europe and Latin America. Each brings regional bloc support that Infantino would struggle to match. The race is wide open, but Trump's backing gives Infantino a visibility boost that most candidates cannot buy.
A $6 Million Pay Cut and Questions About Feasibility
There is a practical catch. Infantino earns around $6 million a year at FIFA, Daily Mail reported. The UN secretary-general's salary is a fraction of that. If Infantino is serious about the move, he would be walking away from one of sport's most lucrative executive posts.
Critics also question whether mixing sports leadership with global governance sets a bad precedent. Trump has long criticized the UN as ineffective and pushed for reduced US engagement. Some observers find it ironic that he now wants to install a close ally at its helm. Whether Infantino himself wants the job remains unclear, and no formal nomination has been announced yet.
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