US President Donald Trump has warned that FIFA would be committing a “terrible mistake” if it moves to remove Gianni Infantino from the top job at world football’s governing body.

Infantino is facing mounting pressure after his failed proposal to sell stakes in the men’s World Cup to private investors.

In a post on his Truth Social platform early on Tuesday, Trump said forcing out the FIFA president would prove costly.

Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump were pictured presenting the World Cup.

The US president wrote: “Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino.

“He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented.

“If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!”

Trump was also at the centre of another Infantino controversy in the summer after he called the FIFA president to ask for a “review” of USA striker Folarin Balogun’s red card. That suspension was later “suspended”, which allowed Balogun to feature in the round-of-16 match against Belgium.

UEFA and two other confederations have already held initial discussions about running competitions on their own amid the backlash surrounding the embattled Infantino.

Europe’s governing body, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Concacaf, which governs football in the Caribbean, North America and Central America, have accused Infantino of “deception”. While it is understood they want to give him the opportunity to resign and leave with dignity, rather than seek re-election in March next year, they also want to protect themselves from the deepening crisis.

UEFA had earlier threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, and that warning was repeated even after Infantino’s retreat, as efforts continue to force him from power.

Infantino apologised for his plan to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company that would manage the commercial and operational side of FIFA tournaments, with a proposal to sell roughly 20 per cent to private investors.

However, an open letter signed by the heads of UEFA, AFC and Concacaf called on FIFA to carry out an independent review into Infantino’s scheme, although the Swiss official was not named directly.

FIFA president Infantino is under intense pressure.

“Leadership in football is not a possession,” the letter said. “It is not about holding – or demanding – power to be held. It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it.

“When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”

This follows member associations beginning to formally withdraw their backing for Infantino’s re-election in 2027, with England and Wales among those to do so.