Donald Trump breaks silence on involvement in Gianni Infantino's controversial World Cup plan

Donald Trump has broken his silence on Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell stakes in a company that could operate the World Cup.

Infantino has come under intense scrutiny for proposing to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to manage its competitions, with the most controversial plan being the intention to sell a 20% stake to private investors.

US-based Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law, has been earmarked as the lead investor.

The FIFA president attempted to dangle a carrot in front of all 211 global member associations by offering a £30 million payment to those who back him by September 19.

Unsurprisingly, his offer went down like a lead balloon, with UEFA releasing a furious response and its 55 member associations pledging to boycott the World Cup during an emergency meeting.

Federations across the globe soon followed by issuing statements opposing the idea - notably Concacaf and the AFC - bringing the total member associations not in favour to more than 100.

In a damning indictment of what Infantino is attempting to do, even some of his staff members have publicly disagreed with the FIFA chief and want no part in it.

Infantino's chief advisor, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned from his role after releasing an explosive statement, and it appears FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, could soon follow.

Lamour said his colleagues at FIFA were "deceived" by the 56-year-old's proposal, and he underlined his view by putting his job on the line.

"And if that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight," Lamour said after almost two decades of working with Infantino.

Donald Trump breaks silence on Gianni Infantino's World Cup plan

While several haven't been afraid to express their views towards a potentially damaging proposal, US President Trump was unsurprisingly tight-lipped when asked about his thoughts on the matter.

"No, I never spoke to him," Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting at the presidential retreat Camp David on Friday.

The 80-year-old formed a friendship with Infantino in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup.

At the draw in December, Infantino gave Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, a highly controversial award created by Infantino to 'reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world'.

That decision came under intense scrutiny after the US launched strikes on Iran just three months later, and this wasn't the only time their friendship was questioned.

When Florian Balogun's red card was suspended for a year so he could play in the last 16 clash against Belgium, Trump confirmed publicly that he had called Infantino to ask whether an appeal against the sending off would be possible.

Then, an even bigger controversial scenario emerged earlier this month when it was revealed that Trump wanted to nominate Infantino as the next secretary-general of the United Nations.

So, it will come as no surprise to anyone that he refused to give his opinion on Infantino's plans.