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U.S. President Donald Trump wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, according to a New York Post report citing a source close to the president.
The source said Trump believes Infantino “is respected by everyone around the world and recognizes he has a special ability to bring people together.”
Infantino, the Swiss-born head of FIFA, world football's governing body, has built up close ties with Trump during the 2026 World Cup.
According to the report, the 56-year-old FIFA president repeatedly sought to win over the US leader and presented him with the organization's inaugural, or first-ever, Peace Prize in December.
The next UN secretary-general will take over from Antonio Guterres and begin a five-year term on Jan. 1, 2027.
Under Article 97 of the U.N. Charter, the secretary-general is appointed by the General Assembly after receiving a recommendation from the Security Council.
Infantino would therefore first need to secure the support of the 15-member council, where any of the five permanent members can use their veto power to block a nomination. He would then need approval from the wider General Assembly.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the UN for what he views as its failure to take on a more active role in settling major international conflicts.
Last year, he set up a U.S.-led Board of Peace, which led to speculation that his administration was seeking to build an alternative to the UN while pursuing peace agreements, including between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Trump denied those claims.
Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has also sharply cut U.S. funding for the UN and pulled the country out of several organizations linked to the international body, including the World Health Organization.
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