Andrew Giuliani Backs FIFA Chief, Blasts ‘Jealous’ Critics
FIFA President Gianni Infantino Faces Growing Criticism Ahead of Reelection Bid
What’s Happening with FIFA’s Leader?
Imagine if the captain of your soccer team was being voted on for another season—but half the league wanted them out while the other half cheered them on. That’s exactly what’s happening with Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA (the organization that runs world soccer).
As of August 2026, Infantino is fighting to keep his job for a fourth term. The election happens in March 2027, but the drama has already started.
Who’s Against Infantino?
A growing list of powerful soccer organizations have said "no thanks" to another Infantino term:
| Organization | What They Are | Their Stance |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA | Runs European soccer | Lost confidence |
| Concacaf | Runs North/Central American soccer | Lost confidence |
| AFC | Runs Asian soccer | Lost confidence |
| New Zealand Football | National federation | Withdrew support |
| England, Wales, Republic of Ireland | National federations | Won’t back him |
Important Point: These groups control huge chunks of world soccer. Losing them is like losing your starting lineup before a big match.
Who’s Still Backing Infantino?
It’s not all bad news for the FIFA president. Two massive confederations are fully behind him:
- CAF (Confederation of African Football) — represents 54 countries
- CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) — home of Brazil, Argentina, and soccer royalty
Plus, he’s got a very famous fan: U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly warned FIFA would make a "terrible mistake" removing Infantino.
Meet Andrew Giuliani: Infantino’s Loudest Defender
Andrew Giuliani isn’t just any supporter. He was the executive director of the White House Task Force for the 2026 World Cup—meaning he helped organize the biggest World Cup ever. (Fun fact: his dad is Rudy Giuliani, former NYC mayor and Trump attorney.)
Here’s what Giuliani told The Athletic:
"People are jealous when people are very high achievers—and what Gianni Infantino has done for FIFA is he’s taken them to a whole new level that probably they didn’t think was possible."
Giuliani’s Top Arguments for Infantino:
- First "Infantino World Cup" — He inherited Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, but 2026 is his vision from start to finish
- Record-breaking money — The 2026 World Cup made over 4x the revenue of the previous tournament
- Zero incidents — "Largest global sporting event ever without any incident"
- Unanimous reelection expected — Anyone voting against him "needs to get their head examined"
The Controversy That Started It All: Selling a Piece of the World Cup
So why is everyone mad? In early 2026, Infantino proposed creating FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)—a new company to run the business side of FIFA tournaments.
The Plan:
- Sell ~20% of FFE to private investors
- One interested buyer: a company led by Joshua Kushner (brother of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law)
The Reaction:
- Massive backlash from soccer officials worldwide
- Critics said: "You can’t sell off the World Cup!"
- Infantino apologized and scrapped the plan
Giuliani’s Take:
"Look, we are all human beings… sport has become monetized and commercialized. Just because you’re always trying to improve doesn’t mean you won’t take a misstep here or there. I’d look at the body of work and say this is the guy I want leading."
Why This Matters for Soccer Fans
| If Infantino Stays | If Infantino Goes |
|---|---|
| Continuity for 2026 World Cup prep | New leadership direction |
| Commercial growth continues | Possible reform of FIFA finances |
| Trump administration happy | European/Asian federations satisfied |
| African/South American blocs validated | Uncertainty for 2030/2034 World Cups |
Summary
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino is running for a 4th term in March 2027
- Major confederations (UEFA, Concacaf, AFC) have withdrawn support after a failed plan to sell 20% of World Cup commercial rights
- CAF and CONMEBOL still back him, as does President Trump
- Andrew Giuliani (2026 World Cup Task Force director) calls critics "jealous" and says Infantino delivered record revenue and a flawless tournament
- Infantino apologized and canceled the controversial privatization plan
- The soccer world is deeply split—and the next 7 months will be intense
FAQ
Who exactly votes for FIFA president?
A: All 211 national football federations (member associations) get one vote each at the FIFA Congress. It’s one country, one vote—whether you’re Germany or Guam.
What was the "FIFA Forward Enterprise" plan?
A: Infantino wanted to create a separate company to handle World Cup sponsorships, broadcasting, and licensing—then sell 20% to private investors for billions. Critics called it "privatizing the World Cup."
Why does Andrew Giuliani’s opinion matter?
A: He ran the U.S. government’s coordination for the 2026 World Cup (hosted by USA, Canada, Mexico). He saw Infantino’s work up close during the most complex World Cup ever organized.
Has a FIFA president ever lost reelection?
A: Yes. Sepp Blatter won in 2015 but resigned days later amid corruption scandals. Before that, Joao Havelange served 24 years unopposed. Infantino has won three times already (2016, 2019, 2023—unopposed).
When is the final decision?
A: The FIFA Congress in March 2027 will vote. Between now and then, expect intense lobbying, more federations picking sides, and possibly new candidates emerging.
Stay tuned—the beautiful game’s off-field drama is just getting started.