FIFA President Gianni Infantino sought backing from the administration of US President Donald Trump following widespread criticism after his plan to sell a roughly 20 percent stake in World Cup commercial rights collapsed.

The proposal, which aimed to unlock up to $4.2 billion from private investors by creating a new entity to oversee competitions including the World Cup, faced fierce resistance from stakeholders and was abandoned on Friday, July 31st, 2026.

According to the New York Post, Infantino repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump by phone and felt "isolated" amid negative media coverage. The Post also reported that Infantino had scheduled private talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with sources saying a call was due shortly after 9am ET (13:00 GMT) on Monday, August 3rd, 2026.

However, US Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson stated on X that there were "no plans" for Rubio to speak with Infantino and that "there is no call this morning."

Additional news highlights include Cape Verde’s Vozinha receiving a hero’s welcome in Chile after their historic World Cup appearance, England preparing to withdraw support for Infantino following Wales, US cricket player Reddy receiving an eight-year ban for match-fixing, and Thorbjornsen winning his first PGA Tour title at the Rocket Classic.

Sources