Infantino faces fresh scrutiny over undisclosed $1.72m World Cup payment

FIFA president Gianni Infantino received a previously undisclosed $1.72 million payment from the organisation set up to run the 2026 World Cup, according to FIFA and IRS documents obtained by ESPN. The sum, paid in 2024 by FWC2026 — the US-based entity established by FIFA to operate the North American tournament — was not included in FIFA’s 2024 annual report, raising questions about a potential breach of the governing body’s own statutes.

The payment came on top of Infantino’s existing FIFA salary and benefits for 2024, which totalled approximately $4.9 million, bringing his total disclosed and undisclosed remuneration for the year to around $6.62 million.

FIFA rejected the allegations in a statement: “FIFA does not pay a second salary to the FIFA President and complies with all reporting requirements in relation to compensation. The FIFA President’s annual compensation, as well as other contractual benefits, are decided by the independent Compensation Sub-Committee.”

The governing body added: “FIFA strongly rejects any claims that it has failed to disclose any financial information and has violated FIFA’s Statutes. FIFA accounts are independently audited, and all declarations are in line with tax regulations in Switzerland, the United States and elsewhere.”

The disclosure is the latest in a series of controversies to surround Infantino, 55, who has held the presidency since 2016. Earlier this year he drew significant criticism over a since-abandoned proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup to private investors.

Despite the mounting scrutiny, Infantino is reported to still intend to stand for re-election as FIFA president in March. Meanwhile, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin — a vocal critic of Infantino — announced last week that he plans to seek a fourth term at the helm of European football’s governing body.