FIFA President Gianni Infantino has come under fresh scrutiny following reports that he received an additional £1.3 million payment from a company established to organise the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was not disclosed in FIFA’s annual financial report for 2024.
According to reports published on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, documents obtained by ESPN from United States tax filings showed that FWC2026 US Inc., the organisation responsible for managing the tournament in the United States, paid Infantino approximately $1.76 million (£1.3 million) in 2024.
The payment was reportedly separate from the salary and benefits of about $4.9 million he received from FIFA during the same year. The alleged omission has raised questions about transparency and compliance with FIFA’s financial disclosure rules, which require the individual compensation of the president and other senior officials to be made public.
Miguel Maduro, a former chairman of FIFA’s governance committee, reportedly questioned the arrangement, arguing that payments from companies linked to FIFA should be disclosed if they constitute additional compensation. The reported payment could therefore raise concerns about whether the organisation’s disclosure requirements were followed.
However, FIFA has strongly denied any wrongdoing, insisting that it complies with all applicable financial reporting requirements. In a statement, the governing body said the president’s annual compensation and contractual benefits are determined by an independent Compensation Sub-Committee, while its accounts are independently audited.
The controversy comes amid growing scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership, including criticism over a proposed plan to sell stakes in FIFA tournaments to private investors, which was subsequently abandoned. He is also facing questions over other governance decisions as FIFA Council members prepare to meet in Zurich.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, has confirmed his intention to seek another term in the March 2027 presidential election.
The reported payment has renewed calls for greater transparency in the finances of world football’s governing body. However, the allegation of improper disclosure remains contested, with FIFA maintaining that its compensation arrangements comply with its rules and applicable regulations.
