FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces scrutiny over $1.76 million in additional payments

Yesterday 21:45

By: Azzat Manal

FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces scrutiny over $1.76 million in additional payments

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing renewed questions about financial transparency following reports that a US-based company linked to preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup paid him an additional $1.76 million. The reported payments have prompted scrutiny over how compensation connected to the tournament was disclosed and whether the relevant financial reporting requirements were met.

According to documents submitted to the US Internal Revenue Service and reported by British newspaper The Times, FWC2026 US Inc made the payments to Infantino in 2024, alongside the salary, bonuses and other benefits he received from FIFA. The documents reportedly listed $626,229 under a category described as other reportable compensation, with the remainder included in other components of the payment package.

FIFA’s annual report for 2024 recorded compensation of approximately 4.27 million Swiss francs for Infantino, equivalent to around £3.88 million at the time of the report. The additional payments identified in the US filings were reportedly not included in that publicly stated figure, raising questions about whether all relevant compensation was disclosed in the appropriate records.

The issue has drawn attention from former FIFA governance officials. Miguel Maduro, who previously chaired FIFA’s governance committee, has argued that payments from entities connected to the organization should be disclosed if they constitute compensation for the president. He has called for the circumstances to be examined, while the precise nature of the payments and the applicable disclosure obligations remain central to the dispute.

The controversy also extends to reports concerning Infantino’s accommodation in a luxury residence in Miami during preparations for the 2026 tournament. Questions have emerged over whether the additional payments were connected to accommodation or related expenses, but the available information does not establish that the money was used for this purpose.

A spokesperson for FIFA has reportedly maintained that the president’s compensation and contractual benefits are handled through established procedures and that relevant financial obligations are disclosed in accordance with applicable US legal requirements. The organization’s position places the focus on how the payments were classified, which entity funded them and whether the information was reported in the required manner.

Some reports have also raised the possibility that similar payments may have been made in 2025 and 2026. However, those claims have not established confirmed amounts for those years, and they should be distinguished from the figures identified in the 2024 documents.

The case comes as FIFA faces heightened public scrutiny over the financial and organizational demands of the expanded 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. As the governing body of international football, FIFA is expected to maintain clear accountability standards for its leadership and the entities involved in organizing its competitions.

For now, the key questions concern the purpose of the additional payments, their relationship to Infantino’s official compensation and whether the relevant disclosure rules were followed. No court ruling or official finding establishing wrongdoing by Infantino has been identified in the reports described, and the allegations should not be treated as proof of a violation.