Gianni Infantino faces fresh scrutiny over undisclosed £1.76m World Cup payment

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is facing renewed pressure over his leadership after a payment linked to the 2026 World Cup was omitted from the organisation’s published financial disclosures.

US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filings show that FWC2026 US Inc – a non-profit subsidiary established to oversee the 48-team tournament in North America – paid Infantino £1.76m, approximately R29m, in 2024.

The payment was not included in Fifa’s annual financial statements, which listed Infantino’s official earnings for 2024 at about 4.27m Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately R85.1m. The additional sum has prompted accusations that Fifa breached its own governance requirements.

Article 43 of the Fifa statutes requires the individual compensation of the president, secretary-general and council members to be publicly disclosed. Critics say paying executive compensation through regional subsidiaries could weaken those safeguards and avoid scrutiny by Fifa’s independent compensation subcommittee.

The revelations, first reported by The Times, follow the conclusion of the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico. Fifa described the tournament as one of the most financially successful in football history after it broke attendance and commercial revenue records.

The issue has drawn criticism from governance specialists and senior football figures in Europe. Miguel Maduro, the former chairman of Fifa’s governance committee, said the payment would breach the rules if it was not disclosed.

“It is a clear contravention of the rules if he is paid other amounts by companies related to Fifa and it is not made public,” he said.

Independent watchdogs have also warned that payments made through subsidiaries could undermine the governance reforms introduced following Sepp Blatter’s departure in 2015.

Fifa rejects allegations

Fifa has denied that Infantino received a second salary or that its regulations were breached, although it has not disputed that the payment was made.

“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 subcommittee,” the organisation said.

Fifa also said its accounts are subject to rigorous independent audits and comply with tax laws in Switzerland, the US and internationally.

The controversy follows another challenge to Infantino earlier this year, when he faced opposition to a proposal to sell a 20% stake in World Cup commercial rights to private equity investors. That plan was later abandoned.

Members of the Fifa council, with support from influential figures in Uefa, are preparing to raise the issue with Infantino at an executive meeting in Zurich. European associations are increasingly expressing dissatisfaction, while senior Uefa figures have approached former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about standing against Infantino.

Wenger, who is Fifa’s chief of global football development, is regarded by reformers as a respected international figure who could improve confidence in the organisation’s leadership. Former Uefa executive Alex Phillips told BBC Sport that Wenger “would bring football and integrity to the leadership of Fifa”.

Wenger has not confirmed whether he will enter the presidential race. Candidate nominations close on November 18, with the election scheduled to take place at the Fifa Congress in Rabat on March 18, 2027.