FIFA President Infantino Faces Resignation Calls Over Undisclosed £1.3m Payment
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing growing pressure to resign following reports that he received an additional $1.76 million (£1.3 million) in 2024 from a company established to organise the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the payment absent from FIFA’s published annual remuneration figures.
The disclosure, reported by British newspaper The Times and subsequently covered by Sky Sports and other media outlets, has raised questions about transparency and compliance with FIFA’s governance rules. US tax filings reportedly show that FWC2026 US Inc., the entity established to organize the 2026 World Cup, paid Infantino the additional sum.
According to FIFA’s 2024 annual report, Infantino received 4.274 million Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately £3.88 million, in salary and other disclosed remuneration during the year. The additional payment from FWC2026 US Inc. was not included in those publicly reported figures.
The controversy centres on FIFA’s commitment to disclose the compensation of its senior officials. Article 43, paragraph 13 of the organization’s statutes states that the individual compensation of the FIFA president, members of the FIFA Council and the secretary-general must be made public.
The reported omission has prompted questions about whether Infantino’s full compensation was disclosed in accordance with the organization’s own transparency requirements.
Miguel Maduro, a former chairman of FIFA’s governance committee, has called for an independent investigation into the payments. He argued that compensation received from companies linked to FIFA should also be disclosed if it falls within the organization’s remuneration disclosure requirements.
However, FIFA has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the president’s remuneration and contractual benefits are determined by its compensation subcommittee.
In its response, FIFA said it contributes to social charges, pension funds and other contractual employee benefits for the president, and that these benefits are reported to US authorities in line with applicable reporting requirements.
The organisation has not publicly explained, in the reports cited, why the additional payment did not appear in its published 2024 remuneration figures.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the structure of the 2026 World Cup organising arrangements, particularly the relationship between FIFA and FWC2026 US Inc. The reported payment raises questions about how compensation involving FIFA-linked entities is authorised, recorded and disclosed.
The issue comes amid broader criticism of Infantino’s leadership, including a separate controversy over a proposal to sell stakes in FIFA tournaments to private investors. The proposal reportedly generated concern within the organization and added to tensions over the management of the world governing body.
Infantino, who became FIFA president in 2016 and was re-elected in 2023, has indicated that he intends to seek another term in March 2027. He has not announced plans to resign, according to reports published on October 13, 2026.
The latest revelations have intensified scrutiny of FIFA’s financial transparency and governance standards. However, the reported omission of the payment does not, by itself, establish that a crime was committed or that FIFA’s statutes were definitively breached.
The central questions remain whether the additional compensation should have been disclosed in FIFA’s annual report, whether the relevant rules were followed, and whether an independent investigation will establish any breach of the organization’s governance requirements.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing growing pressure to resign following reports that he received an additional $1.76 million (£1.3 million) in 2024 from a company established to organise the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the payment absent from FIFA’s published annual remuneration figures.
The disclosure, reported by British newspaper The Times and subsequently covered by Sky Sports and other media outlets, has raised questions about transparency and compliance with FIFA’s governance rules. US tax filings reportedly show that FWC2026 US Inc., the entity established to organize the 2026 World Cup, paid Infantino the additional sum.
According to FIFA’s 2024 annual report, Infantino received 4.274 million Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately £3.88 million, in salary and other disclosed remuneration during the year. The additional payment from FWC2026 US Inc. was not included in those publicly reported figures.
The controversy centres on FIFA’s commitment to disclose the compensation of its senior officials. Article 43, paragraph 13 of the organization’s statutes states that the individual compensation of the FIFA president, members of the FIFA Council and the secretary-general must be made public.
The reported omission has prompted questions about whether Infantino’s full compensation was disclosed in accordance with the organization’s own transparency requirements.
Miguel Maduro, a former chairman of FIFA’s governance committee, has called for an independent investigation into the payments. He argued that compensation received from companies linked to FIFA should also be disclosed if it falls within the organization’s remuneration disclosure requirements.
However, FIFA has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the president’s remuneration and contractual benefits are determined by its compensation subcommittee.
In its response, FIFA said it contributes to social charges, pension funds and other contractual employee benefits for the president, and that these benefits are reported to US authorities in line with applicable reporting requirements.
The organisation has not publicly explained, in the reports cited, why the additional payment did not appear in its published 2024 remuneration figures.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the structure of the 2026 World Cup organising arrangements, particularly the relationship between FIFA and FWC2026 US Inc. The reported payment raises questions about how compensation involving FIFA-linked entities is authorised, recorded and disclosed.
The issue comes amid broader criticism of Infantino’s leadership, including a separate controversy over a proposal to sell stakes in FIFA tournaments to private investors. The proposal reportedly generated concern within the organization and added to tensions over the management of the world governing body.
Infantino, who became FIFA president in 2016 and was re-elected in 2023, has indicated that he intends to seek another term in March 2027. He has not announced plans to resign, according to reports published on October 13, 2026.
The latest revelations have intensified scrutiny of FIFA’s financial transparency and governance standards. However, the reported omission of the payment does not, by itself, establish that a crime was committed or that FIFA’s statutes were definitively breached.
The central questions remain whether the additional compensation should have been disclosed in FIFA’s annual report, whether the relevant rules were followed, and whether an independent investigation will establish any breach of the organization’s governance requirements.
