FIFA President Gianni Infantino received an additional $1.72 million payment in 2024 from FWC2026 US Inc., the U.S.-based entity set up to manage the 2026 World Cup, according to U.S. tax filings obtained by ESPN. This payment was not separately disclosed in FIFA’s public compensation reports for that year, raising questions about transparency in how FIFA reports the president’s earnings.
FWC2026 US Inc. is a nonprofit organization created to support the organization and operation of the 2026 World Cup, which took place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tax filings reveal the payment to Infantino while FIFA’s official 2024 financial disclosures list his base salary at 2.6 million Swiss francs, variable compensation of 1.65 million francs, and allowances of 24,000 francs. The additional $1.72 million from the U.S. entity was not included in these figures.
FIFA has denied any wrongdoing, stating that its compensation reporting complies with applicable rules and that an independent subcommittee determines the president’s pay and benefits. The organization emphasized that tax filings and annual reports serve different purposes and that payments from separate tournament entities like FWC2026 US Inc. may be reported differently. FIFA rejects suggestions that it failed to disclose financial information or broke its statutes.
Former FIFA governance committee chairman Miguel Maduro has called for greater scrutiny, highlighting questions over whether compensation paid through a separate World Cup-related entity should have been disclosed more clearly. Maduro’s comments reflect his interpretation of FIFA’s rules but do not amount to a legal judgment.
The issue centers on how FIFA accounts for payments from affiliated entities and whether these fall under the federation’s compensation disclosure policies. The reported payment to Infantino adds to his already substantial earnings, which FIFA’s 2025 financial report lists as 2.6 million francs base salary, 2.2 million francs variable pay, and 24,000 francs allowances, with the variable compensation due to be paid in 2026. These amounts are separate from the payment reported by the U.S. entity.
Questions remain about the reasons for the payment, which responsibilities it covered, who authorized it, and how FIFA believes it should be disclosed. Without access to the full underlying agreements and financial records, a complete explanation is unavailable.
The payment comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership following the collapse of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a plan to create a new company to manage FIFA competitions’ commercial rights. The proposal faced opposition from football leaders and was abandoned in July 2026. Infantino apologized to the FIFA Council in October for communication and consultation errors related to this plan, but criticism of his leadership persists from figures in English and German football.
Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 and was re-elected in 2023 for a term running until 2027. Reuters reported on October 8 that all 54 African member associations had pledged support for his re-election bid.
The 2026 World Cup ended in July, but questions about FIFA’s financial disclosures and governance remain. FIFA’s official statements maintain compliance with reporting standards, but the undisclosed payment from FWC2026 US Inc. adds to calls for clarity about how the federation accounts for compensation paid through separate tournament entities. No legal violations have been established, and further documentation would be needed to clarify the full circumstances behind the payment.
According to Yahoo Sports.