Fifa president Gianni Infantino received a payment of about R29 million linked to the 2026 World Cup that was not declared in Fifa’s main financial report, according to public filings in the United States.
The filings were made to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They show that FWC2026 US Inc paid the money to Infantino in 2024. The company is a non-profit body set up to run the 48-team tournament in North America.
The amount was reported as £1.76 million. The story first appeared in The Times, and IOL reported on it.
“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,” said Miguel Maduro, a former chairman of Fifa’s governance committee.
Fifa’s own annual financial statements put Infantino’s 2024 earnings at about 4.27 million Swiss francs, or roughly R85.1 million. The extra payment from the US World Cup company was left out of that public report.
Article 43 of the Fifa statutes says the pay of the president, secretary-general and council members must be made fully public. Critics said paying executives through smaller related companies gets around these rules.
They also said it avoids checks by Fifa’s independent compensation subcommittee. Watchdog groups warned that such payments could undo reforms made after Sepp Blatter fell from power in 2015.
Fifa denied that it had broken any ethics or financial rules. It did not deny 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,” Fifa said in a statement.
Fifa spokespeople said all its financial statements are checked by independent auditors. They said Fifa follows tax laws in Switzerland, the US and other countries.
The news comes soon after the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico. Fifa said that tournament broke all-time records for crowds and commercial income.
Earlier in 2026, Infantino also faced strong pushback over a plan to sell a 20% stake in World Cup commercial rights to private equity investors. That plan has since been dropped.
Members of the Fifa council, backed by senior Uefa figures, are getting ready to question Infantino at an executive meeting in Zurich.
Some Uefa leaders have started asking former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger to run against Infantino for the Fifa presidency. Wenger is Fifa’s chief of global football development.
Former Uefa executive Alex Phillips told BBC Sport that Wenger “would bring football and integrity to the leadership of Fifa”.
Wenger has not said whether he will stand. Nominations for candidates close on 18 November, and the election takes place at the Fifa Congress in Rabat on 18 March 2027.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.