Fifa President Gianni Infantino received an additional $1.72 million payment from FWC2026, the US-based nonprofit entity established to organise the 2026 Fifa World Cup, in 2024, according to US tax filings reported by British newspaper The Times.
The payment, equivalent to about £1.3 million, was separate from Infantino's regular salary and benefits for the year. Fifa's annual report listed his 2024 salary at £3.88 million ($5.1 million), but the additional payment from FWC2026 was not publicly disclosed in the report, according to the media reports.
The revelation has intensified scrutiny of Infantino's compensation and raised questions about compliance with Fifa's transparency rules. Article 43, paragraph 13 of Fifa's statutes states, "The individual compensation of the Fifa president, the members of the council and the Fifa secretary general shall be made public."
Miguel Maduro, former chairman of Fifa's governance committee, told The Times that failing to disclose additional payments from companies linked to Fifa could violate the organisation's rules.
Fifa, however, has denied any wrongdoing. A spokesperson said the organisation complies with all reporting requirements and rejected claims that it had violated its statutes.
"Fifa does not pay a second salary to the Fifa president," the spokesperson said, adding that Infantino's annual compensation and other contractual benefits are determined by the independent compensation sub-committee. The organisation also said its accounts are independently audited and its declarations comply with tax regulations in Switzerland, the United States and elsewhere.
The US Internal Revenue Service filing reportedly shows the $1.72 million payment alongside another figure of approximately $4.2 million, corresponding to Infantino's regular compensation as reported in Fifa's accounts.
FWC2026 was established to organise and run this year's World Cup. Fifa Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom received no additional payment from the entity, nor did CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, despite his role as chair of the FWC2026 board.
The disclosure comes ahead of a Fifa Council meeting in Zurich on Thursday, where Infantino is expected to face questions over the payment. The meeting will be the first gathering of the council since controversy erupted over his now-abandoned plan to sell part of the commercial profits from Fifa tournaments, including the World Cup, to private equity investors.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Fifa Council members were seeking answers over the payment. Debbie Hewitt, chair of the English Football Association and a Fifa vice-president, was also reported to have pressed Infantino to release documents related to the abandoned investment plan and other decisions.
The latest controversy adds to pressure on Infantino, who has faced criticism from some football officials and federations. He has not indicated any intention to resign and is seeking another term as Fifa president in March 2027.
Infantino was first elected in 2016 and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. Fifa's term-limit rules allow a president to serve a maximum of three terms, but the organisation considers Infantino's initial three-year term from 2016 to 2019 not to count towards the limit, leaving him eligible to stand again.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Switzerland defender Ramon Vega has expressed interest in challenging Infantino, but he is not considered a leading contender. Candidates must secure the backing of five member associations to qualify, with the deadline to declare an intention to stand set for 18 November.
Belgian newspaper Le Soir has also reported that similar or larger payments may have been made in 2025 and 2026, although those claims have not been independently established.