Infantino faces fresh scrutiny over £1.3m payment from World Cup company

Published: 2026-10-13 16:21:00

Gianni Infantino is facing renewed questions over FIFA’s financial disclosures after US tax filings showed the FIFA president received £1.3m ($1.76m) from FWC2026, the company set up to organise this summer’s World Cup, in 2024.

The payment was in addition to the £3.88m ($5.1m) in salary Infantino reported for that year, according to Sky Sports. FIFA’s annual report did not publicly list the FWC2026 payment. The Times first reported the tax filing, Sky said.

FIFA rejects claim of undisclosed compensation

FIFA’s statutes state that the individual compensation of the president, council members and secretary general “shall be made public”. Asked about the filing, a FIFA spokesperson said the organisation “does not pay a second salary to the FIFA president” and complies with reporting requirements.

“FIFA strongly rejects any claims that it has failed to disclose any financial information and has violated FIFA’s statutes,” the spokesperson said, adding that its accounts are independently audited and declarations comply with tax rules in Switzerland, the United States and elsewhere.

Sky reported that FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström received no additional payment from FWC2026. Montagliani, who chaired the company’s board, also received no such payment, according to the report.

Payment emerges amid wider governance dispute

The filing has surfaced as Infantino faces pressure over the attempted sale of stakes in FIFA tournaments to private investors. He has refused to resign and has said he will stand for re-election in March 2027, Sky reported.

Infantino is due to meet the FIFA Council in Zurich on Thursday, in its first meeting since the controversy over the proposed private investment plan. FIFA said it was focused on that meeting and on discussions with its members.

Potential challengers have yet to emerge as credible rivals, according to Sky. Former Tottenham and Switzerland defender Ramon Vega has expressed interest, but the report said he is unlikely to secure the backing of the five federations required to become an official candidate. The deadline for candidates to declare their intention to stand is 18 November.