FIFA President Gianni Infantino Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Undisclosed $1.76 Million Payment

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing fresh scrutiny over allegations that he received an additional payment of $1.76 million in 2024 through a subsidiary linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, over and above his publicly declared earnings.

According to a report in British newspaper The Telegraph, US Internal Revenue Service filings show that FWC2026 US Inc, a company established to organise the tournament in the United States, paid Infantino the additional amount, which was not disclosed in FIFA’s 2024 annual report.

The report stated that Infantino’s declared earnings for 2024 stood at 4.27 million Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately £3.88 million. The additional payment was valued at around £1.3 million.

The alleged discrepancy has raised questions about compliance with FIFA’s transparency requirements. The organisation’s statutes state that “the individual compensation of the FIFA president must be made public”.

A report in The Times also alleged that Infantino had received millions in undisclosed payments and linked the issue to questions about his luxury lifestyle in Miami.

Former FIFA governance committee chairman Miguel Maduro told the newspaper that payments from FIFA-related entities must be publicly disclosed under the organisation’s rules.

“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,” Maduro was quoted as saying, while calling for an investigation.

He also questioned whether FIFA’s compensation sub-committee could authorise additional forms of remuneration without public disclosure, arguing that the organisation’s statutes required full transparency.

The reported $1.76 million payment for 2024 included $626,229 categorised as “other reportable compensation”, in addition to base salary and bonus. The report further alleged that Infantino received comparable or higher amounts in 2025 and 2026.

The allegations emerge ahead of a FIFA Council meeting scheduled for Thursday in Zurich, where, according to The Telegraph, controversies surrounding Infantino’s leadership over the past year could face further scrutiny from council members.

The allegations and questions over disclosure have put renewed focus on FIFA’s financial transparency and the rules governing remuneration for its president. The reported payments, however, do not by themselves establish a regulatory breach.