Gianni Infantino Faces Pressure After £1.3 Million Second Salary Payment Revealed

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing renewed scrutiny after reports revealed that he received an additional £1.3 million payment in 2024 from the company responsible for organising the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The payment, reportedly identified in US tax filings, was not included in FIFA's publicly reported compensation figures for that year, raising questions about transparency and governance at world football's governing body.

Infantino's Additional Payment Raises Transparency Questions

According to reporting by Sky Sports and The Times, Infantino received approximately £1.3 million ($1.76 million) from FWC2026, the US-based entity established to help organise and operate the 2026 World Cup in North America.

FIFA's 2024 annual report disclosed the president's regular compensation, including salary and variable pay. However, the additional payment identified in US tax documents was not included in the same public compensation disclosure.

The discrepancy has prompted renewed questions about how compensation arrangements involving senior FIFA officials are reported and explained.

FIFA's statutes require the individual compensation of the president, council members and secretary general to be made public. Whether the additional payment breached any applicable rules would depend on the relevant arrangements and their interpretation.

What Has FIFA Said About the Payment?

FIFA has defended its compensation arrangements, maintaining that the president's annual remuneration and contractual benefits are determined through its compensation subcommittee.

The organisation has also said its financial reporting follows applicable legal, accounting and auditing requirements.

The reported payment has not, by itself, established that Infantino or FIFA broke any law or regulation. Nevertheless, the difference between the publicly disclosed compensation and the additional payment identified in the US filings has intensified scrutiny of FIFA's financial transparency.

Further clarification about the payment's purpose, approval process and reporting treatment could help address questions raised by the reports.

Why the 2026 World Cup Organising Company Is Involved

FWC2026 was established in connection with preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The tournament's scale and commercial importance have required extensive coordination involving FIFA, host-country partners and organising entities.

According to the reports, the additional payment to Infantino came from this US-based organisation rather than directly from FIFA's publicly disclosed compensation figures.

The arrangement has raised questions about how responsibilities and remuneration are divided between FIFA and entities involved in organising its major tournaments.

Infantino Faces Wider Questions About FIFA Leadership

The salary disclosure comes amid broader scrutiny of Infantino's leadership and FIFA's governance.

He has faced criticism over proposals involving private investment in FIFA tournament interests, adding to debate about the organisation's commercial direction and decision-making processes.

The latest financial disclosure has created another challenge for the FIFA president as football officials and observers examine the organisation's transparency standards.

However, criticism and calls for accountability do not automatically mean that Infantino will leave office. His future will depend on the support of FIFA's member associations and the process surrounding the next presidential election.

Can Gianni Infantino Remain FIFA President?

Infantino has indicated that he intends to seek another term as FIFA president, with the next election scheduled for March 2027.

His position will depend on the support he can secure from member associations across FIFA's six continental confederations.

The emergence of a credible challenger could influence the election, but the reported payment alone does not determine its outcome.

The coming months may bring further debate about compensation disclosures, tournament governance and the responsibilities of FIFA's senior leadership.

What Happens Next?

The key questions concern the purpose of the additional payment, how it was approved and why it did not appear in FIFA's published compensation figures for 2024.

FIFA's explanation and any further documentary disclosures could help establish whether the arrangement was consistent with the organisation's governance requirements.

For now, the reported £1.3 million payment has intensified scrutiny of Infantino at a time when FIFA is preparing for its next presidential election.