US Filings Reveal Undisclosed $1.76 Million World Cup Payment to FIFA President

On Tuesday, US Internal Revenue Service filings revealed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino received a previously undisclosed $1.76 million payment in 2024 from the American subsidiary organizing the 2026 World Cup. The financial return from FWC2026 US Inc. exposes a secondary income stream that was entirely omitted from global football’s official 2024 annual report.[1][2][3]

The discovery immediately triggered accusations of statutory violations at the highest level of the sport. FIFA’s own governance rules mandate full public disclosure of executive compensation, a transparency measure instituted following the organization's sweeping 2015 corruption scandals. Article 43, paragraph 13 of the federation's statutes explicitly requires that the individual compensation of the president be made public.[5]

Infantino’s publicly declared compensation for 2024 stood at 4.27 million Swiss francs—roughly $5.13 million. The newly unearthed US tax documents add a 34 percent increase to that figure, categorizing $626,229 of the $1.76 million as "other reportable compensation" alongside base salary and bonuses.[3]

The FWC2026 US Inc. subsidiary was established specifically to manage operations for the expanded 48-team tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Notably, the IRS Form 990 filings indicate that neither FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström nor CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani—who chairs the subsidiary's board—received any supplementary payments from the organizing entity.[1][2]

Miguel Maduro, the former chairman of FIFA’s governance committee, characterized the omission as a clear contravention of the federation's rules. He argued that any remuneration from FIFA-affiliated companies must be published, calling for an independent investigation into the dual-salary structure. "The FIFA statutes impose an obligation of full transparency," Maduro stated.[3]

FIFA representatives rejected the allegations of misconduct, maintaining that the organization fully complies with all regulatory and financial reporting requirements. A spokesperson stated that the president’s contractual benefits are determined by a three-man compensation sub-committee and were properly reported to US tax authorities, even if they did not appear in the Swiss-based annual report.[2][3]

That compensation sub-committee is chaired by Swiss banker Bruno Chiomento, operating alongside India's Mukul Mudgal and Spain's Antonio Moya-Angeler. While FIFA insists this group authorized the payments, critics argue that internal approval does not override the statutory requirement to publish the final figures in the federation's global accounts.

The financial revelation arrives just days before Infantino is scheduled to meet with the FIFA Council in Zurich. With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the undisclosed payments threaten to erode his support among global federations already scrutinizing his recent attempts to attract private investment into World Cup operations.[2][4]

The scope of the undisclosed payments may extend beyond the 2024 fiscal year. Sources familiar with the accounts indicated that Infantino received comparable or potentially larger sums from the subsidiary in 2025 and 2026, funds that reportedly helped finance a luxury waterfront residence in Miami as the organization prepares for the North American tournament.[1][5]