Fifa president Gianni Infantino facing fresh crisis over undeclared $1.7m payment
Uncovered US tax filings revealing undisclosed $1.76m payment from World Cup organising entity have plunged Fifa president Gianni Infantino into a transparency crisis, threatening to overshadow the record commercial success of the North American tournament.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino is embroiled in a governance crisis following revelations of an undeclared $1.7 million payment linked to the organization of the 2026 World Cup in the US. The undisclosed compensation, distributed to Infantino in 2024 by FWC2026 US Inc., a non-profit subsidiary entity, was omitted from Fifa's official financial disclosures.
This breach of governance statutes, as outlined in article 43 of the Fifa statutes, threatens the organization's reform narrative. Critics argue that funneling executive compensation through regional subsidiaries undermines safeguards and evades mandatory oversight. The controversy follows the World Cup's highly successful financial performance, but has drawn sharp criticism from governance experts and senior football executives.
Former Fifa governance committee chairman Miguel Maduro denounced the payments as a clear contravention of rules, and independent watchdogs warn that undisclosed subsidiary payments could undo recent reforms. Fifa has denied any breach of ethics or financial regulations, emphasizing that all financial statements undergo rigorous independent audits and comply with tax laws.
Despite the denial, members of the Fifa council are preparing to confront Infantino at an executive meeting in Zurich, with reformers considering a candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
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