In Miami, where FIFA has deepened its operational footprint ahead of the 2026 World Cup, financial filings have raised fresh questions over Gianni Infantino’s reported earnings. Documents linked to the United States company established for the tournament indicate that FIFA’s president received an additional $1.76 million in 2024, a sum not shown in FIFA’s public annual report for that year.
A second stream of 2024 income
FIFA’s annual accounts listed compensation of 4.274 million Swiss francs for Infantino in 2024. The separate payment emerged in filings by FWC2026 US Inc., the body created to organise the World Cup on American soil.
- The reported extra payment to Infantino totalled $1.76 million.
- Of that figure, $626,229 was entered as “other reportable compensation” in documents lodged with US authorities.
- The additional income was not included in FIFA’s publicly released annual report.
- Claims that comparable, or larger, amounts may have been paid in 2025 and 2026 have not been confirmed by the available filings.
The disclosure has sharpened scrutiny of FIFA’s own transparency provisions, which require the individual remuneration of its president, Council members and secretary general to be made public.
Calls for an independent review
Miguel Maduro, formerly chair of FIFA’s governance committee, said the absence of a public declaration could amount to a breach of the organisation’s statutes. He called for an independent examination of the matter.
Maduro accepted that the president of world football’s governing body may command substantial pay, but argued that the key issue is whether every element of that compensation has been disclosed as required.
The matter arrives at a sensitive point for FIFA, whose centre of gravity has increasingly shifted toward North America as preparations continue for the 2026 finals across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA points to contractual benefits
FIFA said its president’s annual salary and contractual benefits are set by its compensation subcommittee. It added that social-security payments, pension arrangements and other employment-related benefits are reported to US authorities when required.
However, no explanation was given for why the 2024 payment was absent from the public annual report. FIFA also did not clarify whether comparable undisclosed payments had been made before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, or in 2025 and 2026.
Miami residence also examined
The report also addressed Infantino’s accommodation in Miami. For around three years, he used a waterfront mansion previously owned by former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt.
- A representative for Schmidt said Infantino paid market rent for the property.
- The same representative said the FIFA president no longer uses the residence.
Wider pressure before 2027
Questions over the reported payments come alongside criticism of another proposal associated with Infantino’s administration: a plan to market stakes in FIFA competitions through a new corporate structure. That initiative was dropped after opposition emerged.
Infantino is nevertheless expected to seek re-election when FIFA holds its presidential vote in March 2027, leaving governance and disclosure likely to remain prominent issues as the World Cup approaches.
