The storm surrounding FIFA President Gianni Infantino shows no signs of abating. He has been at the center of controversy over his proposal to privatize the world of football and profit from the sale of events, through which he has managed to secure additional income of millions of euros, beyond those regularly declared as head of FIFA. In addition, he has secretly benefited from amounts through FWC2026 US Inc., which have never been publicly declared and which were revealed after a journalistic investigation.
Infantino, salary as FIFA president: over 4 million per year
Since Infantino's election in 2016, FIFA has formally committed to publishing the base salary, bonuses and compensation of its president and secretary general every year in its official balance sheet. The aim has been to avoid scandals similar to the corruption and large slush funds scandal that put his predecessor, Sepp Blatter, at the center of a huge scandal.
According to the investigation, the FIFA president has received around 4.59 million euros in regularly declared income for his position. However, by comparing the data with the income declaration filed with the US Internal Revenue Service, the British newspaper The Times revealed the existence of a second source of income.
Infantino accused by The Times of an undeclared second salary
“The Times”: here is the secret salary through FWC2026 Inc. The discovery of a new Pandora's box regarding Infantino's finances and alleged abuses was made by journalist Martyn Ziegler, who published the data at his disposal. The management of these undeclared incomes was carried out through funds transferred from FWC2026 US Inc., the American subsidiary created specifically by FIFA for the organization of the 2026 World Cup. During 2024 alone, Infantino received another 1.58 million euros from this "shadow" FIFA company, bringing the total amount of his income to 6.17 million euros.
Sources within the newspaper later revealed that President Infantino continued to receive similar, even higher, amounts until the end of 2026. Among the luxuries that Infantino allowed himself, even during the World Cup, was a magnificent villa in the ultra-exclusive Sunset Islands area of Miami Beach.
Infantino in trouble: re-election in 2027 is on the way out
The tax documents further complicate Infantino’s position, as he appears to be the only FIFA executive to benefit from such “secret” sums. Nor have other important figures, such as FIFA Secretary General Matthias Grafström, or CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, who is also chairman of the board of directors of the American subsidiary, received any additional dollars from the FWC2026 company.
All this further aggravates Infantino's already delicate position, at a complicated historical and political moment for FIFA. Having lost key allies and finding himself politically isolated, without the former support of some friendly confederations, the latest scandal could have serious consequences. Thus, the presidential elections next March, in 2027, look increasingly like the end of his journey and his era at the helm of FIFA.
