Editor’s note: this story was originally published on October 13 with information from a report which has since been retracted, as reflected in the update on October 21.

Ever since the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this past summer, the heat has been on Gianni Infantino’s position as FIFA president.

The whirlwind began when Infantino was caught attempting to sell shares of the World Cup to private equity investors, which sent fans and fellow executives into a frenzy.

This scandal resulted in Infantino’s position being called into question, and created a tense atmosphere in the lead-up to the upcoming FIFA presidential elections to come next spring.

Now, Infantino has once again been placed in the spotlight after a report — which has since been retracted — claimed he was being paid extra compensation in addition to what FIFA disclosed publicly in its 2025 annual report, leading to further questions as to what else he could be receiving out of the public eye.

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Gianni Infantino salary as FIFA president

FIFA has committed to publishing president Gianni Infantino’s salary each year in its annual report, declaring his compensation in the company’s yearly release.

For the 2025 calendar year, Infantino was paid 4.8 million Swiss Francs (CHF), or $5.76 million in gross salary, according to FIFA’s annual compensation report. This is broken down into 2.6 million CHF in base salary, and 2.2 million CHF in bonuses.

Report claims Gianni Infantino paid undisclosed salary

According to a report by Martyn Ziegler of The Times, who also broke the story about FIFA’s attempts to sell World Cup shares last month, Gianni Infantino was paid additionally on top of his disclosed salary by FIFA.

The report cites 2024 U.S. tax filings by FIFA which show that Infantino was given $1.76 million by FWC2026, the company FIFA set up to run the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States this past summer. U.S.-based non-profits must fill out IRS form 990, on which FIFA disclosed to the U.S. government payments by FWC2026 to Infantino as well as FIFA General Secretary Matias Graffstrom, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, and a number of other executives involved in the tournament’s production.

This salary came on top of his regularly reported compensation, and was not publicly disclosed in FIFA’s financial filings in their annual report.

However, this report was officially retracted on October 20 by The Times who conceded that FIFA’s report did not disclose this additional income because Swiss tax law rules do not count expense and reimbursement payments as compensation with regards to filings and reportings by non-profits. They also acknowledged that claims regarding a Miami property purchase were false.

FIFA & FIFA PRESIDENT RECEIVES APOLOGY FROM ‘THE TIMES’ FIFA takes note of an apology published today by The Times following an inaccurate and damaging report: On 13 October 2026 (Sport), we reported that Gianni Infantino received a “second salary” from Fifa, which Fifa had failed to disclose. This is incorrect. There was no “second salary.” Regulations do not require Fifa to include expenses and reimbursements received by Mr Infantino in its annual report as they are not considered “compensation” under Swiss reporting requirements. We also accept Mr Infantino did not purchase a property in Miami at a suspected undervalue as we reported and neither he nor his family are the legal or beneficial owners of Shadi LLC and have no control over that company, as we suggested. We are happy to make these corrections and apologise to Mr Infantino and Fifa for the errors. As FIFA stated in August, it is evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President. FIFA urges the media to act responsibly and carefully verify all sourcing to prevent the publication and subsequent reproduction of false and defamatory information. FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a license to amplify false allegations. Where reporting is inaccurate, misleading, or totally false, as in this case, FIFA will continue to challenge it directly and vigorously.

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) October 20, 2026

Following the retraction, FIFA acknowledged the apology they received from The Times and warned there was a “concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President.”