FIFA president Gianni Infantino is seeking a new term in elections scheduled for mid-March 2027. Prospective candidates face a deadline of 18 November 2026 to submit their official candidacy files to the organization. This timeline governs the administrative process for the upcoming leadership vote. All interested parties must finalize their documentation and meet the requirements set by the governing body before the November date. The election process follows the established statutes of the organization to determine the presidency for the next cycle. FIFA officials continue to oversee the preparations for the ballot as the filing window approaches.
New Allegations of Financial Misconduct
The New York Times and Le Monde reported that FIFA paid 3.6 million euros in taxes on behalf of Gianni Infantino. These payments covered his residency in the United States between 2024 and 2026. The reports identified these financial transfers as tax obligations settled by the organization for the FIFA president during that period. Neither FIFA nor Gianni Infantino have issued a public response regarding the specific tax figures identified by these media outlets. The disclosures arrive as the governing body prepares for the upcoming election cycle.
Lack of Official Documentation
Official FIFA records contain no documentation or formal approval for the tax payment covering Gianni Infantino. These financial transactions remained absent from the organization’s public filings and internal ledgers despite the reported 3.6 million euros paid on his behalf.
Internal reports indicate that Bruno Cuiminto, the head of the independent Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee at FIFA, initiated the tax payment arrangement. He oversaw the committee responsible for monitoring the organization's financial integrity and adherence to regulatory standards. No evidence exists within the committee's minutes or budgetary records to suggest the board authorized the transfer of funds for the president’s residency costs in the United States.
Bruno Cuiminto currently receives an annual salary of 250,000 Swiss francs, which equates to approximately 272,000 euros. As the chair of the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee, he manages the oversight of financial policies and organizational conduct. His role involves ensuring that expenditures align with established FIFA statutes and governance protocols. The lack of documentation surrounding the tax payments raises questions regarding the oversight procedures managed by his committee. FIFA has not provided access to any internal documents that would clarify the decision-making process behind these payments or the extent of the involvement of Bruno Cuiminto.
