FIFA president Gianni Infantino's $6m salary shocks World Cup fans
FIFA president Gianni Infantino earned about $6 million in 2025, FIFA's annual financial report confirms. His base pay stayed at 2.6 million Swiss francs while his bonus jumped 33% to 2.2 million Swiss francs. World Cup fans flooded social media in shock, questioning whether the governing body's leader deserves pay matching U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Key Takeaways
- Infantino's total 2025 compensation reached about $6 million, per FIFA's published accounts.
- His performance bonus rose 33% to 2.2 million Swiss francs; base salary held at 2.6 million Swiss francs.
- Fans on X called the pay excessive, though some argued it is modest for a global sports CEO.
- The Athletic reports Infantino has earned more than $30 million across nine years in office.
- FIFA's 2023-26 revenue target stands at $13 billion as the expanded World Cup drives record income.
How much does the FIFA president earn each year?
Gianni Infantino's yearly pay landed at roughly $6 million for 2025, according to FIFA's annual financial report cited by Yahoo Sports. That total combined an unchanged base salary of 2.6 million Swiss francs with a performance bonus of 2.2 million Swiss francs.
Yahoo Sports noted the figure matches what the U.S. men's national team pays manager Mauricio Pochettino. The Athletic's BookKeeper analysis adds broader context: Infantino's 2025 salary rose 29% year on year and has now passed $30 million across nine years as FIFA president.
Why did Gianni Infantino's bonus jump in 2025?
FIFA disclosed the pay package in its annual accounts as revenues swell around the 2026 World Cup. Yahoo Sports reported Infantino's bonus climbed 33%, adding 550,000 Swiss francs to reach 2.2 million Swiss francs total.
The Athletic tied FIFA's wider financial boom to events including last year's expanded Club World Cup in the United States, which helped push current-cycle revenue ahead of prior budgets. FIFA, a not-for-profit body, has budgeted $13 billion in revenue for 2023-26 and plans to spend $12.9 billion, leaving just $100 million for reserves.
How are World Cup fans reacting to the salary disclosure?
Supporters watching the North American tournament seized on the numbers online. Yahoo Sports highlighted posts on X questioning what Infantino does to justify the pay, with one fan writing: "Doing what exactly?"
Others did the maths, with one supporter estimating roughly €16,700 per day. Reactions were not one-sided: one fan argued that if elite coaches earn €10 million annually, the FIFA president's package is "low for the FIFA president." Another quipped: "Bro's salary goes up every time fans get angry."
Where does FIFA's money go as its president's pay rises?
As FIFA's commercial footprint grows, governance costs are climbing too. The Athletic reported FIFA's governance and administrative spending hit $254.3 million in 2025 alone, with internal governance costs projected to top $1 billion in the next cycle.
Net worth and wealth coverage often tracks how executive pay stacks up against institutional scale. UPI noted FIFA has raised its 2023-26 revenue target to $13 billion and says more than 90% of budgeted investments flow back into football, even as commentators press for stronger transparency on integrity and commercial deals.