ไทย
English
中國人
FIFA president Gianni Infantino extended a "sincere thank you" to the 2026 World Cup's host cities, yet most would likely prefer the millions of dollars many are reportedly still waiting to receive.
Reports emerged earlier this month that the 11 U.S. host cities staging World Cup matches throughout June and July were privately promised $1 million each to support legacy initiatives. Nearly a month after the tournament wrapped up, those payments have allegedly yet to be delivered.
With no formal contractual obligation in place—FIFA's senior leadership is said to have made these commitments verbally—the host cities have no legal recourse to compel Infantino to follow through. Given that soccer's global governing body is set to pocket $15 billion from the tournament, a wave of bewilderment has washed over the host cities still awaiting their share of that revenue.
Infantino has yet to directly respond to these allegations, but took to Instagram on Monday to congratulate each host venue. The caption accompanied a video of the polarizing Swiss executive flashing a thumbs up, grinning and signing autographs at every stadium.
"Your world-class facilities and outstanding hospitality made the FIFA World Cup 2026 a historic celebration of football," Infantino wrote. "Together, we welcomed the world and brought billions of people together through the joy of the beautiful game!"
Offering words of gratitude at a time of frustration among the majority of host cities is hardly the first instance of Infantino delivering an unwelcome message.
The FIFA president continues to face criticism over his abandoned plan to privatize the World Cup and sell stakes to associates connected to U.S. President Donald Trump's extended circle. While UEFA, Concacaf and Asian federations have taken a strong stance against Infantino ahead of next year's presidential elections, fractures have begun to appear in the solid base of support he had previously relied upon.
First Show of Dissent From Infantino's Trusted Base
Isha Johansen, the former Sierra Leone soccer association president who also served on the FIFA Council, broke from the widespread African backing of Infantino with a public demand for his resignation.
CAF, the African soccer confederation, joined Argentina in reaffirming its support for the embattled executive. "We are committed to continue working together with FIFA, its member associations, other football confederations and stakeholders to safeguard and adhere to governance, due process, and transparency global best practises and to contribute to the development and growth of football worldwide," president Patrice Motsepe stated.
Enable functional cookies to see this feature.
Nevertheless, Johansen called on the continent to reconsider its position. "It's clear that he [Infantino] has crossed a line and there has been a breach of trust," she told ESPN this week. "I have nothing personal against Gianni. It's not about the individual. It's about the action, the conduct, and the ethics behind the proposal."
In exchange for selling off future commercial revenues from soccer's premier competition, Infantino had promised up to $40 million per nation. Johansen acknowledged that the financial circumstances of many African associations make it challenging to turn down such an offer: "So that particular FA president, how is he going to return to his country and face the head of state and say, I turned down $40 million?"
Still, Johansen insisted that serious questions must be raised about the source of these funds. "Nobody wants to discuss the ethical aspect of how we're getting that money, how this money was delivered to us or given to us or offered to us," she said. "Nobody wants to ask how ethical that is."