Gianni Infantino, the Federation Internationale de Football Association, FIFA President who stole into office about a dozen years ago on the back of a coup against Sepp Blatter, may be on his way out. He has become like an orphan caught with his hand in the till. The 2026 World Cup had been quite successful. It has also been a commercial success, with FIFA raking in a record revenue of $13 billion to $15 billion. The World Cup, which had thirteen teams at inception, has expanded to a record 48 teams and a total of 104 matches. This has led to high-volume ticket sales. Broadcasting rights alone in 2026 generated about $4.2 billion. Sponsorship and hospitality added to the income.
Admittedly, FIFA’s costs also went up. For instance, a higher $871 million was allocated to the teams, including a $655 million base prize. The champions, Spain, had $51 million; runners-up, $34 million; and third place, $30 million. Also, holding the competition in three venues-the United States, Mexico and Canada-increased the logistical overhead. But, overall, it has been a hugely successful tournament.
However, as the world celebrated and discussed the games, the Infantino leadership decided to take advantage of the euphoria by sneaking in a partial privatization package.
