A new scandal has erupted within FIFA, the governing body of world football, as the FIFA Club World Cup faces the possibility of being cancelled because an outstanding bill of £185 million remains unpaid. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is currently under intense backlash following the just concluded World Cup, where he was forced to reverse his earlier decision to allow private investment in FIFA competitions after pressure from the wider football community. UEFA has led calls for Infantino to resign from his position immediately.
The controversy centres on the expanded Club World Cup, a format Infantino has championed since his election as FIFA president in 2016. The inaugural edition of the expanded tournament, played in 2025, featured 32 teams from around the globe and was hosted in the United States. In preparation for that event, DAZN provided financial support by purchasing the broadcast rights for £740 million, followed by a stake acquisition in the broadcaster by a company owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, as reported by Express Sport. Despite the influx of money, discontent continues to grow as some of the promised prize money to clubs remains unpaid.
While the funds earned by participating clubs have been disbursed, the £185 million allocated for solidarity payments to clubs that did not compete in the 2025 tournament is still outstanding. The purpose of this initiative was to ensure that a portion of the event’s funding would be shared throughout the football hierarchy. Initially, it was intended that £50 000 would be distributed to every top‑flight club worldwide, yet there is currently no indication that these payments will be made.
Additional complications may arise as preparations for the 2029 edition are underway. The tournament still lacks a confirmed host, and no agreements have been reached between FIFA and prominent European clubs regarding their participation in future tournaments. A number of nations have expressed an interest in registering a bid for the competition, which switched to a four‑year format one year ago. Australia and New Zealand, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and England have all hinted at hosting the competition. However, there is a belief that the most likely hosts will be either Qatar, or the United States, with FIFA reportedly considering giving it to the former as a bid to continue the growth of the sport in the North American nation.
The unresolved £185 million debt threatens to undermine the credibility of FIFA’s new global club competition and could force the cancellation of the Club World Cup altogether. The situation remains fluid, with FIFA under pressure to resolve the solidarity payment issue and secure a host for the 2029 tournament. The outcome will have significant implications for the future of international club football and for the governance of the sport worldwide.
