FIFA Gives President Infantino 33% Raise in Pay Deal Worth $4.6 Million in Women’s World Cup Year

FIFA President Giovanni Infantino attends the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 final match between Brazil and Italy at the Dubai Design District Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Christopher Pike)
FIFA President Giovanni Infantino attends the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 final match between Brazil and Italy at the Dubai Design District Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Christopher Pike)
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FIFA Gives President Infantino 33% Raise in Pay Deal Worth $4.6 Million in Women’s World Cup Year

FIFA President Giovanni Infantino attends the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 final match between Brazil and Italy at the Dubai Design District Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Christopher Pike)
FIFA President Giovanni Infantino attends the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 final match between Brazil and Italy at the Dubai Design District Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Christopher Pike)

FIFA raised president Gianni Infantino's base salary 33% last year to lift his total pay package to more than 4.13 million Swiss francs ($4.67 million), soccer’s governing body said in its financial report.

Infantino was re-elected unopposed in 2023 to extend his presidency to 11 years before FIFA staged the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and picked preferred candidates to host two future men’s World Cups, including the 2034 edition in Saudi Arabia.

Infantino’s pre-tax base salary payment rose by more than 500,000 Swiss francs ($565,000) last year to reach more than 2.46 million Swiss francs ($2.78 million). His annual bonus was 1.65 million Swiss francs ($1.87 million), the same as in 2022 when the men’s World Cup was played in Qatar.

The previous FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, had a contracted bonus of $12 million for the 2014 World Cup on top of a $3 million basic salary and annual bonuses.

Infantino had a home in Qatar to oversee preparations for the 2022 tournament and now spends time in Florida, where FIFA has offices at Coral Gables, ahead of the United States co-hosting the next men’s World Cup with Canada and Mexico. Florida does not have a state income tax.

 

 



No Thoughts of Revenge as France Start World Cup Against Senegal, Says Deschamps

Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, attends the press conference of France one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 15, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, attends the press conference of France one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 15, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
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No Thoughts of Revenge as France Start World Cup Against Senegal, Says Deschamps

Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, attends the press conference of France one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 15, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, attends the press conference of France one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 15, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)

France ‌coach Didier Deschamps said his side were not out for revenge in their World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday, 24 years after an opening loss to the African powerhouse preceded a calamitous group-stage exit and a bitter memory for their fans.

The holders in 2002, Les Bleus were stunned when they lost their opening match 1-0 to Senegal in Seoul. France never righted the campaign, with a 0-0 draw against Uruguay and a 2-0 defeat by Denmark in a final humiliation sealing an early exit.

"Listen, this was history but even (midfielder) N'Golo (Kante) ‌I'm not ‌sure he saw the game. Nearly most of ‌my ⁠players weren't born ⁠in 2002," Deschamps told reporters via a translator in East Rutherford on Monday, where the 2022 runners-up play Senegal in Group I at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

"I know that you like this word 'revenge' but there's no revenge in football."

The 2018 champions will be under the spotlight in swampy New Jersey, with prodigious striker Kylian Mbappe - ⁠a bona fide celebrity even in the soccer-ambivalent ‌United States - playing under scrutiny from ‌critics after he drew a blank in warm-up games against Ivory Coast and ‌Northern Ireland.

Playing Senegal for the first time since that 2002 ‌loss adds to the drama as France hunt a third straight trip to the final.

"(Senegal have) got excellent players who play in the best clubs," said Deschamps. "They've got an offensive capacity, their midfield is excellent. When you're ‌part of the best teams, you've got everything."

The 35-year-old Kante, a key piece of France's triumphant 2018 ⁠campaign who ⁠is back in the mix after missing 2022 with an injury, said he expected a tough fight with Senegal's midfield.

The Fenerbahce player added that beating Senegal was important to set the right tone for the tournament, not for revenge.

"We want to be part of this squad and to have everyone on board, everybody counts, everybody is important," he told reporters.

"I do believe that it's important to have trust in our team. We need to go as far as possible in the competition ... Of course, our main opponent is ourselves. We need to stay together, concentrated."

France play Senegal on Tuesday before facing Iraq and Norway.


Tunisia Fires Coach Sabri Lamouchi After World Cup Loss

 Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi watches during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi watches during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
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Tunisia Fires Coach Sabri Lamouchi After World Cup Loss

 Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi watches during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi watches during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)

Tunisia fired head ‌coach Sabri Lamouchi on Monday after a lopsided loss in their first World Cup game.

The Tunisian Football Federation announced his dismissal on its Instagram account.

"An agreement has ‌been officially ‌reached to dismiss ‌coach ⁠Sabri Lamouchi," the statement ⁠read.

"Plans are underway to appoint Mondher Kebaier as the national team coach (on an interim basis) to complete the World Cup qualifying matches."

Sweden ⁠routed Tunisia 5-1 ‌in Sunday ‌night's Group F opener in ‌Guadalupe, Mexico.

Tunisia are scheduled to ‌face Japan in the same stadium on Saturday night before finishing group play on June 25 ‌against the Netherlands in Kansas City.

Lamouchi, 54, was ⁠hired ⁠in January and was already under fire following a 5-0 loss to Belgium in a pre-tournament friendly on June 6 in Brussels.

The Frenchman previously managed the Ivory Coast squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup but failed to advance beyond the group stage in Brazil.


Former Captain Says 2026 World Cup Continues Saudi Arabia’s Historic Journey

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Former Captain Says 2026 World Cup Continues Saudi Arabia’s Historic Journey

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Former Saudi national team captain Majed Abdullah said the Saudi team's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues a journey that began with their debut in 1994 in the United States, stressing the enduring support of Saudi fans throughout their international campaigns, SPA reported.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, he said, “Thirty-two years after leading the Saudi national team in the 1994 World Cup, I feel proud to see a new generation carrying the nation’s flag in football’s biggest tournament.”

He recalled the team’s confident debut in 1994, highlighting courage and team spirit as key factors in their success, and called for continued fan support, expressing confidence that the current squad can continue to make history.