Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, the president of the Jordan Football Association, has launched a scathing attack on Gianni Infantino, alleging the FIFA president withheld crucial assistance during the nation’s debut World Cup campaign unless Jordan pledged its backing for his re-election.
A litany of grievances in a debut campaign
In a detailed statement posted on X, the Jordanian royal outlined a series of unresolved issues that marred the team’s historic first participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. Jordan were drawn in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria and Argentina, ultimately suffering three defeats and finishing bottom of the table without a point.
Prince Ali claimed that not all supporters who had purchased tickets — allegedly at inflated prices — were granted visas, severely limiting fan presence. He further accused the US government, via FIFA, of imposing heavy tax levies on the team’s participation fees. “Those funds should go directly to the players and staff, not to tax authorities,” he argued, pointing out that squads based in Canada and Mexico did not face the same financial burden.
Delayed payments and billion-dollar reserves
The prince also cited a prolonged delay in prize-money payments from the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar, where Jordan lost 3-2 to Morocco after extra time in the final. Despite the tournament being held under the FIFA banner, he said the association has been waiting for its dues since December. “This is happening while FIFA proudly boasts about its multi-billion-dollar reserves,” he added.
The most serious accusation, however, was reserved for FIFA’s conduct off the pitch. Prince Ali claimed that for months, the governing body refused to help with any of these logistical and financial burdens. He then alleged a direct link was made between support for his federation and political loyalty.
“During the World Cup, I was verbally informed that if I supported Mr Infantino, it would greatly assist our association,” the prince wrote. “We in Jordan pride ourselves on upholding ethical values. We did not support him before, and we certainly will not do so now. This entire situation is nothing short of blackmail, and we refuse to capitulate.”
Growing rebellion against Infantino’s leadership
The explosive statement intensifies the political turmoil surrounding Infantino, who is facing a growing backlash over the failed launch of “FIFA Forward Enterprise” — a controversial bid to sell a stake in the organisation’s commercial rights to private investors. Reports from The Financial Times in late July revealed a plan to create a subsidiary valued at $20bn (£15.3bn) and sell a 25 per cent share.
The proposal triggered an unprecedented revolt. UEFA and all 55 of its member national associations threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions and demanded Infantino’s resignation. Although the governing body hastily abandoned the scheme on August 1, the fallout continues, with the football associations of Wales, Sweden and Serbia publicly vowing to oppose Infantino’s re-election.
A Familiar Foe
Prince Ali is no stranger to challenging the FIFA establishment. He ran against Infantino in the 2016 presidential election, finishing third after receiving only four votes in the second round. A year earlier, he had lost to Sepp Blatter shortly before the corruption scandal that swept Blatter from power and paved the way for Infantino’s ascent. Beyond his Jordanian role, Prince Ali serves as the founder and president of the West Asian Football Federation, a 12-member body that includes 2026 World Cup participants Iraq, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Infantino has previously expressed his desire to continue as FIFA president. The next election is scheduled for March 18, 2027 in Rabat, Morocco.
