Jordan FA President Ali bin Hussein accuses FIFA chief Gianni Infantino of blackmail FAST-MOVING
Jordan Football Association President Ali bin Hussein launched a public attack on FIFA President Gianni Infantino, alleging the governing body used "blackmail" to pressure Jordan into endorsing Infantino during the 2026 World Cup. Hussein said FIFA verbally offered assistance that would "go a long way to helping our FA out" in exchange for his support.
He listed several grievances: Jordanian fans were denied U.S. visas despite holding tickets, ticket prices were described as "exorbitant," and the United States government was taxing Jordan’s participation through FIFA – costs not faced by teams that played in Canada or Mexico. The association also said it has not yet received the prize money owed for reaching the final of the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar.
Jordan qualified for the World Cup for the first time but exited in the group stage. The accusations come as Infantino confronts mounting opposition within world football after abandoning a controversial plan to sell a stake in the World Cup commercial operations.
Entities: Ali bin Hussein · FIFA · Gianni Infantino · Jordan Football Association · United States · United States government
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Jordan FA was taxed by the U.S. government through FIFA for World Cup participation, unlike teams in Canada and Mexico. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Infantino abandoned a proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup commercial operations after opposition. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Jordanian fans paid high ticket prices and were denied U.S. visas for the World Cup. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and Arsène Wenger distanced themselves from Infantino. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Jordan qualified for its first World Cup and exited in the group stage. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Jordan FA has been waiting since December for reward money for reaching the 2025 Arab Cup final in Qatar. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ali bin Hussein accused Gianni Infantino of blackmail over endorsement. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] FIFA allegedly offered to help Jordan FA in exchange for its endorsement. (All articles)