Jordan’s football authorities have accused FIFA of withholding their prize money from the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup after the country finished runners-up, claiming the payment delay is linked to pressure to support FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Jordan lost the Arab Cup final to Morocco on 18 December 2025 at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. The match ended 3-2 after extra time, with Morocco securing the title and Jordan finishing as runners-up. Despite their defeat, Jordan were expected to receive prize money worth around Tk 40 crore for their performance in the tournament.
However, that payment has reportedly not yet been delivered by FIFA, according to Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, the former FIFA vice-president and current head of the Jordan Football Association.
Jordan has raised the issue with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), saying the delay in receiving the funds has created serious concerns. The country’s football officials have alleged that FIFA indicated they would receive financial assistance and other benefits if they publicly backed Infantino’s leadership.
In a statement shared on social media, Prince Ali claimed that FIFA had communicated that greater support would be provided to Jordan’s football organisation if it stood behind Infantino as president. He said Jordan had not agreed to such a demand and questioned why the country’s legitimate prize money had not been released.
Prince Ali said Jordan had no intention of offering support under pressure and described the withholding of funds as an unacceptable situation. He argued that financial matters should not be connected with political or administrative support within football’s governing structures.
“FIFA repeatedly boasts about having a large financial reserve. Yet our money has still not been paid,” Prince Ali said. He added that the situation reflected wider concerns within FIFA’s leadership and claimed that Jordan had received little assistance from the organisation in recent months.
The allegations have brought renewed attention to FIFA’s governance practices and its relationship with member associations. FIFA, as the world’s football governing body, manages major international competitions and provides development funding to national football associations across the globe. Payments related to tournaments and development programmes are generally governed by established regulations and agreements between FIFA and participating associations.
Jordan’s complaint now places further scrutiny on the organisation’s handling of financial commitments. While Prince Ali has made serious allegations, FIFA has not publicly responded to the claims or provided an explanation regarding the delay in releasing Jordan’s prize money.
The matter is expected to remain under discussion within Asian football circles as Jordan seeks clarification and resolution through the relevant football authorities. The outcome could influence future discussions about transparency, financial management and the relationship between FIFA and its member associations.
