Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, a former FIFA vice‑president and member of the Jordanian royal family, has publicly accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of deliberately withholding a $4.2 million prize that Jordan earned by reaching the final of the 2025 Arab Cup.
Speaking in a statement released on Tuesday, Prince Ali described the delay as a form of blackmail, arguing that FIFA’s claim of billions in reserves rings hollow when it refuses to disburse the money owed to the Jordanian national team.
A Royal Rebuff to Infantino's Agenda
The criticism comes as Infantino pushes a controversial proposal to sell a stake in future World Cup revenues to private investors, a plan that has drawn fire from several continental bodies.
The Asian Football Confederation, of which Jordan is a member, has joined UEFA and CONCACAF in voicing opposition, warning that the scheme could undermine the sport’s integrity and threaten the autonomy of regional federations.
Prince Ali, who finished third in the 2016 FIFA presidential election, has repeatedly refused to endorse Infantino despite earlier assurances of support, a stance that underscores his long‑standing skepticism of the Swiss‑born leader’s governance.
The upcoming FIFA election in Rabat, Morocco, scheduled for March 18, will test whether the growing dissent can translate into a viable challenge to Infantino’s bid for a second term, with candidate declarations due by November 18.
Jordan’s national team made its World Cup debut in June 2022, and the kingdom’s football officials had been asked to back Infantino in exchange for the promised Arab Cup payout, a bargain that now appears to have collapsed.
With the Arab Cup final having been played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the unpaid $4.2 million remains a symbolic flashpoint, highlighting the tension between financial promises and political maneuvering within world football’s governing body.