Prince Ali bin Hussein, President of Jordan’s FA, has leveled a severe accusation of ‘blackmail’ against FIFA, alleging the global football governing body attempted to leverage his endorsement of President Gianni Infantino in exchange for resolving critical issues facing the Jordanian federation.

The explosive claims, detailed by Prince Ali on X and reported by GiveMeSport, highlight a trifecta of grievances stemming from Jordan’s participation in the 2026 World Cup and their performance in the 2025 Arab Cup.

Prince Ali outlined the specific problems:

• Visa issues for fans: Jordanian supporters with valid tickets for the 2026 World Cup in the USA were denied visas, preventing them from attending matches. Prince Ali also noted the “exorbitant prices” for tickets.

• US government taxation: The Jordanian FA is being taxed by the US government on its 2026 World Cup participation earnings, a financial burden that directly impacts money intended for players and staff. This issue, Prince Ali pointed out, did not affect teams based in Canada or Mexico.

• Unpaid Arab Cup prize money: Jordan’s players have been awaiting reward money since December for reaching the final of the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar, a FIFA-sanctioned event. “The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet, while at the same time FIFA brags about how many billions they have in reserve,” Prince Ali stated.

The most damning allegation, however, centers on FIFA’s alleged attempts to link these resolutions to political support. “For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters – until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino, it would go a long way to helping our FA out,” Prince Ali revealed. “We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that.”

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Jordan’s World Cup journey and broader FIFA controversies

Jordan was one of the 48 nations participating in the expanded 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada – the largest tournament in history. While their presence marked a significant achievement, the team failed to secure a win in the group stages, suffering defeats to Austria, Algeria, and Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

These accusations from Jordan’s FA add to a growing list of controversies surrounding FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino. Infantino previously faced widespread criticism and threats of boycott from UEFA nations and other confederations after proposing to sell stakes in the World Cup, plans which were ultimately scrapped due to public backlash.

Amidst this “political context,” FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom issued a memo to staff, revealed by Sky News, urging them to “remain focused on what has always united us: serving football and serving our 211 Member Associations.” The memo, available via Sky News, sought to reassure staff that they would be “defended and safeguarded” from the current turmoil.

The allegations from Jordan’s FA represent a serious challenge to FIFA’s governance, particularly as the organization navigates a period of significant expansion and scrutiny.

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