Sanctions Busting? FIFA May pay World Cup Money to Russian Clubs

FIFA is planning to disburse a record $355 million through its Club Benefits Program following the 2026 World Cup. However, the organization faces potential legal action for reimbursing Russian clubs linked to sanctioned entities, such as Lukoil-owned Spartak Moscow. An investigation by the journalism platform Follow the Money revealed that FIFA previously paid $1.2 million to six Russian clubs after the 2022 tournament, potentially violating international sanctions.