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

In brief: 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. by TVP World | July 19, 2026, 3:13 pm The FIFA logo is seen ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Senegal at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 16, 2026. Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter Please leave your suggestions or corrections here TVP World TVP World is Poland's first English-language channel where you can find our guest interviews, world news from the Polish perspective and the latest news from the CEE region.