FIFA reserves soar to USD 2.7B, revenue at USD 6.4B

FIFA's cash reserves soared to a record USD 2.74 billion and revenue climbed to USD 6.4 billion in the four-year period covering the 2018 World Cup, The Associated Press has learned.

The robust financial results suggest FIFA has weathered the deepest crisis in its history, which erupted in 2015 when a United States-led criminal investigation led to the arrests and later convictions of high-ranking officials on corruption charges.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter also was deposed as FIFA president in a financial misconduct case that left the governing body's reputation in tatters and caused a backlash from sponsors.

After being elected as Blatter's successor in 2016, Gianni Infantino said that "FIFA was clinically dead as an organization."

Although Infantino's leadership has come under criticism from within European governing body UEFA, Infantino will be able to show the budget is in a healthy state, and he is due to be re-elected unopposed in June for a four-year term.

The 2015-18 finances