CBF President Samir Xaud Accused of Using Brazilian Football Federation Funds to Finance Luxury Travel for Women During 2026 World Cup

Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Samir Xaud, 42, is at the centre of a financial misconduct scandal during Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, with investigative reports alleging he directed federation resources toward luxury travel and accommodation for women in his personal circle.

According to investigative reports by Brazilian journalist Leo Dias, fitness entrepreneur Camila Cristina Andrade — originally from the state of Roraima — stayed for eight days at the Hyatt Regency Grand Central in Manhattan in early June. The reported hotel bill of $11,500 was allegedly booked under Xaud’s name. Photographs published as part of the reporting showed the pair at what appeared to be a dinner at Harry Cipriani, a well-known restaurant inside the Sherry-Netherland hotel on Fifth Avenue, on June 3. The allegations were subsequently covered by the Daily Mail and multiple other international outlets.

Xaud is said to have then flown to Mexico City to join his wife, Nathalia, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony on June 11 — just days after the reported stay concluded.

The allegations extend beyond the New York incident. Portal Leo Dias further reported that model and social media influencer Tamares Fernandes Barcellos was sent to Qatar in December 2025 at the CBF’s expense to attend a FIFA Intercontinental World Cup match. That trip reportedly included a business class flight on Emirates and a four-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton Doha, with hotel costs alone totalling $3,400, according to documents cited by the publication.

The CBF has categorically rejected the accusations. In a statement provided to Radio Itatiaia, the federation said: “Expenses incurred by the entity are exclusively linked to the CBF’s institutional activities, and personal expenses of its directors are covered by themselves. The current CBF administration is based on the pillars of transparency, administrative responsibility, and a commitment to integrity. The CBF reiterates that it remains available for any further clarification.”

Xaud, who was elected unopposed to the CBF presidency in May 2025, has reportedly become emotional during internal meetings, where he has emphasised his family values, according to reports. He has been married to Nathalia for 20 years, and the couple have three children together.

No formal investigation into the allegations has been launched as of publication. Xaud remains in his role as CBF president.

The controversy arrives at a sensitive moment for Brazilian football. The Seleção are competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — under head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of the national team in 2025. The scandal has generated considerable domestic backlash, with fans and media commentators criticising the timing and the distraction it presents during a major tournament. The CBF has historically faced governance scrutiny; former president Ricardo Teixeira resigned in 2012 amid corruption allegations, and the confederation’s institutional credibility has remained a recurring subject of debate in Brazilian football circles.

The story continues to dominate Brazilian sports coverage, and pressure for an independent review of CBF expenditure is likely to grow should further documentation emerge.