Infantino's senior adviser resigns in protest against FIFA's new plans
Carlos Cordeiro, senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has resigned after disagreeing with the organization's proposal to sell private investors a stake in the commercial entity that would run the World Cups.
He left the post with immediate effect. This is reported by Sky News, Al Jazeera, and the AP news agency.
Cordeiro is no ordinary figure in world football. He headed the United States Soccer Federation in 2018–2020, before that he worked for more than 35 years in banking, was a partner at Goldman Sachs, and in 2021 he was appointed senior adviser to the FIFA president on global strategy and governance. In May 2025, he was named senior adviser to the White House task force on the 2026 World Cup, and in recent years he has repeatedly accompanied Infantino on his visits to the White House.
"As a senior adviser to the FIFA president, a former banker and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand aside while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup," Cordeiro's statement reads. "Let me be clear: I had nothing to do with this proposal and I unequivocally oppose it. It is a bad deal for FIFA's member associations, a bad deal for football and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game."
The former adviser's main objections concern not so much the idea of attracting investment itself as the way the decision was prepared. "What is most troubling is the absence of answers to fundamental questions," he said. "Why this deal? Why now? What oversight is provided? Who benefits? Was there a competitive process? What governance system will be created? What ultimately do the investors get, and at what cost to football? These questions remain largely unanswered, and yet member associations are being asked to make a decision of colossal significance in little more than 50 days or risk being left behind."
Referring to his banking experience, Cordeiro emphasized that he understands both the value of the asset and the consequences of giving up part of the rights to it: "That is precisely why this proposal must be rejected." He called the sale of a permanent stake in football's most valuable asset in order to raise $4.2 billion a step that "makes little sense."
"This proposal has become a defining issue for FIFA's future," he concluded. "After careful reflection, I can no longer continue to serve as senior adviser to the FIFA president. I have therefore resigned with immediate effect."
The resignation came on the same day that FIFA issued a statement insisting that "no one is selling football" and confirming its intention to complete the consultation process with national associations.
The plan involves creating a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, worth about $20 billion, which would take on the commercial rights and the staging of FIFA tournaments. Outside investors are being offered a stake of up to 20%. FIFA's 211 member associations have been asked to decide their position by September 19: if the plan is approved, each of them could receive up to $40 million for the 2027–2030 cycle, compared with roughly $10 million if it is rejected.
The day before, all 55 UEFA national associations voted to refuse to take part in FIFA tournaments as long as this proposal remains in force. 1news.az wrote in more detail about that decision here, and about how UEFA's "unanimity" diverged from the positions of Baku and Prague here.
