Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has resigned due to opposition against proposed plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Cordeiro, 70, previously worked in investment banking, made his stance clear stating the deal would negatively impact FIFA’s Member Associations, the sport, and its future.
FIFA recently announced intentions to create a new entity to manage its major events, including World Cups and Club World Cups, and sell a minority stake to private investors. This proposal faced significant backlash from federations such as UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), with UEFA threatening to boycott if the plans proceed.
As a member of the U.S. government’s World Cup task force for 2026, Cordeiro expressed his concerns, drawing on his extensive experience in banking and his lifelong passion for football. He stated he had no involvement in the proposals and firmly opposed them, arguing that football’s valuable assets should not be partially divested.
The plan aims to sell 20% of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprises to a group led by Thrive Eternal for $4.2 billion. The funds would support member associations through the FIFA Fast-Forward Programme. Cordeiro questioned this need, highlighting FIFA’s robust financial health, evidenced by its $15 billion revenue during the 2022-2026 cycle.
UEFA, Concacaf, and AFC expressed initial discontent with the consultative process behind these plans and rejected the proposals. Meanwhile, FIFA defended the plan by stating that selling football is not their intent and continued support of its proposal. Cordeiro criticized the lack of transparency in the proposal, raising several governance questions and deciding to resign from his position as a result.
Appointed in 2021 for global strategy and governance, Cordeiro had also led U.S. Soccer as president before stepping down due to backlash over a legal issue related to the women’s national team. His resignation letter called for others to voice their opinions, emphasizing that decisions should benefit football, not individual gains.
Following these events, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham criticized Infantino’s leadership in light of the developments, questioning his suitability to lead FIFA.
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