Two senior FIFA officials publicly criticized Gianni Infantino’s proposed World Cup commercial sell-off on Friday, with presidential adviser, Carlos Cordeiro resigning in the process and chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour accusing the FIFA president of misleading staff over the project.
Cordeiro, who represented FIFA on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, stepped down as an adviser, describing the proposed $20 billion commercial subsidiary as “a bad deal for football.”
The former US Soccer Federation president said FIFA already generates billions in revenue and has no debt, arguing there was no justification for selling a permanent stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights.
“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro said, urging other senior FIFA officials to speak out against the proposal.
Lamour, who has served as FIFA’s chief operating officer since 2024, stopped short of resigning but accused Infantino of keeping staff in the dark over the plan.
“It is the project of one person,” Lamour said, insisting the proposal “must not go ahead” and calling on football’s political leaders to take action, even if speaking out cost him his job.
Infantino’s proposal would place FIFA’s commercial operations, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cups, into a $20 billion subsidiary, with private investors owning a 20% stake.
The plan has drawn mounting opposition from senior football figures, even as Infantino remains the favorite to secure another term as FIFA president, with nominations for the March 2027 election closing on Nov. 18.
Oluwagbemisola Babalola
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