FIFA Advisor Carlos Cordeiro Resigns in Protest Over World Cup Equity Sale Plan

Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has resigned in protest over the governing body’s plan to sell a permanent equity stake in the FIFA World Cup. In a public statement, the former US Soccer president and ex-banker described the proposal as “a bad deal for the member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the sport.”

Cordeiro, who also served on the White House task force during the 2026 World Cup in the United States, said he could no longer remain in his role after the plan was presented without what he called sufficient transparency or justification.

Background and role

Cordeiro has been a familiar figure in international football governance. He was president of the United States Soccer Federation from 2018 to 2020 and later became a senior advisor to Infantino, offering counsel on commercial and strategic matters. His resignation is one of the most high-profile internal departures since the FIFA president announced the equity sale concept earlier this year.

The plan, which involves selling a minority stake in the FIFA World Cup through a newly created commercial vehicle (often referred to as FFE), has drawn sharp criticism from several member associations and governance experts. Critics argue that FIFA already holds billions in reserves and carries no debt, making the sale unnecessary.

Cordeiro’s statement and key concerns

In his resignation letter, Cordeiro laid out several unanswered questions. “Why this deal? Why now? What oversight is there? Who benefits? Was there a competitive process? What will the governance look like? What will investors ultimately gain, and at what cost to football?” he wrote, adding that these fundamental questions remain largely unanswered.

He also noted that member associations are being asked to make a decision of enormous significance within just 50 days, else risk being left behind. “That is not a responsible way to decide the future of a global sport,” Cordeiro said.

Cordeiro emphasised that FIFA already has access to extraordinary financial resources. “The organisation has billions of dollars in reserves and no debt. Selling a permanent interest in football’s most valuable asset makes little sense. It is mortgaging the future of football without any compelling justification.”

Key facts

Why this matters for football fans

The FIFA World Cup is the most watched and most valuable single-sport event in the world. Any change in its ownership or governance structure could affect how revenues are distributed, how the tournament is organised, and how much control member associations have over their flagship competition. Cordeiro’s resignation signals that even within the inner circle of FIFA leadership, there is serious unease about the direction of the proposal.

FIFA has not yet responded publicly to Cordeiro’s resignation. The plan is scheduled to be discussed at the next FIFA Council meeting, scheduled for later this year. Member associations are expected to vote on the proposal in the coming months.

Cordeiro’s departure is likely to intensify scrutiny from national federations, player unions, and fan groups who have already expressed concerns about the commercialisation of the World Cup. For now, the debate over whether to sell a piece of football’s crown jewel continues, with one of its most prominent internal critics now on the outside.

Source: Voetbal International – https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/topadviseur-infantino-stapt-om-vanwege-wk-plannen-slechte-deal-voor-het-voetbal