ZURICH, Switzerland: In a dramatic departure that has rattled the corridors of world football’s governing body, Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, resigned effective immediately on Friday.
His decision came in direct opposition to a controversial proposal that would allow private investors to purchase a stake in the World Cup, a move he denounced as detrimental to the sport.
Cordeiro, a seasoned investment banker and former vice president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, was originally recruited to guide FIFA’s strategic expansion efforts. In his resignation announcement, he made his stance unequivocal, stating he could not “stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup.”
BREAKING: Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has resigned with immediate effect in protest at proposals to sell a stake in the World Cup, calling the plan “a bad deal for football” 🚨 pic.twitter.com/3ZldxC2Eoo
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 31, 2026
The proposal at the heart of the controversy involves the creation of a $20 billion commercial entity named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would manage the World Cup and other FIFA-sanctioned events. Under the plan, FIFA would offer external investors a minority stake of up to 20 percent in this new subsidiary, potentially raising $4.2 billion in fresh capital.
Read Also: Why FIFA Wants to Sell a Stake in the World Cup
Cordeiro’s uncompromising stance
In a strongly worded statement, Cordeiro distanced himself entirely from the initiative. “Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally,” he asserted. He went on to characterize the plan as “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 Goldman Sachs vice chairman also raised pointed questions about the financial rationale behind the move. He observed that FIFA currently holds billions in reserve funds and operates without any debt, making the decision to sell off a portion of its “most valuable asset” appear unnecessary and shortsighted.
Support for the head of soccer’s world governing body is collapsing around the globe as a key adviser resigns in protest and dozens of federations express concern over a plan to sell part of the World Cup’s commercial rights. https://t.co/WBuwvHFL7s
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 31, 2026
Pressure mounts on member associations
Cordeiro’s exit comes at a critical juncture, as FIFA’s 211 member associations are being compelled to reach a decision on the contentious proposal by September 19. He cautioned that national federations “risk being left behind” if they choose to reject the plan, suggesting that they are being placed under considerable duress.
He further highlighted that President Infantino himself had publicly acknowledged FIFA’s projected revenue of $15 billion for the 2022–2026 cycle. Cordeiro argued that this financial strength already equips FIFA to deliver additional support to its members without resorting to external investment. “Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2 billion makes little sense,” he concluded.
BREAKING: Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has resigned with immediate effect in protest at proposals to sell a stake in the World Cup, calling the plan “a bad deal for football” 🚨 pic.twitter.com/3ZldxC2Eoo
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 31, 2026
A brief but pivotal tenure
Cordeiro was appointed as senior adviser to the FIFA President in 2021, with a mandate to “advise FIFA on new strategic initiatives to grow the game at all levels.” At the time of his appointment, Infantino praised him as “the right person to advise us as we modernise our regulatory framework and grow the sport in ways that advance football for men, women and youth across the globe.”
Read Also: European Football Countries Threaten World Cup Boycott Over FIFA’s $20 Billion Private Equity Plan
Before joining U.S. Soccer, Cordeiro built an extensive career in global investment banking, operating across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
He advised governments and multinational corporations and held the position of vice chairman at Goldman Sachs. He also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
