A major rift has emerged within FIFA over its controversial proposal to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup and other competitions, with Senior Adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Carlos Cordeiro, resigning in protest and urging member associations to reject the plan.
Cordeiro, a former president of the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) and a veteran banker, announced his immediate resignation in a strongly worded statement in which he distanced himself from the proposal and described it as detrimental to the future of world football.
“As a Senior Advisor to the FIFA President, a former banker, and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro said.
He made it clear that he neither participated in developing the proposal nor supports it.
“Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally. 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,” he stated.
The resignation marks the most significant internal opposition yet to FIFA’s reported plan to sell a minority stake in the World Cup and other flagship competitions to private investors, a proposal that has already generated fierce debate across the global football community.
Drawing on his more than three decades of banking experience, Cordeiro argued that football’s governing body has no financial justification for selling part of what he described as its most valuable asset.
“Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away. That is why this proposal should be rejected,” he said.
According to Cordeiro, FIFA is already in a strong financial position and does not need outside investors to fund the game’s development.
“FIFA already has access to extraordinary financial resources. The organization sits on billions of dollars in reserves and no debt. The FIFA President himself has highlighted the $15 billion in revenue generated between 2022 and 2026. If Member Associations believe additional investment is needed to develop the game, FIFA already has the financial capacity to provide that support from its existing resources.”
He questioned the logic of selling a permanent stake in football’s premier competition to raise an estimated $4.2 billion.
“Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2 billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification,” Cordeiro said.
The former FIFA adviser also challenged the rationale behind the proposal, insisting that FIFA’s commercial success had been achieved without the involvement of private investors.
“Such economic success was not accidental. It was delivered by experienced football professionals who shattered FIFA’s commercial records. Yet despite those achievements, FIFA is now being asked to believe that outside investors are needed to unlock greater value. I do not accept that proposition.”
Cordeiro further criticised what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the proposal, saying member associations were being asked to make a decision of enormous consequence without adequate information.
“Most troubling of all is the absence of answers to fundamental questions. Why this deal? Why now? What oversight exists? Who benefits? Was there a competitive process? What governance will be in place? What will investors ultimately gain, and at what cost to football?”
He added: “These questions remain largely unanswered, and yet Member Associations are being asked to make a decision of enormous consequence in barely 50 days or risk being left behind. That is not a responsible way to determine the future of the world’s game.”
Announcing his departure, Cordeiro said the issue had become a defining moment for FIFA’s future.
“This proposal has become a defining question for FIFA’s future. After careful consideration, I can no longer continue in my role as Senior Advisor to the FIFA President. I have therefore resigned with immediate effect.”
He argued that FIFA’s responsibility extends beyond generating commercial returns.
“FIFA’s responsibility is not to maximize commercial returns at any cost. It is to protect and strengthen football for future generations. When those principles come into conflict, football must come first.”
Reflecting on his time at FIFA, Cordeiro described it as “the privilege of a lifetime” and urged others within the organisation to speak out if they believe football’s long-term interests are at stake.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve FIFA for more than five years and to work alongside dedicated, principled people who care deeply about the game. I hope they, too, will speak up, because decisions of this magnitude should be made in the interests of football, not those who stand to profit from it.”
