FIFA adviser quits as World Cup investment plan faces backlash

A senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino resigned Friday over a proposal to bring private investment into the World Cup’s commercial operations, as Asian soccer officials joined European and North American governing bodies in opposing the plan.

Carlos Cordeiro, a former U.S. Soccer Federation president and ex-Goldman Sachs banker, said he was stepping down immediately because he could not support the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE. The plan, revealed this week in media reports, would create a commercial subsidiary that could draw investment of up to $20 billion, with private investors owning 20%.

“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro said in his resignation statement. “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.”

FIFA has rejected the characterization that it is selling the sport. “Nobody is selling football,” the organization said in a statement. “This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.”

The pressure on Infantino escalated when the Asian Football Confederation said it stood with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing “serious concerns” about both the introduction of private investment into FIFA’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE.

“The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE,” the confederation said. It added that the proposal “cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward” and called on FIFA to conduct an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework.

CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean, said Thursday that its members had “deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies.” It also questioned the need for outside investment “following the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history.”

The Guardian reported that UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC together represent 143 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, meaning a united bloc would leave Infantino without the votes needed to advance the proposal. The Guardian also reported that European football associations had threatened to boycott future FIFA tournaments, with a possible first step at next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, followed by senior Women’s World Cup qualifiers in October.

Cordeiro, who has worked for FIFA since 2021, also served as a senior adviser to the White House task force for this summer’s World Cup. CBS News reported that he had joined Infantino on visits to meet President Donald Trump at the White House and participated in task force meetings led by Andrew Giuliani.

In his statement, Cordeiro said FIFA already had the resources to provide additional financial support to its members and warned that selling a permanent stake would amount to “mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.” He also questioned the process behind the proposal: “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?”

FIFA said it would continue consultations despite the backlash. “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports,” it said. “We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”

FIFA said FFE was proposed to help member associations take “meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries” without harming the spirit or governance of the sport. “Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future,” FIFA said.