FIFA Executive Resigns, Reveals Infantino Cheated on Controversial World Cup Plan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has lost two senior officials who resigned because they felt cheated regarding the controversial 2026 World Cup plan (Instagram/@gianni_infantino).

JAKARTA - Two senior FIFA officials criticized the plan to sell World Cup shares by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday, July 31, 2026, local time.

One of the people who resigned was Infantino's adviser. Meanwhile, another official said staff had been duped by the controversial project.

Carlos Cordeiro, who represents FIFA on the White House Task Force for the 2026 World Cup, resigned in protest against the private equity plan.

"I cannot remain silent while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup," Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker, said in a statement resigning as an adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

FIFA's Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour said in a statement to the Associated Press that staff were deceived by Infantino's lack of openness in planning the private investor scheme and deserved better treatment than humiliation and intimidation.

"This is a one-man project. This project should not continue. Now is the time for football political leaders to ask the right questions and make the right decisions," wrote Lamour, a long-time colleague of Infantino at FIFA and UEFA.

Lamour has not resigned from his post since 2024, but said he had an obligation to his colleagues.

"If it means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I'll sleep well tonight," said the Frenchman.

Cordeiro has often joined Infantino on working visits to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House in recent years.

"Let me be clear. I was not involved in this proposal. I am against it without hesitation. Football has been an important part of my life."

"After more than 35 years in the banking world, I understand the value of these assets and the consequences of releasing some of them. That's why this proposal must be rejected," said Cordeiro, former President of the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer).

Infantino has proposed splitting FIFA's commercial business - including the men's and women's World Cups and Club World Cups - into a $20 billion subsidiary with 20 percent of the shares owned by private investors.

The "main investor" described by FIFA is a New York-based investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

"FIFA already has access to tremendous financial resources. This organization has billions of dollars in reserves and no debt."

"Given that background, selling a permanent stake in the most valuable football asset to raise 4.2 billion US dollars does not make sense. It is tantamount to mortgaging the future of football without a convincing reason," said Cordeiro, noting FIFA's revenue of 15 billion US dollars over the past four years related to the 2026 World Cup which has just ended.

Cordeiro said he had worked for five years for FIFA with Infantino with people who were dedicated and principled who cared deeply about football.

"I hope they will also speak up. Decisions of this magnitude must be made for the sake of football, not for the sake of those who will benefit from it," Cordeiro wrote further.

Meanwhile, the latest news says that Infantino canceled the plan to sell the shares after receiving rejection from many parties, including a number of confederations, such as the AFC, UEFA, and Concacaf.

It seems that the cancellation did not deter the senior FIFA official from resigning.

Infantino has been FIFA president for more than 10 years and looks certain to be re-elected unopposed in March 2027. FIFA has set a deadline of November 18, 2026 for challengers to declare themselves.

Cordeiro resigned as President of U.S. Soccer in 2020 after coming under pressure over a filing of a pay equity lawsuit for the United States Women's National Team.