Carlos Cordeiro resigned as a senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday, July 31, 2026 [2].
The departure of a high-level official marks a significant internal rift over the commercial future of the World Cup. Cordeiro, who also served as the president of U.S. Soccer, is a member of the White House Task Force on the World Cup.
Cordeiro stepped down to protest a plan proposed by Infantino to sell a stake in the World Cup's commercial business to private investors. He said the proposal was a bad deal for football, arguing that the move would effectively place the world's premier soccer tournament under the control of private equity firms.
Reports indicate that Cordeiro is not the only official opposed to the strategy. Two senior FIFA officials have criticized the sell-off plan [1].
The resignation was reported in Geneva, Switzerland, where FIFA maintains its headquarters. The move highlights the tension between FIFA's leadership and those who believe the governing body should maintain full control over its primary revenue-generating assets to ensure the sport's long-term stability.
Cordeiro's dual role as a FIFA adviser and a member of the U.S. government's task force adds a layer of geopolitical complexity to the resignation. His opposition suggests that the private equity model may face scrutiny not only within the sport's governing body, but also among stakeholders coordinating the tournament's logistics in the U.S.
“Carlos Cordeiro resigned as a senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino”
The resignation reflects a fundamental conflict between the 'commercialization' model favored by Gianni Infantino and the 'traditional' governance model. By attempting to bring in private equity, FIFA seeks immediate capital injections and professional investment management, but critics like Cordeiro fear this cedes democratic control of the game to profit-driven entities. This internal instability could complicate future commercial negotiations and the execution of the World Cup.
