FIFA Advisor Cordeiro Resigns in Protest Over Controversial $20 Billion World Cup Stake Sale

A senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino has resigned in protest against plans to sell a stake in the World Cup. Carlos Cordeiro stepped down on Friday, citing the proposal as detrimental to the sport. His resignation comes amid growing opposition from European football associations and regional confederations.

Cordeiro’s Resignation and Concerns

Cordeiro, who was appointed in 2021 to help shape FIFA’s future, described the proposal as “a bad deal for football.” He expressed concerns that FIFA was “mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.” In his statement, he emphasized that the plan was unfavorable for FIFA’s Member Associations and the long-term future of the game.

The former banker and ex-US Soccer Federation vice president clarified that he had no involvement in the proposal and opposed it “unequivocally.” His resignation reflects a significant dissent within FIFA’s ranks regarding the controversial stake sale.

FIFA’s Response to Opposition

Despite the backlash, FIFA has indicated that it will continue to pursue the proposal. The organization stated that “incorrect media reports” had disrupted its planned consultation process but affirmed its commitment to presenting the proposal to its 211 national football associations. FIFA aims to ensure that each Member Association has the opportunity to express its vote based on factual information.

The proposal involves the creation of a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would manage the World Cup and other events. FIFA plans to offer up to a 20% stake to external investors, with Thrive Eternal, a fund run by Thrive Capital and founded by Joshua Kushner, expected to lead the investor group.

Growing Opposition from UEFA and Other Confederations

The European football association, UEFA, has emerged as a leading opponent of the proposal. UEFA accused FIFA of putting the sport’s “soul” up for sale. On Thursday, UEFA’s 55 member nations voted unanimously to boycott all FIFA tournaments, just weeks after Spain was crowned World Cup champions.

FIFA’s next major event is the women’s Under-20 World Cup scheduled for September. However, hosts Poland reported that they had not received any information about potential withdrawals from the tournament.

FIFA responded to the criticisms by asserting that “nobody is selling football” and emphasized the democratic principles that allow each Member Association to review the proposal and shape their own future.

Reactions from Regional Federations

CONCACAF, the regional federation for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, rejected the proposal during a meeting but did not follow UEFA with a boycott threat. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which has 47 members, expressed solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF but also refrained from threatening a boycott.

The AFC raised questions about the proposal’s viability and criticized FIFA’s decision-making processes. Stuart Dykes, the director of European and Institutional Affairs at Football Supporters Europe, emphasized the need for proper governance and stakeholder involvement in such significant decisions.

FIFA’s Democratic Process and Financial Incentives

In a letter to all member associations, Infantino stated that each would receive $40 million if they agreed to FIFA’s proposal by September 19. FIFA reiterated that it would not proceed with the plan without the support of the majority of its member associations.

The principles underpinning the FFE proposal include unprecedented development funding and global ownership of commercial opportunities, along with self-determination through a democratic process for all Member Associations. UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC collectively represent 143 associations, significantly more than half of FIFA’s 211 members.

However, individual member nations may not necessarily align with their federations’ positions. For instance, Czech Football Association President David Trunda acknowledged the “positive impact of FIFA’s intentions,” while the Mexican Football Federation stated it would evaluate the proposal before making a decision.

As the debate continues, Danish brewers Carlsberg, who have a sponsorship deal with UEFA, made headlines with a social media post referencing the ongoing controversy.

As reported by www.arnnewscentre.ae.

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Published on 2026-07-31 20:58:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk