Key Takeaways
- • FIFA's Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour publicly stated that staff were "deceived" by President Gianni Infantino's lack of transparency in planning a World Cup stake sale to private equity, and called for the project to be halted entirely.
- • Infantino's senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker and ex-U.S. Soccer Federation president, resigned in protest, stating he could not support FIFA's consideration of selling a stake in the World Cup to a New York investment fund backed by Joshua Kushner.
- • The proposed deal involves selling a 21 percent stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a newly created subsidiary consolidating FIFA's commercial operations and World Cup rights—the primary driver of FIFA's financial revenues.
- • Major regional football confederations, including UEFA and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (41 members), have rejected the proposal and indicated they will not participate in FIFA competitions under the current plan.
- • Lamour's statement, framed as a near-resignation, represents an unprecedented internal revolt from senior FIFA leadership, with both executives directly challenging Infantino's authority and decision-making process.
Summary
FIFA faces a significant internal governance crisis following President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell private equity stakes in the organization's World Cup revenues. On July 31, 2026, Kevin Lamour, FIFA's Chief Operating Officer, issued a formal statement to The Associated Press condemning the initiative as deceptive and calling for its termination. Lamour, a long-time colleague of Infantino at both FIFA and European soccer governing body UEFA, wrote that staff were "deceived" by the president's lack of openness during months of planning and "deserve better than contempt and intimidation."
The resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser and a former Goldman Sachs investment banker, amplified the internal dissent. Cordeiro, who previously served as U.S. Soccer Federation president and represented FIFA on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, stated he could not support the sale of World Cup stakes to private investors. Notably, Cordeiro was excluded from discussions on the proposal, which is backed by a New York-based investment fund created by Joshua Kushner.
The proposed transaction involves selling a 21 percent stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a subsidiary consolidating FIFA's commercial operations and World Cup rights—the primary revenue driver for the organization. The deal structure positions private equity investors to capture future World Cup profit streams, a decision that has triggered regional opposition. Both UEFA and the 41-member Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football have rejected the proposal and signaled they will not participate in FIFA competitions if the plan proceeds, creating operational and financial complications for future tournaments.
Lamour's statement effectively positioned him for dismissal by Infantino while defending his colleagues and questioning whether senior football leadership should reconsider their governance approach. His characterization of the initiative as "the project of one person" underscores a broader institutional concern: that Infantino has advanced the transaction without adequate consultation with senior staff or regional football bodies. This public rupture between FIFA's executive leadership and the president represents a critical moment in the organization's governance, with significant implications for the 2026 World Cup's financial structure and FIFA's internal legitimacy.
The resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser and a former Goldman Sachs investment banker, amplified the internal dissent. Cordeiro, who previously served as U.S. Soccer Federation president and represented FIFA on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, stated he could not support the sale of World Cup stakes to private investors. Notably, Cordeiro was excluded from discussions on the proposal, which is backed by a New York-based investment fund created by Joshua Kushner.
The proposed transaction involves selling a 21 percent stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a subsidiary consolidating FIFA's commercial operations and World Cup rights—the primary revenue driver for the organization. The deal structure positions private equity investors to capture future World Cup profit streams, a decision that has triggered regional opposition. Both UEFA and the 41-member Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football have rejected the proposal and signaled they will not participate in FIFA competitions if the plan proceeds, creating operational and financial complications for future tournaments.
Lamour's statement effectively positioned him for dismissal by Infantino while defending his colleagues and questioning whether senior football leadership should reconsider their governance approach. His characterization of the initiative as "the project of one person" underscores a broader institutional concern: that Infantino has advanced the transaction without adequate consultation with senior staff or regional football bodies. This public rupture between FIFA's executive leadership and the president represents a critical moment in the organization's governance, with significant implications for the 2026 World Cup's financial structure and FIFA's internal legitimacy.
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