FIFA Adviser Resigns, Labels World Cup Stake Sale a ‘Bad Deal for Football’

FIFA Adviser Quits Over World Cup Stake Sale, Says Proposal Risks Football’s Future

Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has resigned with immediate effect after opposing the governing body’s plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup, calling the proposal “a bad deal for football.”

Cordeiro, who joined FIFA in 2021 after serving as vice chairman at Goldman Sachs and president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, said he had no role in developing the proposal and could not continue in his advisory position while it moved forward.

“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,” he said.

Inside FIFA’s Commercial Plan

The proposal centres on the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new commercial subsidiary that would manage the media and commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup, Club World Cup and other major competitions.

FIFA plans to sell up to 20% of the entity to outside investors, a move expected to raise around $4.2 billion from a business valued at $20 billion. A New York-based investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner has reportedly been identified as the anchor investor.

Questions Over the Need for Fresh Capital

Cordeiro argued that FIFA does not need to dilute ownership of its premier tournaments, citing the organisation’s strong financial position.

According to him, FIFA already holds billions of dollars in reserves, has no debt and is on course for a $15 billion revenue cycle between 2022 and 2026. Given those finances, he said, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable commercial assets was unnecessary.

He warned that the proposal could sacrifice long-term value for a short-term cash injection and urged FIFA’s 211 member associations to carefully examine its implications before voting.

A Key Moment for FIFA

Cordeiro was appointed as Infantino’s senior adviser in 2021 to help drive FIFA’s long-term strategic initiatives and global development plans. Before entering football administration, he spent more than three decades in investment banking, including as vice chairman at Goldman Sachs.

His resignation comes just weeks before FIFA’s member associations are expected to vote on the commercial restructuring proposal by September 19, making the decision one of the most closely watched governance issues facing world football.