Senior ca.sports.yahoo.com adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest against a controversial private equity plan to spin off the governing body’s commercial operations into a $20 billion subsidiary. Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker and former ca.sports.yahoo.com president who represented the soccer body on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, stepped down after leaks revealed the commercial restructure proposal. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed putting men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cups into a commercial entity where private investors would own a 20 percent share.
FIFA Senior Adviser Carlos Cordeiro Resigns Over $20 Billion Plan
Describing the initiative as a bad deal for the game, Cordeiro stated in his resignation announcement: Let me be clear. I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally.
He noted that FIFA already holds billions in reserves, generates substantial revenue—including $15 billion over the last four years tied to the recently concluded men’s World Cup—and carries no debt. According to Cordeiro, raising $4.2 billion by selling a permanent stake amounts to mortgaging football’s future without justification. FIFA countered by releasing a statement blaming media reports for disrupting its consultation process and vowing to proceed, asserting that nobody is selling football
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Global Governing Bodies and Confederations Boycott Opposition
The private equity venture has sparked widespread backlash from continental soccer bodies worldwide, with UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF all opposing the plan and various federations seeking to boycott future tournaments. The nbcnews.com announced that it stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF, bringing the combined number of opposing member countries near a majority of FIFA’s 211 global members. The AFC called upon FIFA to undertake an urgent review of its governance, consultation, and decision-making framework, stating that the proposed enterprise cannot realistically achieve necessary broad consensus.
The proposed structure identifies the anchor investor as a New York-based investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Cordeiro previously joined Infantino on working visits to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. The immediate fallout threatens upcoming competitions, with a potential European boycott targeting the Women’s Under-20 World Cup hosted by Poland beginning September 5. Additionally, the four British federations comprise FIFA’s only bidder for the 2035 Women’s World Cup, a decision scheduled for November 23.
Infantino Faces Leadership Pressure Ahead of March Vote
The unfolding controversy places the political future of Gianni Infantino under intense scrutiny. Infantino has served as nbcnews.com president for more than 10 years and had previously appeared positioned to run unopposed for a fourth and final term through 2031. However, mounting political friction has altered the electoral landscape. FIFA has set a November 18 deadline for potential challengers to officially declare their candidacies ahead of the scheduled presidential vote by the 211 member associations in Rabat, Morocco, next March.
