Carlos Cordeiro, the senior advisor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, announced his resignation this week in a stark protest against the governing body’s plan to sell a stake in the World Cup.
The Proposal
Earlier this month FIFA unveiled a scheme to create a new $20‑billion subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) that would manage the World Cup and other major tournaments, effectively turning a portion of the competition’s revenue into a tradable asset.
Criticism and Financial Arguments
Cordeiro, who has no direct involvement in the proposal, said he opposed it unequivocally, arguing that disposing of a share of the tournament’s income was a poor bargain for FIFA’s 211 member associations. He pointed to FIFA’s $15 billion revenue between 2022 and 2026 as proof that the organization could fund its development programmes without parting with a stake in its most valuable asset, especially given its strong balance sheet and zero debt.
Implications for Member Associations
The resignation comes as member associations face a September 19 deadline to decide whether to accept the FFE structure. Cordeiro warned that nations that reject the plan could find themselves “left behind” in a landscape increasingly shaped by commercial partnerships.
A Career in Transition
Before joining FIFA in 2021, Cordeiro built a distinguished career in global investment banking, serving as vice‑chairman at Goldman Sachs and holding senior roles at U.S. Soccer. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, credentials that Infantino highlighted when appointing him to steer FIFA’s modernization agenda.