Carlos Cordeiro resigns from Gianni Infantino’s team
One of FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s closest aides left after opposing a plan to sell part of the World Cup to private owners.
Carlos Cordeiro, a close advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has resigned from his position and left the president’s team, the decision announced on July 31, 2026.
According to Cordeiro, the move was triggered by recent developments inside FIFA — most notably a controversial plan to transfer parts of the World Cup to private owners, a proposal he says he cannot support.
Background and reaction
Cordeiro is a former president of the United States Soccer Federation and has also served as a vice president at the investment bank Goldman Sachs. His departure adds weight to the internal opposition facing FIFA leadership over the new commercial proposal.
UEFA members reacted strongly: yesterday all UEFA associations, including North Macedonia, collectively rejected Infantino’s proposal, increasing pressure on FIFA to clarify its plans.
Cordeiro gave an exclusive statement to an English-language outlet in which he said he could not remain silent. He described himself as a lifelong football supporter and distanced himself from the initiative, warning that the proposal would harm FIFA members and the sport’s future.
"As now a former collaborator with the President of FIFA and his advisor, and also a lifelong lover of football, I cannot watch this calmly as FIFA seriously considers selling part of the World Cup. I want to emphasize that I was not part of the initiative for this project, and I am decisively opposed to it. This is bad for FIFA members, bad for football, bad for the entire future of the sport," Cordeiro said.
Photo: press material from the event
