- FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro quits over World Cup investment plans
- UEFA and other groups oppose FIFA’s proposal
- FIFA insists member nations will decide the plan’s future
A senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino has resigned in protest against the football body’s proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup, as opposition from European football leaders and other confederations continues to grow.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Carlos Cordeiro, who stepped down with immediate effect, described the plan as a “bad deal for football” and accused FIFA of risking the future of the sport without sufficient justification.
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Cordeiro, appointed by Infantino in 2021 to contribute to FIFA’s long-term strategy, said he had no role in developing the proposal and strongly disagreed with it.
He argued that the plan would negatively affect FIFA’s member associations and the wider football community.
Despite the criticism, FIFA said it would continue with consultations involving its 211 member associations, insisting that each association should be allowed to assess the proposal and make decisions based on available information.
The proposal involves the creation of a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would manage the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. The organisation plans to offer up to a 20 per cent stake in the new entity to external investors.
Thrive Eternal, a fund linked to Thrive Capital founder Joshua Kushner, has been identified as a potential leading investor in the project.
The plan has faced strong resistance from UEFA, which represents European football nations. UEFA accused FIFA of risking the integrity of the sport and said its 55 members had unanimously backed a boycott of FIFA competitions if the proposal moves forward.
FIFA rejected the criticism, saying no single organisation could claim to represent the views of all 211 member associations.
Other regional bodies, including CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), have also raised concerns. While they opposed the proposal, neither organisation followed UEFA’s boycott threat.
FIFA President Infantino had earlier informed member associations that they could receive $40 million each if they approved the proposal by September 19.
The football governing body maintained that the plan would provide increased development funding and allow member associations to have a greater role in shaping the future of the sport.
However, some football officials have expressed support for examining the proposal, while others, including former Spain World Cup winner Xabi Alonso, called for decisions to prioritise fans and the wider football community over private interests.
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