FIFA World Cup Sale Sparks Internal Conflict
Senior FIFA adviser quits in protest over controversial World Cup stake sale plan
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Thrive Eternal, a fund run by Thrive Capital founder Joshua Kushner (brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law), was reported to be poised to lead the investor group for FIFA Forward Enterprise, with a plan to sell up to 25% of the new entity for about $4.2 billion.
2
Carlos Cordeiro is described as a former president of the U.S. Soccer Federation and a former Goldman Sachs banker, who labeled the proposed stake sale as 'mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification' and said he had no involvement in the plan, opposing it unequivocally.
3
FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour publicly criticized the process, saying the plan was a 'project of one person' and that staff had been deceived, signaling a willingness to risk his job for speaking out.
4
Opposition to the plan has included public rhetoric like 'Football is not for sale' from the AFC, and political criticism such as British Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling Infantino 'the wrong man to lead the organisation', highlighting broader scrutiny over governance and decision-making.
Carlos Cordeiro, a former U.S. Soccer Federation president and senior adviser to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, resigned in protest this week over plans to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup operation, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Cordeiro called the proposal 'mortgaging football's future without any compelling justification' and said he had no involvement in the plan.
The backlash has been swift and wide. UEFA threatened a boycott. The Asian Football Confederation declared 'Football is not for sale.' Even FIFA's own chief operating officer went public with criticism, according to WAToday.
A $20 Billion Subsidiary at the Heart of the Row
FIFA's plan would create a new entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise, valued at around $20 billion. FIFA would then sell up to 20% — or possibly 25% — of that entity to outside investors. In return, national federations would get higher payments over several World Cup cycles, according to Brisbane Times.
Thrive Eternal, a fund run by Joshua Kushner — brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law — was reported to be poised to lead the investor group. The reported price tag for a 25% stake: roughly $4.2 billion.
Cordeiro Quits, Calls the Plan a Bad Deal for Football
Cordeiro is a former Goldman Sachs banker and ex-president of U.S. Soccer. He said he opposed the stake sale 'unequivocally.' He added that he was never consulted on the plan and resigned because he could not stay silent, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Cordeiro is expected to run for another FIFA term next year. His resignation puts him on the record against Infantino ahead of that vote. He framed the proposal not just as bad policy, but as a governance failure — something done without proper input from FIFA's 211 member associations.
FIFA's Own COO Risks His Job to Speak Out
FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour went further than most. He said the plan was 'the project of one person' — a clear reference to Infantino. He accused leadership of deceiving staff and said he was willing to lose his job for speaking out, according to WAToday.
FIFA pushed back. Officials said Lamour's comments were misleading and that the organisation would move forward with formal consultations. FIFA said member associations would get to vote based on facts, not fear.
UEFA, AFC, and a British Mayor Pile On Infantino
Opposition has come from every direction. UEFA threatened a boycott of any World Cup tied to private investor control. The AFC joined in, saying football's soul was not for sale. CONCACAF also signalled its opposition, according to Brisbane Times.
British politician Andy Burnham went further still. He called Infantino 'the wrong man to lead the organisation.' The criticism points to a deeper worry: that selling World Cup shares to private investors could shift real power away from football's 211 member nations and hand it to outside money.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
62
Articles
208
Reach
270
A
AnonymousAuthor