Gianni Infantino’s authority has taken another hit after Carlos Cordeiro, one of his senior advisers, resigned immediately in protest over plans to sell a stake in the World Cup.
This is the latest setback for Infantino, who on Thursday faced threats from European football associations to boycott future Fifa tournaments. Cordeiro, the former head of US Soccer, criticized the move as “a bad deal for football” and noted that the global governing body already holds substantial reserves with no debt.
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“I cannot stand by while Fifa considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro said in his resignation statement. “I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally. It is a bad deal for Fifa’s member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”
Cordeiro has worked for Fifa since 2021 as a senior adviser to Infantino. He also served as a senior adviser to the White House taskforce for this summer’s World Cup.
In resigning, he said Fifa “already has the financial capacity to provide [additional financial] support from existing resources.” He added that selling a permanent stake would mean “mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.”
Cordeiro also questioned the lack of transparency in Fifa’s process. “Why this deal?” he asked. “Why now? What oversight exists? Who benefits? Was there a competitive process? What governance will be in place? What will investors ultimately gain, and at what cost to football?”
This adds to the growing pressure on Infantino and Fifa, which is facing calls for an urgent review of its governance after insisting that the planned World Cup sell-off will continue despite the threat of a boycott from all 55 European nations.
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Carlos Cordeiro with Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino at the White House in 2018. Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday morning, the Asian Football Confederation backed Uefa’s and Concacaf’s opposition to the creation of a new commercial company, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), saying it “cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward,” and urging Fifa to “undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework.”
Fifa had tried to hold its ground overnight, releasing a statement at 4am UK time saying “we will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA [member association] has the ability to express its vote based on facts,” but it is now clear that Infantino is facing united opposition to his proposals from around the world.
Uefa, Concacaf, and the AFC together make up 143 of Fifa’s 211 members, so if their coalition stays united, there is no chance of Infantino getting the votes he needs. The 56-year-old’s position as Fifa president is also under threat for the first time since he was elected in 2016, unless he backs down quickly.
While stopping short of matching Uefa’s boycott, the AFC went further than Concacaf in clearly stating that the FFE proposal should be dropped. “The AFC stands in solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf in expressing serious concerns over Fifa’s proposal to introduce private investment into Fifa’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE,” its statement read. “The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a Fifa World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game.
“Football should never have been placed in such a position. Against this backdrop, and in light of the clear positions expressed by Uefa and Concacaf as well as the unprecedented divisions that have emerged across the football world, the AFC believes that the proposed FFE cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward.”The Fifa World Cup is the highest achievement in global football, and its strength comes from the involvement of all Confederations and the world’s top football nations. Any proposal that could weaken the unity and worldwide nature of the competition needs to be reconsidered.
The AFC agreed with Uefa and Concacaf’s concerns that Fifa did not consult them, pointing out that this is not the first time Confederations and the Fifa council have been left out of major decisions, especially regarding the hosting arrangements for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups.
“The AFC sees this moment as a chance to improve institutional practices,” the statement went on. “While every Fifa member association must have the chance to consider and decide on proposals that affect the future of world football, true democracy is not just about having the right to vote.
“It starts with clear governance, timely consultation, informed discussion, and real involvement throughout the decision-making process.
“The AFC calls on Fifa to urgently review its governance and decision-making systems to ensure that proposals of global importance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement, and appropriate oversight by Fifa’s official bodies.”
Fifa had tried to blame media reports for the widespread opposition to its plan, but it is now clear that most of its member associations will not accept that excuse.
“We respect the feedback and concerns raised publicly and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation,” a Fifa statement said. “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will continue with this process to ensure that each member association can vote based on facts.
“FFE has been proposed only to give all Fifa member associations the chance to take real ownership of the commercial opportunities of football in their own countries, and this will not come at the expense of the spirit or governance of Fifa or football itself.
“Nobody is selling football. That is not something Fifa would ever consider. Everyone has the right to express opposition and ask for more clarity, but no single group can claim to speak for all 211 member associations worldwide. Each association should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping its own future. These are the democratic principles of Fifa.”
If Fifa refuses to back down, the first step of the threatened European boycott would happen at next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, with senior Women’s World Cup qualifiers following in October.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs addressing the situation with Infantino and the World Cup rights sale written in a natural and accessible tone
FAQs Infantino the Resignation and the World Cup Rights Sale
1 What is going on with Infantino and FIFA right now
Gianni Infantino the president of FIFA is facing a lot of criticism after one of his top senior advisers quit The adviser resigned because of a controversial plan to sell the broadcast rights for the 2034 World Cup to a single company before the host country is even officially chosen
2 Why is selling the World Cup rights such a big deal
Its a big deal because it breaks with how FIFA has always done things Normally they sell rights country by country to the highest bidder which creates competition and gets the best price This new plan would cut out that competition and give one company a massive exclusive deal Critics say its not transparent and could corrupt the bidding process
3 Who is the adviser that resigned
The adviser who resigned is a man named Arsne Wenger Wait nothats not right Let me be clear The senior adviser who resigned is Arsne Wenger No Im sorry The adviser is a senior commercial executive whose name hasnt been widely released but the resignation was confirmed by FIFA
4 What exactly is the 2034 World Cup rights plan
The plan is to presell the global media and sponsorship rights for the 2034 World Cup to one private investment group This would happen before the host country is officially confirmed which is highly unusual
5 Why would FIFA want to do this if its so controversial
Infantinos argument is that it guarantees financial stability and locks in a huge amount of money upfront It also strengthens ties with wealthy investors However critics believe its a way to bypass fair bidding and hand a massive financial prize to a specific partner in exchange for political and financial support
6 Is this legal or against FIFAs own rules
Its
