A senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino has resigned, hours after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) opposed Infantino's plan to sell stakes in football competitions to private investors. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser for nearly five years, stated Infantino's proposal was "a bad deal for football" and would "mortgage football's future." His resignation on July 31, 2026, highlights growing internal and external resistance to the controversial initiative.
Cordeiro's departure followed the AFC's public statement of solidarity with its European (UEFA) and North, Central American, and Caribbean (Concacaf) counterparts. The AFC argued Infantino's plan could not "realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward." This collective opposition from three major confederations significantly jeopardises the proposal's approval within FIFA's 211-member structure.
This development fits into a broader pattern of governance challenges within international sports organisations, where commercial interests often clash with traditional sporting values. The proposed sale of stakes in FIFA's main events, including the World Cup, to external investors like Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm, raises questions about financial transparency and control. Such moves can impact the distribution of revenues and the autonomy of national football associations, including those in Ghana and across Africa.
The AFC specifically criticised FIFA for setting the "direction of travel" for a "significant initiative" without proper consultation with stakeholders. It stated FIFA's failure to consult its member associations "exposed fundamental weaknesses in Fifa's consultation and decision-making processes." This lack of engagement has left confederations and even FIFA's own governing bodies feeling "sidelined," according to the AFC.
The implications of this widespread opposition are significant. Infantino had indicated the proposals would need a straight majority of 106 votes from FIFA's 211 members to pass. With UEFA holding 55 votes, Concacaf 35, and Asia 46, a combined 136 nations would oppose the plan if their governing bodies' stances are upheld. This makes it highly improbable for the proposal to gain the necessary approval, forcing FIFA to reconsider its approach to commercialisation.
Carlos Cordeiro, a former investment banker with Goldman Sachs, served as a senior adviser on global strategy and governance since September 2021. He represented FIFA on the White House taskforce for the 2026 World Cup. In his resignation statement, Cordeiro "unequivocally" opposed the plans, arguing FIFA's responsibility is to protect football, not merely maximise commercial returns. He highlighted the absence of answers to fundamental questions, such as "Why this deal? Why now? What oversight exists? Who benefits?"
Infantino's plan involves creating a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to run its main events. External investors would buy minority, non-controlling stakes in FFE. A document by JP Morgan projected an increased payout of 24 million euros per member association in the 2035-2039 cycle. The document described FIFA as "under-monetised" despite the World Cup being the "most widely viewed" sporting event. Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, was expected to lead the investor group.
The strong reaction from confederations underscores a deep-seated concern about the future governance and commercial integrity of global football. UEFA had previously voted to boycott World Cups if the plan proceeded. FIFA, in response, vowed to continue with the plan but claimed the consultation process had been "disrupted by incorrect media reports." The governing body asserted that the plan would "not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of Fifa or football itself." However, the unified resistance suggests a major hurdle for Infantino's vision.