FIFA adviser on White House's World Cup panel resigns to protest Infantino private equity plan

Senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro has resigned from his post, citing direct opposition to the organization's controversial private equity plan. Cordeiro, who served as the FIFA representative on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, announced his departure on Friday.

At the heart of the conflict is a proposal from FIFA President Gianni Infantino to spin off commercial businesses, including future World Cups and Club World Cups, into a $20 billion subsidiary. Under this plan, 20% of the entity would be sold to private investors, with a firm connected to the family of Jared Kushner identified as a potential anchor investor.

Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker and U.S. Soccer Federation president, stated he could not support the move, calling it a bad deal for the sport. He emphasized that FIFA maintains healthy financial reserves and carries no debt, making the sale of a permanent stake in its primary asset unnecessary. Cordeiro urged other senior staff to break their silence on the matter, arguing that decisions regarding the future of the game should prioritize the sport over potential profit-seeking ventures.

This resignation adds to the growing pressure on FIFA leadership. European nations have already threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments if the proposal proceeds, and North American soccer leadership has also signaled its rejection. The controversy places significant strain on FIFA as it approaches a deadline for potential challengers to emerge for the presidency next year.