Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-07-31 · by Kevin Hand
Carlos Cordeiro, senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has resigned in protest over a plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. The proposed deal would create a $20bn subsidiary, with up to 20% of its value offered to external investors, including Joshua Kushner. Cordeiro stated that this is "a bad deal for football" and questioned why FIFA needs to raise $4.2bn when it has billions in reserves. His resignation comes as FIFA's member associations face a September 19 deadline to decide on the proposal.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The article frames Infantino's plan as potentially detrimental to FIFA's member associations and the game of football itself, using phrases such as 'a bad deal for football' and questioning why a permanent stake in the World Cup would be sold when FIFA already has significant reserves and no debt.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.40 for article 190 · logged 2026-07-31
Carlos Cordeiro, senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has resigned following the proposal by football’s governing body to sell a stake in its World Cups and events.
asserted
Cordeiro → resign → Cups
Cordeiro said on Friday that he is stepping down with immediate effect in protest at proposals to seek private investment in a newly formed FIFA Forward Enterprise venture, calling the plan “a bad deal for football”.
asserted
he → say → football
Recommended Stories
list of 4 items- list 1 of 4Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup: All to know
- list 2 of 4What has FIFA charged Argentina with, and what could the punishment be?
- list 3 of 4Storm apologize after co-owner berates teen girls for support of Cunningham
- list 4 of 4Viral finger-clicker suspended as cricket storm remains in global spotlight
In FIFA’s plan, the FFE would create a $20bn subsidiary to run the World Cup and its other events, with a stake of up to 20 percent to be offered to external investors.
uncertain
FFE → sell → investors
It would be bankrolled by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
asserted
It → bankroll → Kushner
“Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal and I oppose it unequivocally,” Cordeiro said in a statement.
asserted
Cordeiro → let → statement
Cordeiro had represented football’s global governing body on the White House Task Force for the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
asserted
Cordeiro → represent → States
A former banker and ex-US Soccer Federation vice president, Cordeiro was hand-picked to help grow world football for FIFA.
asserted
Cordeiro → pick → FIFA
In his statement, Cordeiro questioned why FIFA would consider raising $4.2bn by selling part of its “most valuable asset” when the organisation sits on billions of dollars in reserves and has no debt.
asserted
organisation → question → debt
His resignation comes as FIFA’s 211 member associations face pressure to decide on the controversial proposal by September 19, with Infantino saying they “risk being left behind” if they do not accept it.
asserted
they → come → it
“The FIFA President himself has highlighted the $15bn in revenue generated between 2022 and 2026,” Cordeiro added, saying FIFA already had the financial capacity to provide additional support to member associations from its existing resources.
asserted
FIFA → highlight → resources
“Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2bn makes little sense.”
asserted
selling → sell → sense
As senior adviser to Infantino, Cordeiro’s remit was to “advise FIFA on new strategic initiatives to grow the game at all levels”.
asserted
remit → advise → levels
Announcing the appointment in 2021, Infantino had said: “Carlos is the right person to advise us as we modernise our regulatory framework and grow the sport in ways that advance football for men, women and youth across the globe.”
asserted
that → announce → globe
Cordeiro built a long career in business and global investment banking in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and across Asia, advising governments and some of the world’s largest international companies.
asserted
Cordeiro → build → companies
Prior to joining US Soccer, he was a vice chairman at Goldman Sachs and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.
asserted
he → join → School
