Carlos Cordeiro Steps Down as FIFA Adviser
Carlos Cordeiro, former president of the United States Soccer Federation, has resigned from his role as a senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. In his resignation statement, he described the federation’s plan to sell stakes in the commercial operations of the FIFA World Cup as “a bad deal” for football and warned that it would “mortgage football’s future.”
The timing of Cordeiro’s exit is significant. Just hours before his resignation, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) declared its solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf in opposing the investor proposal. The three confederations together represent a substantial bloc of FIFA’s 211 member associations.
Confederations Unite Against the Plan
UEFA, which governs 55 European national associations, Concacaf covering 35 members in North, Central America and the Caribbean, and the AFC with 46 Asian members have all signalled their disapproval. If their members vote in line with their confederations’ positions, the plan would face approximately 136 votes against it, far exceeding the simple majority of 106 votes required for approval.
The AFC emphasised that the FIFA World Cup’s strength lies in its universal character and the participation of all confederations. It warned that any proposal threatening that unity must be reconsidered.
FIFA’s Response
Despite the mounting criticism, FIFA has dismissed the concerns and stated that it will continue consulting stakeholders on the investor plan. Gianni Infantino had previously indicated that the proposal would need only a simple majority to pass.
The growing opposition from football’s major governing bodies casts serious doubt on the feasibility of the investor initiative, raising questions about the direction of FIFA’s commercial strategy under Infantino’s leadership.
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