Key facts
- FIFA confirmed the departure of Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour on August 17, 2026.
- Lamour had publicly criticized President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a stake in FIFA's tournament business.
- Lamour stated that FIFA staff felt 'deceived' by the lack of openness regarding the proposal.
- Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro also resigned in protest, calling the plan a 'bad deal for football'.
- Major football confederations including UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC opposed the proposal.
- FIFA subsequently abandoned the plan after facing widespread opposition.
FIFA confirmed on August 17, 2026, that Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour has left the organization. His departure follows public criticism of President Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell a stake in FIFA's tournament business, including the World Cup. Lamour had stated that FIFA staff felt 'deceived' by the plan and described it as 'the project of one person.'
Lamour's exit comes weeks after senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, calling the proposal a 'bad deal for football' and questioning its transparency and governance. Cordeiro, a former US Soccer president and Goldman Sachs banker, noted that FIFA had sufficient reserves and that mortgaging the future of football's flagship competition was unjustified.
The plan to create a subsidiary to manage tournaments and sell up to a 20% stake to external investors faced significant opposition. Major confederations, including UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC, representing 143 of FIFA's 211 member associations, had expressed serious concerns. Following this backlash, FIFA subsequently abandoned the proposal.