White House World Cup Adviser Resigns Over FIFA’s Controversial $20 Billion Plan

Carlos Cordeiro, President Trump‘s senior adviser to the White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has resigned from his advisory role with FIFA in protest over a controversial proposal to sell a stake in the organization’s commercial operations, calling the plan “a bad deal for football.”

Cordeiro announced his immediate resignation from his position as senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the organization unveiled plans to create a new commercial entity that would control the World Cup and other major tournaments. Under the proposal, FIFA would sell a 20% stake in the new business, reportedly valued at approximately $20 billion, to outside investors.

In a sharply worded resignation letter, Cordeiro argued that FIFA has no financial need to pursue the transaction. He noted that the organization expects roughly $15 billion in revenue during its current four-year cycle, carries no debt, and already holds billions of dollars in reserves. Selling a portion of its most valuable assets, he wrote, would sacrifice the sport’s long-term interests for a short-term cash infusion.

Cordeiro also criticized what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the proposal. He said he had no role in developing the plan and expressed concern that FIFA’s member associations had not been given sufficient information before being asked to vote on one of the most consequential financial decisions in the organization’s history.

The resignation represents one of the most significant internal breaks with Infantino’s leadership to date. UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation have all voiced opposition to the proposal, arguing that FIFA has failed to adequately consult its member federations and raising concerns about the future governance of the World Cup.

Despite stepping down from his FIFA advisory position, Cordeiro is expected to remain involved with the Trump administration’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup through the White House task force. His departure from FIFA, however, intensifies the growing controversy surrounding Infantino’s commercial strategy as member associations prepare to vote on the proposal in the coming weeks.