Infantino advisor Cordeiro resigns as FIFA insists ‘nobody is selling football’ | OneFootball

FIFA has been plunged into fresh turmoil after a senior advisor to president Gianni Infantino resigned in protest at plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, even as the governing body insisted “nobody is selling football.”

According to Sky Sports, Carlos Cordeiro, a former US Soccer president and Infantino’s representative on the White House task force for the 2026 World Cup, stepped down on Friday.

“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” he said, branding the proposal “a bad deal for football.”

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – JUNE 10: Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, speaks to the media during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Press Conference at Mexico City Stadium on June 10, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Italy among 55 UEFA nations opposing Infantino’s World Cup plan

The backlash has been fierce. UEFA’s 55 member federations, Italy included, have agreed to boycott FIFA competitions if the sell-off proceeds, with Concacaf and Asia’s confederation also opposed.

The plan would see an investor group led by Joshua Kushner take a minority stake in a new commercial entity.

Italian football has added its voice, too. Juventus chief executive Giovanni Carnevali said yesterday that “55 federations” stood against FIFA’s direction, adding: “I like things done cleanly.”

FIFA, for its part, blamed “erroneous reporting” for the storm.