FIFA COO Lamour says staff deceived over Infantino’s World Cup plan

FIFA's organizational leadership has publicly fractured over President Gianni Infantino's proposal to monetize the organization's commercial assets through private investment. Kevin Lamour, the chief operating officer, issued a statement expressing that the organization's workforce felt misled by the lack of transparency surrounding the initiative. Lamour suggested the proposal should not proceed and indicated he was prepared to accept termination rather than remain silent on the matter.

Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino and former president of the US Soccer Federation, resigned in protest of the plan. Cordeiro, who had previously represented FIFA at White House discussions, stated he had no involvement in the proposal and opposed it categorically. He characterized the $20 billion subsidiary structure as detrimental to football's interests, citing his extensive background in both banking and sports administration as the basis for his assessment.

The proposal under consideration would establish a new commercial entity encompassing World Cup tournaments and Club World Cups across multiple categories. The structure would allocate 20 percent ownership to private investors, with Joshua Kushner's investment fund identified as the primary investor. Infantino has reportedly offered FIFA member federations $20 million each to support the initiative, with a September 19 deadline for acceptance.

Lamour's background includes two decades in football administration, beginning as an aide to former UEFA President Michel Platini. His role has involved diplomatic engagement with FIFA member federations across Africa and Asia. Despite his strong opposition to the current proposal, Lamour has not resigned from his position held since 2024.