Lamour quits FIFA after criticizing Infantino’s World Cup plan

FIFA confirmed that its chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, left the organisation on 17 August 2026. The exit came after Lamour publicly denounced president Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments. FIFA said it had no further comment on the matter.

Lamour joined FIFA’s senior leadership group in November 2024 and had helped campaign for Infantino’s election in 2016. Last month he said staff had been “deceived” by the proposal and called it “the project of one person”. His criticism followed the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who called the plan a “bad deal for football”. Infantino withdrew the proposal the same day, but the idea of a $20 bn subsidiary selling up to 20 % to private‑equity investors to raise $4.2 bn has not lost steam.

The backlash has grown. Infantino’s bid for a fourth term, due in March next year, is now uncertain. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have all opposed the president, while the African and South American confederations remain supportive. FairSquare, a human‑rights organisation in sport, wrote to FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee urging that Infantino be ruled ineligible to run again. FIFA presidents are limited to three terms, but Infantino successfully argued in 2022 that his first stint from 2016 to 2019 did not count because it was an interrupted mandate. FairSquare’s director Nicholas McGeehan said the move breaches the rules and sets a dangerous precedent.

The fallout could reshape FIFA’s leadership. If the complaint is upheld, Infantino could be barred from the March congress, opening the field for new contenders. Even if he remains, the growing opposition from major confederations could force him to adopt a different strategy for commercial deals. The situation underscores how internal dissent and governance challenges are reshaping the sport’s global governing body.