Senior FIFA adviser and former U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro resigned Friday from the White House Task Force for the World Cup to protest FIFA's plan to sell a stake in the tournament. Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker, served as adviser to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and often accompanied him on visits to meet President Donald Trump.

Infantino proposes spinning off FIFA's commercial businesses — including World Cups and Club World Cups — into a $20 billion subsidiary with 20% owned by private investors. The anchor investor is a New York firm created by Joshua Kushner, brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Cordeiro called it "a bad deal for football" and said he had no involvement.

Cordeiro noted FIFA holds billions in reserves with no debt, generating $15 billion in revenue over the last four years. "Selling a permanent stake in football's most valuable asset to raise $4.2 billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football's future without any compelling justification," he said, urging other FIFA staff to speak out.

Infantino, president for over 10 years, seemed set for unopposed reelection next March. Cordeiro previously resigned as U.S. Soccer president in 2020 amid controversy over the women's national team equal pay lawsuit.