FIFA has announced the departure of its Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, following his public criticism of President Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup's commercial rights. Lamour's exit comes just weeks after he expressed his concerns about the plan, which he claimed had misled FIFA staff.

Lamour's Criticism and Departure

On August 17, 2026, FIFA confirmed that Lamour's working relationship with the organization had ended. A spokesperson stated, "FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future." Lamour joined FIFA's senior leadership in November 2024 and was previously part of the team that supported Infantino's election as president in 2016.

Lamour had publicly denounced the proposal last month, asserting that FIFA employees had been "deceived" and labeling the initiative as "the project of one person." He emphasized that FIFA's mission should focus on serving football rather than individual interests, stating, "Our mission … is to serve football, not to serve the personal interests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service."

Continued Backlash Against Infantino

Lamour's comments followed the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, who also opposed the proposal, deeming it "a bad deal for football." Infantino subsequently withdrew the plan to create a $20 billion subsidiary and sell up to a 20 percent stake to private equity investors, a move intended to raise $4.2 billion. Despite this withdrawal, the backlash against the proposal remains significant.

Infantino's bid for re-election in March 2027, which initially appeared assured, is now facing uncertainty. Major football confederations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF, have expressed opposition to his leadership, although he still has backing from the African and South American confederations. Additionally, the human rights organization FairSquare has urged FIFA's Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee to deem Infantino ineligible for another presidential term.

As Infantino navigates this turbulent period, the future of his presidency hangs in the balance, with mounting pressure from various factions within the football community.