Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Lamour Exits FIFA COO Role After Criticising Infantino's Plan
There is a big group that runs world football, and it is called FIFA.
The boss of FIFA is a man named Gianni Infantino.
He wanted to sell a small part of big football tournaments, like the World Cup, to rich investors.
A very important FIFA worker named Kevin Lamour thought that was a bad idea and said so out loud.
He called the plan "the project of one person" and said the workers were tricked.
Soon after that, Lamour left his job at FIFA, and FIFA said the two sides agreed to part ways.
Other important football people, like Arsene Wenger, also thought the plan should be dropped, and it was.
Football groups in Europe, the Americas and Asia said the plan broke their trust.
Lamour said he will sleep well tonight because he spoke his mind.
Kevin Lamour left his role as FIFA's chief operating officer on August 17, 2026, after publicly criticising president Gianni Infantino's abandoned private investor plan.
Lamour called the plan "the project of one person" and said FIFA's administration and staff had been "deceived" by Infantino's lack of openness.
The scrapped proposal would have created the FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary and sold a minority stake in the World Cup to Thrive Eternal, an investment vehicle launched by Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital.
UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation accused FIFA of a "fundamental breach of trust" and "deception", and UEFA had threatened to boycott FIFA events.
FIFA said the two parties "agreed to part ways" after careful consideration, while Infantino faces pressure ahead of his reelection bid next year in Morocco, with a November 18 deadline for challengers.
- Who
- Kevin Lamour, FIFA's chief operating officer, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
- What
- Lamour parted ways with FIFA after criticising the abandoned plan to sell a minority stake in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors.
- When
- FIFA confirmed the working relationship ended on August 17, 2026; Lamour's critical statement was sent to the Associated Press around July 31 to August 1, 2026.
- Where
- Zurich, Switzerland, where Lamour was based; the story was also reported from Paris and New Delhi.
- Why
- Lamour opposed the plan, which he called "the project of one person", and said football political leaders should ask themselves the right questions.
Critics of FIFA's private investor plan
Supporters of the plan and FIFA leadership
Private investment in FIFA competitions
Critics of FIFA's private investor plan
Lamour called the plan "the project of one person" and said football political leaders should ask themselves the right questions; Arsene Wenger called scrapping it "absolutely necessary", and UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC accused FIFA of a "fundamental breach of trust" and "deception".
Supporters of the plan and FIFA leadership
Infantino proposed creating the FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary and selling a minority stake in the World Cup to Thrive Eternal, a long-term investment vehicle launched by Thrive Capital; the plan was abandoned after severe backlash from UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF.
Reasons for Lamour's exit
Critics of FIFA's private investor plan
Media reported that Lamour was sacked after criticising the plan; Lamour said that if speaking out meant losing his job, "so be it", and claimed the FIFA administration was "deceived".
Supporters of the plan and FIFA leadership
FIFA said the decision followed "careful consideration" and that the parties "agreed to part ways", thanking Lamour for his service without linking the departure to his criticism.
- Departing official
- Kevin Lamour, FIFA chief operating officer and third highest-ranking FIFA official
- Departure date
- August 17, 2026
- Tenure
- COO since November 1, 2024; FIFA thanked him for two years of service
- Reason
- Criticised Infantino's scrapped private investor plan as "the project of one person"
- Scrapped proposal
- FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary and sale of a minority World Cup stake to Thrive Eternal, launched by Thrive Capital
- Backlash
- UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC cited a "fundamental breach of trust"; UEFA threatened a boycott
- Infantino's position
- Seeking reelection next year in Morocco; November 18 deadline for challengers; six Arab federations voiced full support
- Welcomed scrapping
- Secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and Arsene Wenger, who called it "absolutely necessary"
Sources
FIFA COO Lamour Exits, Deepening Fallout From Infantino’s World Cup Sell-Off Plan
Who is Kevin Lamour? Meet ex-FIFA COO whose fallout with Gianni Infantino over World Cup led to dramatic exit
Lamour Leaves Key FIFA Position After Criticising Infantino
