FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, has officially departed from the organization as confirmed by FIFA on Monday. This comes after Lamour publicly criticized President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a portion of FIFA’s tournament business, which includes the prestigious World Cup.
A spokesperson for FIFA announced that the working relationship with Lamour ended on August 17, 2026, thanking him for his two years of service and wishing him well for the future. FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafstrom, informed staff and Council members of Lamour’s departure in a letter, stating that both parties mutually agreed to part ways after recent discussions.
Lamour had voiced his opposition to the proposal last month, expressing concerns that FIFA staff had been misled and labeling the initiative as the personal project of one individual. He emphasized that their duty is to serve football and not the personal interests of any individual claiming to represent FIFA.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, had also resigned in protest against the proposal, citing it as detrimental to football. Lamour had joined FIFA in November 2024 and was previously associated with Infantino’s inner circle during his presidential campaign in 2016.
The controversy surrounding Infantino’s plan to involve private investors in FIFA’s commercial interests has sparked significant backlash within the soccer community, raising concerns about the future editions of the World Cup.