FIFA has officially announced the departure of Kevin Lamour, their Chief Operating Officer, following his public criticism of President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a share in the organization’s tournament business, which includes the prestigious World Cup. The governing body confirmed that Lamour’s tenure ended on August 17, 2026. FIFA expressed gratitude for Lamour’s two years of service and extended well wishes for his future endeavors without providing further details.
The decision for Lamour to leave was mutually agreed upon after discussions between both parties, as communicated by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom in a letter to staff and Council members. Lamour had raised objections to the proposal the previous month, alleging that FIFA staff had been misled and referring to the initiative as a personal agenda rather than a collective effort to serve football.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to President Infantino, had also resigned in protest against the proposed sell-off, labeling it as detrimental to the sport. Lamour, who joined FIFA in November 2024 and was previously part of Infantino’s inner circle during his presidential campaign in 2016, made his stance clear against the controversial plan. The departures of both Lamour and Cordeiro signal discord within FIFA over the direction of its commercial strategies involving the World Cup.