Lamour Leaves FIFA Amid Stake Sale Abandonment

Kevin Lamour, FIFA’s chief operating officer since 2024, left the organization on August 17, 2026, after criticizing Gianni Infantino’s plan to privatize a substantial portion of FIFA’s commercial rights through a new entity valued at about $20 billion. FIFA confirmed his departure, thanked him for two years of service, and offered no further comment, as the plan faced mounting opposition including resignations. The proposal, referred to as the FIFA Forward Enterprise, could sell up to 20% of the rights to private investors. Lamour described the project as 'the project of one person,' and said leadership must ask the right questions. Internal communications pointed to broader erosion of support for Infantino among member associations and staff, with figures such as Arsene Wenger and Mattias Grafström publicly backing abandoning the plan. The episode adds to tensions surrounding Infantino’s presidency ahead of elections and the debate over how FIFA should manage lucrative rights.