FIFA announced on 17 August 2026 that Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour's working relationship with the organization had ended after less than two years in the role, having joined in November 2024 [1, 2, 3].

Lamour publicly criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino's FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, which intended to sell stakes in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other competitions. Lamour called the plan "the project of one person" and said FIFA’s administration "had been deceived" by Infantino [4, 5, 3].

The FIFA Forward Enterprise plan was launched around 28 July 2026 but scrapped by early August after resistance from within FIFA and external backlash, including resignations by senior figures such as special adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who called the plan "a bad deal for FIFA’s member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game" [4, 5].

In early August, senior FIFA directors met in Morocco and declared full support for Infantino. Lamour did not attend the emergency meeting. Infantino had solid backing from FIFA executives despite ongoing internal opposition to the controversial investment proposal [4, 5].

Human rights and labor groups criticized Lamour's departure as evidence of FIFA suppressing dissent and maintaining a toxic governance culture. Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch said, "FIFA needs more whistleblowers like Kevin Lamour," while Andrea Florence of the Sport & Rights Alliance called him "the kind of courageous, principled and responsible leadership that is so needed in sports governance" [1, 2]. UEFA Vice-President Laura McAllister said Lamour’s removal "seriously weakens FIFA’s administration," and called his sacking "deeply troubling," emphasizing that FIFA "is not the president, it is the whole football family" [3].

FIFA did not provide a reason for Lamour’s departure when confirming it on 17 August 2026 [3]. Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom described the situation as "unstable moments and unfortunate episodes" that come and go, saying "the institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue" [5].

Lamour had supported Infantino’s election as FIFA president in 2016 but later became a key internal critic over the Forward Enterprise plan.

With Lamour’s exit, FIFA faces ongoing challenges over governance and transparency as it seeks to rebuild after the failed commercial rights investment proposal.

The next major FIFA event is scheduled for later this year when the organization will detail its approach to World Cup commercial partnerships without private equity involvement.