AFC declares opposition
The Asian Football Confederation said it stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors. In a statement published on Friday, the AFC said the plan put forward by FIFA president Gianni Infantino could not realistically achieve the broad consensus and unity needed to move forward.[S1][S2]
The AFC described the FIFA World Cup as the pinnacle of global football, deriving its strength from the participation of all confederations and the world's leading nations. Any proposal that risks undermining that unity and universal character must be reconsidered, it said. The confederation also accused FIFA of setting the direction of travel for a significant initiative before consulting stakeholders.[S1][S2]
Asian football's governing body said the episode exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed. It said confederations, member associations and even the FIFA Council had been left feeling sidelined. The AFC called for an urgent review of FIFA's governance and decision-making framework, with proper consultation, meaningful engagement and appropriate oversight.[S1][S2]
FIFA defends its proposal
FIFA proposes to create a commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise to run its main events, including World Cups. Under the proposal, private investors could buy up to a 20 per cent stake in that entity. UEFA reacted on Thursday by threatening to boycott the World Cup and all FIFA competitions if the plan was not scrapped.[S1][S3][S4][S5]
FIFA issued a statement early on Friday vowing to continue with the plan and saying nobody is selling football. It added that the consultation process had been disrupted by incorrect media reports. Infantino had said the proposal would need a straight majority to go through, meaning 106 of FIFA's 211 member associations would have to vote in favour.[S1]
UEFA and CONCACAF members combined make up 90 of those votes, and Asia has 46. The AFC's statement added Asian opposition to the positions already taken by UEFA and CONCACAF. FIFA maintains that each of its 211 member associations will receive $20 million in development funding over four years, regardless of their stance on the proposal.[S1][S2][S3]
Wider fallout
CONCACAF, which governs football in North and Central America and hosted this year's World Cup, said its 41 member associations rejected Infantino's proposal. The Confederation of African Football and the Oceania Football Confederation will discuss the plan in August, while South America's CONMEBOL has yet to comment publicly. US Soccer stood with CONCACAF in rejecting the initiative.[S1][S5]
UEFA said some things are too important to sell, adding that the World Cup belongs to football and always will, and so long as Europe has a voice it will never be for sale. UEFA's 55 member nations met on Thursday and unanimously and unequivocally rejected the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, saying no European nation would play in a FIFA competition if it proceeds.[S3][S4]
The AFC said the possibility of a World Cup boycott entering public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of the game, and football should never have been placed in such a position. It views the issue as extending beyond a single proposal and exposing weaknesses in FIFA's institutional processes that remain unanswered.[S3][S4]
