Friday, July 31st 2026
AFC joins UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA plan to sell World Cup stake.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), made up of 47 member federations, has said it has “serious concerns” over FIFA’s proposal to sell a minority stake in the World Cup to private investors.
Earlier, both UEFA and CONCACAF, which together represent 96 member confederations, had publicly opposed FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plan unveiled on Tuesday.
UEFA has even warned it could boycott both the men’s and women’s World Cups if the project moves forward.
FIFA aims to secure more than $20 billion through private investment in a new company called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The main group of investors is expected to be led by the American company Thrive Capital, owned by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump.
Infantino has promised each member federation that supports the project a payment of 30 million pounds, with a decision deadline of September 19.
UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister described this offer as “a form of blackmail”, while UEFA declared that the World Cup “cannot be treated as an investment product”.
Even CONCACAF, which administers soccer in North and Central America, confirmed that its member federations have rejected FIFA’s proposal, although it did not threaten a boycott.
FIFA reacted in the early hours of Friday with a lengthy statement defending its plan, but pressure on soccer’s world governing body and President Infantino continues.
Now even the AFC, which includes federations such as Japan, Australia, South Korea, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, has announced that it “stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF expressing serious concerns” about this project.
“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of boycotting the World Cup has become part of the public discussion should worry anyone who loves the future of football. Football should not have would never be placed in such a position,” the AFC statement said.
“Given the clear positions of UEFA and CONCACAF, as well as the unprecedented divisions that have been created in world football, the AFC believes that the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project cannot provide the consensus and unity needed to move forward.
The World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and its power derives from the participation of all confederations and top football nations. Any proposal that jeopardizes the unity and universal character of this competition must be reconsidered.”
AFC also criticized the way FIFA has handled the process, claiming that federations, governing bodies and confederations have felt “left out”. football.
This is not the first time major parties have faced major initiatives as their direction appears to have been decided in advance. Such an approach undermines confidence in FIFA’s governance system and diminishes the authority of its statutory bodies.
No subsequent consultation process, however well-intentioned, can replace the early involvement of the relevant bodies of FIFA and the football family.
AFC believes that this moment should serve as a catalyst for strengthening institutional reforms.”
The Asian confederation called on FIFA to undertake an urgent review of governance and decision-making so that proposals of global importance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement and oversight by FIFA’s statutory bodies.
The statement concludes: “The World Cup and the game itself belong to the entire global football family it must always be built collectively, through institutions that reflect the voice of all confederations and member federations”.
The AFC’s position is considered decisive, as it means that FIFA and Gianni Infantino can no longer secure the majority of votes needed to approve the private investment project.
If all UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC federations reject the proposal, then they will be against it altogether. 142 member confederations (excluding the Northern Mariana Islands, which are part of the AFC but not members of FIFA), out of 211 confederations currently recognized by FIFA.
Source: prizrenpost
