The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Friday, July 31, 2026, that it stands in solidarity with UEFA and North America’s CONCACAF in opposing FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors. The AFC expressed "deep concern" about the plan to establish a US$20 billion commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would manage the World Cup and other FIFA events.

The AFC stated that the proposed FFE "cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward" and must be reconsidered. It criticized FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes, calling for an urgent review of FIFA's governance framework. The confederation emphasized that "meaningful democracy is not measured solely by the opportunity to vote" but requires transparent governance, timely consultation, informed deliberation, and genuine participation throughout decision-making.

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa had earlier described the manner in which the proposal was made as "totally unacceptable" in a letter to member associations. The AFC also highlighted that the FIFA World Cup's strength derives from the participation of all confederations and leading football nations.

The AFC stopped short of threatening a boycott but noted that the possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse, which should concern all stakeholders in football’s future. This stance aligns with UEFA and CONCACAF, which have respectively threatened boycotts and rejected Infantino’s offer of one-off $20 million payments to each member federation.

FIFA responded on Friday, stating that its consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports and that it will proceed to ensure all members can vote based on accurate information.

Sources