On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa welcomed FIFA's decision to abandon plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. The proposal, initially announced on Tuesday, aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling about a 20% stake in a new unit managing FIFA events, including the World Cup.

The plan faced strong opposition from regional confederations, including the AFC, which said they were blindsided by the announcement. Following the backlash, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the governing body had scrapped the plans after listening "carefully to all the views."

In a letter posted on the AFC's website, Sheikh Salman stressed the importance of transparency and consultation, saying he expects "any initiative that has the potential to impact global football will be presented and discussed with the Confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations and other stakeholders in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner."

He added, "The future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game."

Sheikh Salman had earlier described the manner in which the FIFA proposal was made as "totally unacceptable" in a letter to member associations. The AFC, based in Kuala Lumpur, is one of FIFA's six confederations and oversees competitions across Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.

The swift reversal has also sparked renewed calls for greater transparency and oversight within world soccer. Experts have noted that the backlash may complicate Infantino's path as he prepares to seek another term in office ahead of the 2027-31 FIFA Congress in Morocco. Sports marketing analyst Bob Dorfman commented, "I know that he's rubbed many of the member associations the wrong way with some of his decisions."

Notable statements include:

  • "Football has never stood still, nor should it."
  • "Some principles, however, should never change. Integrity. Independence. Good governance. Transparency. Meaningful consultation. Due process. These are not constraints on progress. They are what make lasting progress possible."
  • "We welcome FIFA's decision not to proceed with the proposal. It is in line with our expectations in light of the flawed process and the reactions the proposal has provoked."

Sources