Pressure is growing on FIFA after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) lined up alongside UEFA and Concacaf in opposition to the governing body’s disputed proposal to sell stakes in a World Cup-related company.
European football officials had already raised the prospect of refusing to participate in the next World Cup following an emergency UEFA meeting on July 30, if Gianni Infantino pushes ahead with private investment plans linked to the tournament.
Concacaf then echoed those concerns, and the AFC has now made clear it shares the same position.
“The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE,” the statement read.
“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.
“While the immediate debate centres on FFE, the AFC considers this issue extends far beyond a single proposal. Rather, it has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed. While the AFC notes FIFA’s latest clarification on the proposal, the central concerns surrounding governance, institutional process and meaningful consultation remain unanswered.
The confederation also said: “The AFC calls upon Fifa to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement and appropriate oversight by Fifa’s statutory bodies.”
At the centre of the dispute is FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a proposed $20 billion company that FIFA announced on July 28 and wants in place before the 2030 World Cup.
FIFA would keep majority ownership and control, but would sell as much as 21 percent of the company to outside investors for up to $4.2 billion. The leading proposed investor group is Thrive Eternal, a private equity firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Critics fear that private investors seeking returns on their investments could push to expand competitions to generate more revenue. Concerns centre on whether tournament formats could be altered, leading to more matches in the World Cup and Club World Cup to boost profits and broadcast revenue.
Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for member associations to back the proposal or risk a 75 percent reduction in potential funding through FIFA’s Fast Forward Programme, which offers up to $20 million per member in one-off capital funding.
The boycott threat puts immediate pressure on FIFA, with multiple competitions at stake. The 2027 Women’s World Cup begins June 24 in Brazil, while younger age group tournaments scheduled for earlier in 2027 would be affected. UEFA, which represents 55 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, also organizes the Champions League and European Championship, massive revenue generators for FIFA.
Amid the criticism, FIFA responded with a statement of its own.
“We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each member association has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”
“Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain,” the statement read.
FIFA also said it would retain sole control as well as “exclusive authority” over football governance, competitions, the match calendar and all regulatory and sporting decisions. The proposal would still need approval by a vote of FIFA’s 211 member associations.
UEFA’s earlier warning had been particularly strong.
“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.”
“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” UEFA previously said, adding that “every national football association, leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game” should take a similar position.
Concacaf members include the 2026 World Cup hosts United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. Soccer Federation said it “stands with Concacaf and its members.” During its meeting, Concacaf expressed concerns about the lack of due process, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by relevant FIFA governance bodies.
The AFC was similarly disappointed that a matter of such significance entered the public domain before member associations had the opportunity to examine and discuss it through proper governance channels.