Asian Football Confederation Rejects FIFA Private Investment Proposal

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has joined UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA’s proposal to sell stakes in its major competitions to private investors, creating a major barrier to the commercial plan backed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

In an official statement released Friday, the AFC expressed solidarity with the European and North American governing bodies, warning that the initiative risks fracturing global football unity. The Asian body criticized FIFA for a lack of transparency, stating that the proposal bypassed proper consultations with member associations, regional confederations, and FIFA’s own governing council.

Under the proposed plan, FIFA aims to establish a commercial subsidiary to manage tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, opening the door for external investors to purchase equity. While FIFA defended the strategy on Friday, arguing it would strengthen commercial operations without compromising the integrity of the sport, opposition across three major confederations significantly diminishes the likelihood of securing the simple majority (106 of 211 member votes) required to pass the measure.

The AFC’s rejection follows UEFA’s threat to boycott future World Cups and CONCACAF’s unanimous vote against the plan. Meanwhile, South America’s CONMEBOL has yet to take an official stance, while African (CAF) and Oceanian (OFC) football officials are scheduled to review the proposal in August.