The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Friday, July 31, 2026, that it stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA's plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup to private investors. However, the AFC stopped short of threatening to boycott FIFA-run events.

In a statement, the AFC expressed "deep concern" about the proposed establishment of a US$20 billion commercial subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would manage the World Cup and other FIFA events. The confederation warned that the possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott entering public discourse should alarm all who care about the future of football.

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 stated that the proposed FFE "cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward."

Highlighting the importance of the World Cup, the AFC said, "The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all confederations and the world's leading football nations."

The AFC also criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying the plan "has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed."

Despite FIFA issuing a statement on Friday emphasizing that each national association "should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future," the AFC maintained that "central concerns surrounding governance, institutional process and meaningful consultation remain unanswered."

The confederation called for the ongoing controversy to serve as a catalyst for institutional reform at FIFA, stressing that "meaningful democracy is not measured solely by the opportunity to vote. It begins with transparent governance, timely consultation, informed deliberation and genuine participation throughout the decision-making process."

The AFC concluded by stating, "Football should never have been placed in such a position."

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