The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has thrown its weight behind UEFA and CONCACAF in rejecting FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to introduce private investment into the commercial structure of the FIFA World Cup, adding further pressure on the governing body to reconsider the initiative.
The AFC voiced strong reservations over the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), arguing that the process lacked sufficient consultation and raised concerns about the future direction of the global game.
In its position, the Asian governing body stressed that the FIFA World Cup derives its value from the participation and unity of all confederations, warning that any plan capable of creating divisions within world football should be reconsidered.
The development comes after UEFA condemned the proposal, maintaining that football’s premier international competition should not be opened to private investors. CONCACAF also criticised the process, saying member confederations were not adequately consulted before the proposal was unveiled.
Despite the mounting opposition, FIFA has defended the plan, insisting the new commercial structure would remain under its control while generating additional revenue to expand football development funding for all 211 member associations worldwide.
