After Europe, Asia also says no to World Cup 'sale' plan

After Europe, Asia also says no to World Cup 'sale' plan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino's ambitious plan is facing an escalating crisis of opposition. After Europe and the Concacaf region, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has now publicly opposed the proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments, making its approval increasingly unlikely.

In a statement issued on Friday, the AFC said it stood in solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf and believed the proposal was not a realistic way to achieve the necessary consensus and unity . The AFC added that the World Cup is football's greatest tournament and any proposal that risks its universality and unity must be reconsidered.

The loss of support from Asia's 46 member associations is a major blow for Infantino, as FIFA requires a simple majority of at least 106 votes from its 211 members to pass the proposal. With UEFA's 55, Concacaf's 35 and the AFC's 46 votes, their combined opposition makes the proposal's approval almost impossible.

The AFC also strongly criticised FIFA's decision-making process, accusing the governing body of determining a direction for such an important initiative without any meaningful consultation with its members . The confederation called for an urgent review of FIFA's administrative and decision-making processes, adding that the World Cup belongs to the global football family, not any individual or organisation .

On Thursday, UEFA had announced it would consider boycotting future World Cups if Infantino's plan went ahead. Hours later, Concacaf also rejected the proposal in a separate statement .

Despite growing opposition, FIFA insisted its plan would proceed, though it claimed no one was "selling football" and that media reports had caused confusion . The proposed plan involves creating a new commercial subsidiary called 'FIFA Forward Enterprise' to manage the commercial activities of the World Cup and other tournaments, with minority stakes offered to private investors . A 25-page document from JP Morgan reportedly outlined potential financial benefits of up to €24 million per FIFA member association between 2035 and 2039, but made no mention of plans for women's football.

South America's CONMEBOL has yet to take a formal position, while Africa's CAF and Oceania's OFC have said they will decide after their respective meetings in August . UEFA also alleged the move was an attempt by a small group to enrich themselves, stating, "The World Cup is not an investment product. It is one of football's most valuable traditions, built over generations by the efforts of players, national teams and billions of fans. It should never be handed over to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."