FIFA Private Investor Plan Suffers Huge Blow as AFC Joins UEFA and CONCACAF Revolt
Last update: July 31, 2026
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It is three against one for FIFA now, and Gianni Infantino's big-money plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup is looking shakier than ever.
The Asian Football Confederation has officially joined forces with UEFA and CONCACAF to oppose FIFA's controversial proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.
It is another major setback for the world governing body, and frankly the numbers are no longer adding up for Infantino.
In a punchy statement released on Friday, the AFC said it stands in solidarity with its European and North American counterparts, arguing that the proposal could not realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward.
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 said.
Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.
Here is why this matters. This is now a proper maths problem for FIFA. Infantino says the plan only needs a simple majority, 106 votes from FIFA's 211 members.
But UEFA and CONCACAF alone control 90 votes, and the AFC brings another 46 to the party. Do the sums and that opposition bloc is looking pretty formidable.
The AFC also took direct aim at how the whole thing was handled, accusing FIFA of failing to properly consult anyone before unveiling its grand plan.
The confederation said the lack of consultation had exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA consultation and decision-making processes and accused the world body of sidelining confederations, member associations and even its own FIFA Council.
The AFC calls upon FIFA to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework, the statement added.
This comes just a day after UEFA voted to boycott future World Cups if the proposal goes ahead, with CONCACAF 41 members also rejecting it outright.
Despite the growing revolt, FIFA is digging in. In its own statement on Friday, it insisted that nobody is selling football and that creating a commercial subsidiary to run its flagship tournaments, including the World Cup, with outside investors would not compromise the sport's values.
Under the plan, external investors would be allowed to buy stakes in the new commercial entity. FIFA says it will strengthen its business; critics say it was cooked up behind closed doors and risks tearing world football apart.
All eyes now turn to South America's CONMEBOL, which is yet to show its hand, while CAF and the OFC are expected to discuss it in August.
One thing is for sure: this fight is far from over.
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