The Asian Football Confederation has thrown its weight behind UEFA and CONCACAF, declaring outright opposition to FIFA’s plan to bring private equity into the governance of the World Cup.
A Divided Front
At the heart of the controversy is a proposal from FIFA President Gianni Infantino to carve out a $20 billion subsidiary that would be 20 percent owned by private investors, a move that would effectively sell portions of the sport’s global revenue stream.
Infantino has attempted to sweeten the deal by offering each of FIFA’s 211 member associations a $20 million payment, with a September 19 deadline for acceptance, but the gesture has done little to quell the backlash.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, became the latest high‑profile departure, resigning in protest and labeling the scheme a “bad deal” that would mortgage football’s future without any clear justification.
European football’s governing body, UEFA, along with its 55 national federations, has signaled a willingness to boycott all FIFA‑sanctioned events if the proposal proceeds, a stance that could jeopardize the upcoming Women’s Under‑20 World Cup in Poland, scheduled to begin on September 5.
The boycott threat is not limited to Europe; the four British football associations are the sole bidders for the 2035 Women’s World Cup, a decision that will be made on November 23, adding another layer of uncertainty to the sport’s international calendar.
FIFA has responded by issuing a statement that denies any intention to sell the sport and promises to continue consultations, but the growing coalition of AFC, UEFA and CONCACAF suggests that the dispute may culminate in a significant schism within world football governance.