Key Takeaways
- The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has condemned FIFA for a lack of consultation regarding its proposed private investment in the World Cup.
- AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa warned that the proposal would not succeed without support from all regional football blocs.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino offered $40 million to member associations if they agree by September 19, but the AFC called for more time.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has publicly rebuked FIFA over its plan to bring private investors into soccer’s World Cup, stating that it was not consulted prior to the public announcement. In a letter addressed to the continent's 47 member associations, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa expressed deep concern and disappointment at the lack of consultation from FIFA.
Sheikh Salman emphasized that the proposal would never succeed without the support of all regional football blocs, particularly acknowledging Europe’s opposition. He stated, 'The AFC is deeply concerned that FIFA’s unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of Continental football, which are based on solidarity, cooperation and transparency.'
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has spearheaded a contentious plan to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup and its other events, while offering minority stakes to private investors. However, the AFC's criticism adds pressure to Infantino’s efforts as regional associations, including UEFA, have rejected the proposal outright.
Saudi Arabia confirmed it will host the Asian Champions League Elite finals, a move that could be seen as part of FIFA's broader strategy to involve more countries in the World Cup ecosystem. The plan has blindsided many regional and national soccer associations, leading to a fierce backlash from Europe’s governing body UEFA, which outright rejected the proposal.
Infantino offered FIFA’s 211 member associations $40 million each if they agree to the proposal by September 19 as part of a $10 billion package set to become available from January 1, 2027. If rejected, the package would revert to $2.7 billion previously offered, around $10 million per member association.
Sheikh Salman said the AFC was surprised by the timeline 'when such decisions should never be rushed.' He added that sufficient time must be afforded for a comprehensive assessment, including appropriate legal and governance due diligence. The AFC will engage directly with FIFA to seek further clarification.
The African confederation’s executive committee will meet next week to evaluate the proposal, while the Oceania confederation, the smallest regional bloc with 11 full member nations, said it would discuss the proposal at a meeting next month. South American governing body CONMEBOL has yet to comment publicly.
'The AFC is deeply concerned that FIFA’s unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of Continental football, which are based on solidarity, cooperation and transparency.'
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, AFC President
