The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has thrown its weight behind UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA’s proposed commercial restructuring of the FIFA World Cup, warning that the plan risks undermining the unity of global football.
In a statement issued on Friday, July 31, the AFC expressed “deep concern” over FIFA’s proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new entity linked to attracting private investment into the governing body’s flagship competitions.
The confederation said the growing divisions surrounding the proposal have become so severe that discussions of a potential FIFA World Cup boycott have entered the public domain—an outcome it described as deeply troubling for the sport.
According to the AFC, the World Cup derives its global appeal and legitimacy from the participation of every confederation and the world’s leading football nations, stressing that any initiative capable of threatening that unity should be reconsidered.
The Asian governing body argued that the issue extends beyond the proposed FFE itself, saying it has exposed broader concerns about FIFA’s governance, consultation and decision-making processes.
It maintained that reforms of such global significance should be developed through transparent discussions involving confederations, member associations and FIFA’s statutory bodies, rather than through processes that leave key stakeholders feeling excluded.
The AFC acknowledged FIFA’s recent clarification on the proposal but insisted that fundamental concerns over governance, institutional oversight and meaningful consultation remain unresolved.
It also warned that introducing major initiatives without early engagement weakens confidence in FIFA’s governance structure and reduces the authority of its decision-making bodies.
Calling for institutional reforms, the AFC urged FIFA to conduct an urgent review of its governance framework to ensure future proposals affecting world football are subjected to broader consultation, proper oversight and inclusive decision-making.
The latest intervention further strengthens growing opposition to the proposal after UEFA and CONCACAF publicly rejected the plan, with reports suggesting the controversy has even raised the prospect of a World Cup boycott if consensus cannot be reached.
The AFC concluded by stressing that the FIFA World Cup belongs to the entire global football community and that decisions shaping its future must reflect the collective voice of all confederations and member associations.
