AFC joins UEFA and Concacaf in rejecting World Cup investment plan

By Arjun Nair / 31.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 31 July 2026 — 3 min read

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has become the third confederation to oppose FIFA‘s proposed investment plan for the World Cup, joining UEFA and Concacaf. This development intensifies the dispute over Gianni Infantino‘s proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial subsidiary that would sell a minority stake in FIFA‘s commercial rights to private investors.

UEFA had previously stated that its national teams would not participate in FIFA competitions if the proposals remained active, a position that extends to both men’s and women’s World Cups. The confederation’s 55 member associations unanimously rejected the plan, with UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister describing it as “catastrophic” and accusing FIFA of using financial “blackmail.”

Implications for the 2030 World Cup

The ongoing disagreement carries significant implications for the 2030 World Cup, which is primarily scheduled to be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. If UEFA proceeds with its boycott, Spain and Portugal could be absent from the tournament despite being co-hosts. This would mark an unprecedented situation where principal host nations do not participate due to a dispute between governing bodies rather than qualification issues.

The 2030 World Cup is also set to feature one centenary match each in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the inaugural FIFA World Cup, making it the first edition to span multiple continents. The positions of Morocco, CAF, and CONMEBOL regarding FIFA‘s investment proposal remain unclear.

Adding another layer of uncertainty, FIFA is also accelerating plans to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams. Internal documents indicate that FIFA is seeking an independent assessment of the sporting, commercial, and operational consequences of a larger tournament, with a study expected to be completed before member associations vote on the FFE proposal in September.

Confederations express concerns

While CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez has previously supported expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, other confederations have expressed reservations. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has warned that a further increase could create “chaos,” and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has questioned the benefits of such a move for the broader football ecosystem.

FIFA maintains that the proposal is part of an ongoing consultation process and that member associations retain the power to approve, amend, or reject it. The organisation insists that “nobody is selling football” and rejects suggestions that the World Cup is being privatised, stating that FIFA Forward Enterprise is intended to allow member associations to benefit from commercial opportunities while preserving governance.

Despite the growing opposition, FIFA has shown no indication of abandoning the proposal. The dispute has intensified with the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who stated his unequivocal opposition to the plan, describing it as “a bad deal for football.” More than 100 national associations are now represented by confederations that have publicly rejected the proposal.

If FIFA proceeds and UEFA follows through on its threat, the consequences could extend beyond governance, potentially reshaping the composition of the 2030 World Cup and leaving Spain and Portugal absent from the tournament they are due to co-host.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com