The Asian Football Confederation has joined UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. This opposition to the plan put forward by Gianni Infantino reflects a global mutiny, as the AFC stands in solidarity with regional bodies in Europe and North America that had previously threatened to boycott.
The AFC expressed deep concern specifically regarding the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a US$20 billion commercial subsidiary designed to run the World Cup and other FIFA events. While the AFC opposed the plan, it stopped short of threatening to boycott events run by the global soccer governing body.
Following the fallout, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa welcomed FIFA's decision to walk back the plans. He stressed that FIFA's future must be shaped through proper consultation and highlighted the necessity for transparency in all such moves moving forward.