AFC backs UEFA and Concacaf in dispute with FIFA

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has expressed solidarity with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), backing their concerns over FIFA's proposal to introduce private investment into its flagship international competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.

In a statement published on 31 July in Kuala Lumpur, the AFC said it was following with deep concern the developments surrounding the proposed creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The confederation noted that the very fact the possibility of a World Cup boycott is being discussed publicly underscores the seriousness of the current crisis and raises concerns about the future of global football.

The AFC believes that, given the clearly stated positions of UEFA and Concacaf and the disagreements that have emerged within the football community, the FFE proposal is unlikely to secure the broad support required for implementation. The confederation stressed that the value of the FIFA World Cup is founded on the participation of all confederations and leading football nations, and that any initiative capable of undermining the unity of the tournament should be reconsidered.

According to the AFC, the issue extends beyond the FFE project itself and highlights shortcomings in FIFA's existing consultation and decision-making processes. The confederation said that, despite the explanations published by FIFA, concerns regarding corporate governance, institutional procedures and meaningful engagement with the wider football community remain unresolved.

The AFC stressed that initiatives with the potential to affect the commercial, sporting and strategic future of world football should be developed through transparent procedures involving the confederations, national associations and FIFA's governing bodies, including the FIFA Council. It added that consultations held only after proposals have been developed cannot replace meaningful engagement at an early stage.

The confederation also called on FIFA to review its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that future global initiatives are based on timely consultations, broad stakeholder engagement and effective oversight by FIFA's statutory bodies.

The AFC concluded by emphasizing that the FIFA World Cup and world football belong to the entire football community, and that their future should be determined collectively through institutions representing all confederations and national football associations.