AFC backs UEFA and CONCACAF who plan boycott over FIFA World Cup proposals

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing Reuters and The Associated Press, reported that the Asian Football Confederation has aligned itself with UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA’s proposal to create a $20bn commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, that would manage the World Cup and other FIFA events. The AFC said Friday that it “stands in solidarity” with the European and North American regional bodies, while stopping short of announcing its own boycott of FIFA competitions.

The dispute has escalated after UEFA voted unanimously Thursday to boycott all FIFA events unless the proposal is withdrawn, according to the report. CONCACAF, which oversees football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, has also rejected the plan. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa had earlier criticized the way the proposal was presented to member associations, calling it unacceptable.

The AFC said the controversy shows the plan lacks the broad agreement needed to proceed and warned that public discussion of a possible World Cup boycott should alarm anyone concerned about football’s future. The confederation also criticized FIFA’s governance process, saying issues around consultation, institutional procedure and participation remain unresolved even after FIFA said national associations should be able to review the proposal and help shape their future.

The row matters because the World Cup depends on participation from all confederations and the strongest football nations to maintain its sporting and commercial value. The AFC said the episode should prompt institutional reform at FIFA, emphasizing that decision-making should involve transparent governance, timely consultation and genuine participation, not only a final vote.