• The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) opposes FIFA's plan to establish a commercial subsidiary for the World Cup.
• AFC expresses solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF, highlighting the need for reform in FIFA's decision-making.
• AFC President criticizes FIFA's processes, calling the proposal "totally unacceptable."
• The AFC does not threaten a boycott but emphasizes governance reform in FIFA.
• Continued public discourse on the issue raises concerns among football stakeholders.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has declared it "stands in solidarity" with UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing the controversial plans to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup to private investors, although it has not threatened to boycott FIFA events. This declaration comes amid growing concerns about the proposed establishment of a $20 billion commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which aims to manage the World Cup alongside other FIFA competitions, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

In a statement released on Friday, the AFC expressed "deep concern" regarding the ongoing situation, emphasizing the importance of unity and consensus within the global football community. The confederation noted that the “fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game,” reinforcing the high stakes of FIFA's proposal, as pointed out by Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa criticized the manner in which the proposal was presented, labeling it "totally unacceptable" in correspondence with member associations. The AFC's statement highlighted that the proposed FFE “cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward,” reflecting on the need for structural changes within FIFA, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

The AFC has pointed to significant flaws in FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes, particularly under President Gianni Infantino. Despite FIFA's assurances that each national association would have input on the proposal, concerns regarding governance and meaningful consultation persist. The AFC hopes this controversy will catalyze necessary reforms within FIFA, asserting that "meaningful democracy is not measured solely by the opportunity to vote" but requires transparent governance and genuine participation, as reiterated by Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.