AFC backs UEFA boycott over FIFA's $20bn World Cup plan

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on July 31, 2026, backed Uefa and Concacaf in their threat to boycott FIFA events over a proposed $20bn commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

Uefa voted unanimously on July 30 to boycott all FIFA events unless the plan is dropped, while Concacaf has also rejected it.

The confederation stopped short of committing to a boycott itself but expressed deep concern and warned that a World Cup boycott is a real possibility, saying “football should never have been placed in such a position.”

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa earlier called the way the proposal was made “totally unacceptable” in a letter to member associations.

The confederation said the FFE cannot achieve the broad consensus needed to move forward and that the World Cup “derives its strength from the participation of all confederations and the world’s leading football nations.”

It also criticized FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes, saying the plan exposed “fundamental weaknesses” that must be addressed.

FIFA responded on July 31 by saying each national association should be allowed to review the proposal, but the AFC said “central concerns surrounding governance, institutional process and meaningful consultation remain unanswered.”

The AFC called for institutional reform at FIFA, asserting that “meaningful democracy begins with transparent governance and genuine participation.”

Pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino mounts as the rift threatens the unity of global football ahead of future World Cups.