FIFA hit with another devastating blow just hours after doubling down on controversial plans

Jul 31, 2026 - 09:45

The Asian Football Confederation has become the latest to turn on FIFA, which has doubled down on its plans to sell World Cup stakes.

Football’s governing body has caused a civil war within the game after Gianni Infantino’s controversial scheme emerged this week.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino holding the World Cup trophy — FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed the controversial plan

The 56-year-old intends to launch the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), in plans that could see shares in their biggest tournaments, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup, sold off to the highest bidder.

Infantino would be lined up to run FFE as its commissioner when his final FIFA presidency ends in 2031, assuming he is re-elected, which could then potentially see him earn tens of millions of pounds.

His plans have caused widespread criticism, with UEFA nations unanimously agreeing to a boycott if these schemes go ahead.

CONCACAF have also ‘rejected the proposal’, with the Asian Football Confederation now calling for FIFA to ‘undertake an urgent review of its governance’ in the latest devastating blow.

A statement read: “The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE.

“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. Football should never have been placed in such a position.”

Hours before the AFC spoke out, FIFA doubled down on its plans and blamed ‘incorrect media reports’ for ‘disrupting’ the consultation process.

FIFA hits back as UEFA plan to boycott

In a statement released on Friday morning, FIFA said: “We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday.

Gianni Infantino president of Fifa looks during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 — Infantino is even being doubted by his closest allies

“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.

⁠”Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.

“FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all FIFA Member Associations (MAs) have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that this does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself.

“Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.

“Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification, but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world.

“Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA.”

As per FIFA's proposal

FFE would move FIFA’s commercial and operational event delivery activities into a subsidiary organisation that FIFA would own and control permanently.
⁠The commercial value created would be shared among all 211 MAs, enabling each MA to make meaningful investments in football in their respective countries.
⁠Under the proposal, each MA would receive USD 20 million of FIFA Forward Development funding over the next four years (2027-2030), irrespective of its individual support.
⁠This increased funding would come from the additional revenues generated by FFE through the more effective management of FIFA’s commercial operations, for the benefit of all MAs.
⁠The FIFA Fast Forward Programme is a one-off development funding of an additional USD 20 million per MA – participation would be fully voluntary for all MAs should the FFE proposal proceed – and would be financed by external investment without ceding control or altering FIFA’s governance structure in any way.
⁠Without the support of the majority of MAs, FIFA’s commercial activities would remain unchanged. FFE would not be established.
These components represent the starting point of the consultation process and are open for discussion as part of that process. This can include approval, rejection or amendment in their entirety or individually.

FIFA add that these so-called principles ‘underpin the FFE proposal’, yet talkSPORT has learned some of Infantino’s closest allies from within the organisation are opposed to the plans.

Private investors holding minority stakes would allow them to have a say in broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing, and licensing decisions related to the World Cup.

With the idea of further raising revenue under such measures, the World Cup could be expanded to 64 teams, fans could be priced out of attending games, and Arsene Wenger’s widely shunned proposal to make the tournament biennial could be revitalised.

FFE’s lead investor is also expected to be Thrive Eternal, a private investment fund established by Joshua Kushner – whose brother Jared is the son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump.

Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump wave to the crowd following the World Cup final — Infantino had already been under pressure for his relationship with the Trump administration

FIFA president Infantino has already come under mounting scrutiny for his close personal relationship with Trump.

The 80-year-old was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the group stage draw for the World Cup last December.

During the tournament itself, Trump then called Infantino to review the red card issued to USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, which in turn led to the latter’s one-match ban being suspended for a year.

The landmark intervention has led to the Norwegian FA revealing its intention to make a formal complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee.

Balogun’s red card has since been linked with potential betting irregularities, while a US lawmaker has requested that Infantino appear before the House Judiciary Committee.

Infantino has responded to the increasingly escalating criticism of him in typical fashion – by accusing people of ‘spreading hate’.