AFC joins UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA’s World Cup privatisation plan
Asia's football confederation joins UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing FIFA's plan to privatise World Cup commercial rights.
The Asian Football Confederation has sided with UEFA and CONCACAF in rejecting FIFA's plan to sell media and commercial rights for the 2026 World Cup, according to Channel NewsAsia.
The move represents a rare unified stance among three of FIFA's six continental confederations against the governing body's monetisation strategy. The AFC's opposition signals that FIFA faces significant resistance from multiple regions as it seeks to attract private investment into the tournament's commercial operations.
UEFA and CONCACAF have already publicly stated their concerns about the proposal, which would grant external investors control over broadcasting and sponsorship revenues from the 2026 tournament. The AFC's decision to align with these confederations strengthens the pushback against FIFA's investment framework.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, remains one of football's most commercially valuable events. FIFA's plan to partially privatise revenue streams has drawn scrutiny from confederations worried about losing control over how the tournament is marketed and distributed across their regions.
The opposition from AFC, UEFA and CONCACAF could influence FIFA's approach to the 2026 tournament and shape discussions around future World Cups, though the final decision rests with FIFA's governing bodies.
