AFC joins UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing Gianni Infantino’s World Cup rights proposal

Gianni Infantino’s controversial proposal involving the FIFA World Cup has suffered another setback after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing the project.

The AFC has publicly expressed its objections to the FIFA president’s plan, adding further resistance to a proposal that has already divided football’s governing bodies.

In a statement, the Asian confederation said it had “deep concern” about the initiative, raising fresh doubts over whether the plan can secure enough backing to move forward.

The debate surrounding the proposal has intensified in recent days, with opposition continuing to grow across different football confederations.

UEFA has already voiced strong criticism of the project and has called for a boycott of FIFA competitions, while CONCACAF has also declared that it does not support the proposal.

The AFC has now become the third major confederation to reject the initiative.

In its statement, the confederation expressed its “deep concern” over the proposed creation of the FFE, a new entity that would allow private investors to acquire stakes.

According to the AFC, the current divisions within world football have become so significant that the proposal no longer enjoys sufficient support across the global game.

The confederation also described it as worrying that discussions about a potential boycott of the FIFA World Cup have reached such a serious stage.

The AFC said football should never have found itself in such a position and indicated its support for the concerns already raised by UEFA and CONCACAF regarding the proposal.

With UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF now united in their opposition, the balance of support appears to have shifted significantly.

Under FIFA’s voting structure involving its 211 member associations, the combined position of the three confederations means Infantino now appears unlikely to secure the 50% majority required to push the proposal through.

As a result, the project, in its current form, appears increasingly difficult to implement, with growing resistance leaving its future in doubt.