The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has formally opposed FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in World Cup competitions to private investors.
This move aligns the AFC with UEFA and Concacaf, creating a significant hurdle for the plan's approval.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino's proposal requires a simple majority of FIFA's 211 members, needing 106 votes to pass.
UEFA holds 55 votes, Concacaf 35, and the AFC 46, making the combined opposition a substantial obstacle.
In a statement, the AFC said it "stands in solidarity" with UEFA and Concacaf.
It warned that the proposal risks undermining the unity and universal character of the FIFA World Cup, which it called the "pinnacle of global football."
"Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered," the AFC added.
The AFC criticized FIFA for setting the direction of this significant initiative before proper consultation with stakeholders.
It said this exposes "fundamental weaknesses in FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes."
"FIFA's failure to consult its member associations on the proposals has left confederations, member associations, and even FIFA's own governing bodies feeling sidelined," the AFC stated.
The AFC emphasized that "the FIFA World Cup, and the game itself, belong to the entire global football family."
It called for an urgent review of FIFA's governance to ensure proposals of global importance are developed through meaningful engagement and oversight.
Earlier, UEFA voted to boycott World Cups if the plan proceeds.
UEFA called the World Cup "one of football's greatest sporting legacies" and warned that "no part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors."
Concacaf, which hosted the 2026 World Cup, also rejected the proposals, aligning with UEFA's stance.
FIFA responded by promising to continue with the plan, denying any sale of football itself and blaming media reports for disrupting consultations.
FIFA intends to create a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage its major events. It plans to invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments.
A document from investment bank JP Morgan outlines plans for expanded tournaments with increased payouts per member association by 2035-2039.
It also mentions efforts to attract top talent with incentive-driven compensation.
The document highlights the World Cup as the most widely viewed sporting event but describes FIFA as "under-monetised."
It does not mention the women's game.
If approved, the proposed investor group for FFE is expected to be led by Thrive Eternal, a venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner.
Historically, boycotts and withdrawals from the World Cup have occurred for political and sporting reasons.
However, UEFA's current threat to boycott over these proposals marks a rare stance by a continental governing body.
Confederations in South America, Africa, and Oceania have yet to publicly comment or are planning to discuss the proposals in upcoming meetings.
