AFC president criticizes FIFA World Cup stake sale plan

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president, Prince Faisal bin Turki Al Saud, criticised FIFA’s recent proposal to sell a commercial stake in the World Cup, saying the move threatens the sport’s continental framework. In a statement released on Tuesday, the AFC chief argued that transferring ownership of World Cup revenues to private investors would erode the established balance between FIFA and its six continental confederations, which rely on a share of tournament profits to fund development programs across their regions.

FIFA officials have described the sale as a means to generate additional capital for future tournaments and to broaden the competition’s global commercial appeal. However, the AFC warned that diverting a portion of the World Cup’s financial returns away from the confederations could diminish resources for grassroots initiatives, infrastructure projects, and competitive balance within Asia. The AFC urged FIFA to reconsider the plan and to maintain the existing revenue‑sharing model that underpins the sport’s worldwide structure.