Three football confederations — UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF — have released a letter criticising FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup.
Key facts
- UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF have issued a joint letter criticising FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
- The criticism concerns a proposal to privatise the World Cup by selling off stakes.
- The three confederations represent European, Asian and North and Central American football.
Three of world football’s confederations have publicly criticised FIFA president Gianni Infantino over a proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup, according to Al Jazeera.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF released a joint letter opposing the plan, which centres on the privatisation of the sport’s flagship international tournament.
Al Jazeera reported that the confederations’ letter was directed at Infantino over his proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup, signalling significant pushback from senior football bodies against the FIFA leadership’s approach.
The three confederations that signed the letter govern football across Europe, Asia and North and Central America, making their joint stance a notable challenge within the sport’s governing structures.
Further details of the proposal, including its scale and any financial terms, were not specified in the available reporting.
Why it matters
The World Cup is football's most valuable and widely watched tournament, so any move to privatise or sell stakes in it could reshape how the sport is governed and funded. Opposition from three major confederations signals a serious internal dispute over the direction of FIFA's leadership.
Frequently asked questions
Which confederations criticised the plan?
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF released a joint letter criticising the proposal, according to Al Jazeera.
What is the proposal they are objecting to?
According to Al Jazeera, the confederations are criticising FIFA president Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup.
Who is behind the privatisation proposal?
The reporting attributes the proposal to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.