Football: FIFA Private Investment Plan Latest News
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has now been reported that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) "stands in solidarity" with its counterparts in Europe (UEFA) and North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF), in rejecting the FIFA plan to sell minority stakes in the FIFA World Cups to private investors.
In a Statement released on 30 July 2026, CONCACAF remarked that its members had “deep concerns” about the plan and questioned why private investment was needed for funding the FIFA World Cup after the 2026 edition of the tournament was the most profitable one in its history.
In a Statement issued on 31 July 2026, the AFC remarked that:
"The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations."
And added that:
"Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered. The Fifa World Cup, and the game itself, belong to the entire global football family."
So, is the FIFA private investment plan ‘dead in the water’?
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
