AFC president: FIFA’s failure to consult on World Cup plan ‘totally unacceptable’

The president of the Asia confederation criticised FIFA’s handling of a proposed World Cup plan, calling the absence of prior consultation "totally unacceptable". The confederation issued a pointed statement outlining its displeasure at not being engaged before FIFA went public with the proposal.

In a formal response, the confederation made its position plain: AFC notes ‌with great concern and disappointment that it was not consulted by FIFA ‌at ⁠any level prior to the public announcement of this proposal says, AFC president. The message came after FIFA disclosed details of its World Cup proposal publicly, prompting an immediate reaction from the Asian governing body.

The president’s remark that FIFA’s lack of consultation was "totally unacceptable" underscores the scale of the AFC’s discontent. Officials within the confederation framed the absence of prior engagement as a significant breach of expected communication channels between continental and global football authorities. The statement emphasised that the confederation learned of the plan only after it became public, which the leadership described in strong terms.

The confederation’s wording — noting ‘great concern and disappointment’ — signals a formal rebuke directed at the process surrounding the announcement. By highlighting that it was not consulted “at any level,” the AFC sought to make clear that no internal discussions had taken place prior to the public briefing. That phrasing reflects a complaint not only about timing but also about the perceived exclusion of the continental body from deliberations.

The president’s comments are a rare, explicit expression of dissatisfaction from the Asian confederation toward FIFA on procedural grounds. They focus strictly on the communication and consultation process tied to the World Cup proposal rather than on the substance of the proposal itself. The language used in the confederation’s statement conveys both surprise and frustration at being bypassed.

The public criticism from the AFC president draws attention to tensions over governance and coordination between FIFA and regional confederations. The confederation’s statement, delivered in the terms quoted, marks a firm official response to FIFA’s announcement of the World Cup plan. It remains a clear declaration of the AFC’s stance on how major proposals affecting the global game should be handled.

The president’s remarks close with a concise rebuke that the confederation was not consulted, framing the episode as unacceptable. That declaration may prompt calls within the football community for clearer consultation procedures between FIFA and regional bodies when proposing changes that affect the international calendar or tournament formats.