UEFA and CONCACAF have begun talks on creating a joint Nations League featuring all 96 teams from Europe, North and Central America and the Caribbean, in a new direct challenge to FIFA.
The Guardian learned that after the two federations united in pressing for the removal of Gianni Infantino, against the backdrop of the controversy related to the plan to sell World Cup assets, the two federations are now working on establishing their own tournament to be held every two years, and which could start as early as 2028, after the next European Championship.
Although discussions are still in their early stages, it is understood that the new competition will mimic the current multi-tier system used in the existing Nations Leagues organized by UEFA and CONCACAF, and the league stage will be followed by knockout rounds, then a final tournament involving four teams to determine the champion.
The first level will include the best European teams, including Spain, France, England and Germany, which will play competitive matches within the league against the highest-ranked teams in CONCACAF, such as Mexico, the United States and Canada.
UEFA and CONCACAF launched their own Nations League tournaments in 2018, and the two federations hold their matches during the same international break periods, which means that the mechanisms required to hold a joint tournament are already in place.
Under the initial plans, the league stage will be held during the current international breaks in September, October and November, with the qualifying round matches being held in March, then the finals in June.
Since the matches will be held during the international break periods that were agreed upon in advance, it is not clear whether the new tournament will need FIFA approval, although that may become an unimportant issue, in light of the existential crisis that the International Federation is currently going through, and Infantino facing a challenge in terms of his leadership of the organization.
While serious discussions about the project began only during the past few weeks, the number of teams that will be included in each league level has not yet been determined, but all 96 national federations that are members of UEFA and CONCACAF will participate in the tournament, and a large portion of the revenues will be collected and distributed, providing important additional income for smaller teams and federations.
The commercial appeal of major European teams playing regular competitive matches in North America would be huge, and the tournament would also bring significant benefits to Mexico, whose football federation is known to be frustrated by what it sees as the financial constraints of playing within CONCACAF.
The Mexican Football Federation has held preliminary discussions about leaving CONCACAF and joining the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), a move that will need to be approved by FIFA, but the prospect of playing lucrative matches against European teams may prompt the Mexicans to change their position.
The proposed new system will replace existing international matches instead of adding new matches to them, and matches will be held within geographical blocks with the aim of reducing travel.
It is also understood that the AFC has expressed interest in joining a global Nations League at a future stage, and the competition structure being discussed will be flexible enough to accommodate its participation.
However, the AFC does not currently organize a Nations League, so joining will remain a more long-term ambition.
UEFA and CONCACAF have been working together for some time, and signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation between them during the FIFA Congress, which was held in Vancouver in April, but the rapprochement between them has increased to a greater degree since the emergence of the plan to sell World Cup assets last month.
The two continental federations have made it clear unequivocally that they consider Infantino’s continuation in his position unsustainable, as a result of his role in the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” proposal, and they are working together to put forward an alternative candidate to compete with him in the FIFA presidential elections scheduled for next March.
UEFA declined to comment, but a source familiar with the proposal confirmed that discussions are already underway.
CONCACAF also declined to comment directly, but highlighted the continental confederation's long-term commitment to cooperation with other federations, an approach that has previously led to guest teams participating in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.
The historically strong relationship with CONMEBOL also resulted in the participation of many South American teams in the Gold Cup, along with the teams of South Africa, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
