UEFA and CONCACAF Plan Joint Nations League in New Challenge to FIFA

UEFA and CONCACAF have entered discussions to establish a new joint tournament for national teams, encompassing all 96 teams from both confederations, in a move that could pose a direct challenge to FIFA.

According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the proposed tournament could start in 2028, after the upcoming UEFA European Championship, and will be held every two years, following a system similar to the current Nations League in Europe and CONCACAF.

Initial plans indicate a division of national teams into several leagues, followed by knockout rounds leading to a final tournament featuring four teams to determine the champion. The top tier is expected to include major European teams such as Spain, France, England, and Germany, alongside strong teams from CONCACAF, led by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

According to the proposal, league stage matches will be held during the scheduled international breaks in September, October, and November, while the knockout rounds will take place in March, with the finals scheduled for June.

The project comes amid increasing coordination between UEFA and CONCACAF in recent weeks, as both federations have taken a unified stance on the future of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, amidst a crisis related to proposals and commercial plans linked to the international federation.

Negotiations are still in their early stages, and the number of teams in each tier or the final details of the tournament system have not been determined yet. However, the current proposal involves the participation of all UEFA and CONCACAF members, with a significant portion of the financial revenues being pooled, which could provide additional income sources for lower-income federations and teams.

The tournament is expected to have great commercial appeal, especially with the possibility of regular matchups between top national teams from Europe and their counterparts in North America, which could yield financial and marketing benefits for the participating federations.

The project could also impact the future of the Mexican national team, as preliminary discussions are underway regarding the possibility of the Mexican Football Federation moving from CONCACAF to the South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL. Regular matchups against European teams could provide Mexico with an additional incentive to reconsider this path.