UEFA explores rival tournaments as FIFA rift deepens

Infantino and Ceferin during their days of harmony.

NYON, Aug 11: UEFA and other major football confederations have begun preliminary discussions about creating international tournaments that could rival FIFA competitions, according to Bloomberg.

People familiar with the talks said UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation are exploring the possibility of organizing alternative international events. The discussions remain at an early stage, and no decisions have been made.

The move would add to the growing pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the collapse of his controversial plan to separate FIFA’s commercial operations and sell stakes in the organization’s rights to private investors.

Rival competitions could pose a significant challenge to FIFA’s lucrative tournament calendar, particularly the World Cup, which generated more than $9 billion in revenue during its record-breaking 2026 edition.

UEFA, whose members include many of the world’s richest domestic leagues, has emerged as the leading force seeking changes at FIFA and has called for Infantino to leave the presidency.

Despite Infantino abandoning his private-investment proposal, UEFA is reportedly still considering boycotting the World Cup and other FIFA competitions if he remains in office.

The 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil could become the first major FIFA event affected by a potential boycott. Several youth tournaments are also scheduled to take place in the coming months.

According to one person familiar with the discussions, the proposed alternative competitions could provide players with international opportunities during any disruption caused by a boycott.

UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation recently called for an independent review of Infantino’s World Cup proposal, arguing that FIFA’s president has a responsibility to act in the organization’s best interests.

“When trust is broken through deception, and when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with power, he has abandoned that duty,” the three confederations said in an open letter.