Football's Rebel Alliance: UEFA and Concacaf Plot Joint Nations League in Bold Power Grab Against FIFA

A seismic shift could be coming to international football, as The Guardian has learned that UEFA and Concacaf have opened discussions about creating a joint Nations League tournament that would bring together all 96 national teams from Europe and the North and Central American and Caribbean region. According to Guardian Football, which broke the story, the proposed competition would run on a biennial cycle and could launch as early as 2028, following the conclusion of the next European Championship. If realized, it would represent one of the most ambitious collaborative projects ever undertaken between two confederations and a fundamental reshaping of the international match calendar. The move is about far more than scheduling innovation, however. It is the latest salvo in an increasingly hostile battle for control of the global game. UEFA and Concacaf have already joined forces in a push to remove FIFA president Gianni Infantino from office, a campaign that gathered momentum in the wake of the controversial World Cup sell-off that has engulfed football's governing body in scandal. Now, rather than simply opposing FIFA politically, the two confederations appear to be building an alternative economic engine that could rival the governing body's commercial dominance. A tournament pooling the national teams of traditional European heavyweights with the rapidly growing football markets of North America — a region co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States, Canada and Mexico — would command enormous broadcasting and sponsorship appeal. Both confederations bring proven experience to the table. UEFA pioneered the Nations League concept in 2018, replacing often-maligned friendly fixtures with meaningful competitive football that also offers nations a pathway to tournament qualification. Concacaf swiftly followed with its own version, and the format has been widely credited with revitalizing international windows that fans once ignored. A merged competition would scale that success to unprecedented levels, pitting European giants against Concacaf opposition on a regular basis and creating cross-confederation storylines previously reserved for World Cups. The implicit message to Zurich is difficult to miss. With Infantino's leadership under sustained pressure and trust between FIFA and its two most powerful regional bodies at a historic low, UEFA and Concacaf are demonstrating that they can build the sport's future — and monetize it — without FIFA's blessing. Whether the project survives the inevitable political retaliation that awaits remains to be seen. But with 2028 fast approaching and negotiations reportedly underway, football's balance of power may be about to shift in a way not seen since the formation of the modern Champions League era. This article is based on original reporting by Guardian Football.