UEFA and CONCACAF have reportedly opened discussions over a possible joint Nations League competition that could radically reshape international football from 2028, although no formal agreement or detailed tournament format has been publicly confirmed by either confederation.
The idea, as described, would unite European and CONCACAF national teams in a larger cross-confederation competition after Euro 2028. It would build on the Nations League model—competitive matches arranged by rankings and divisions rather than friendlies—while creating regular fixtures between leading European sides and North American powers such as the United States, Mexico and Canada.
A tournament of that scale would carry obvious commercial appeal. Matches involving teams such as Spain, France, England or Germany against CONCACAF’s leading nations would create valuable broadcast inventory and potentially increase elite international competition outside World Cups, continental championships and traditional friendlies. North America’s importance would be especially pronounced after the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
But the concept remains at an early and uncertain stage. A competition involving all UEFA and CONCACAF members would have to confront major practical issues, including an already overloaded international calendar, long-haul travel, player welfare, club-release obligations, qualification pathways and the future role of existing continental competitions. Neither UEFA nor CONCACAF has publicly announced a 96-team tournament, a 2028 start date, or a final format.
The proposal has been discussed against a wider dispute over football’s commercial governance. FIFA had considered creating a new entity to manage World Cup-related commercial operations and selling a 20 percent minority stake to private investors, in a plan reportedly valued at about $4.2 billion. UEFA and CONCACAF opposed the concept, arguing that it risked handing outside investors influence over football’s most important commercial assets. FIFA president Gianni Infantino later said the stake-sale proposal had been withdrawn after resistance from within the game.
That disagreement nevertheless illustrates the broader tension behind any potential UEFA–CONCACAF collaboration. Confederations want greater control over their calendars, competitions and commercial rights, while FIFA remains responsible for coordinating the global international schedule and staging the World Cup. A joint Nations League would not necessarily be a direct challenge to FIFA, but it would strengthen the ability of UEFA and CONCACAF to create high-value competitions independently.
Elsewhere, European national teams continue to operate within the current Nations League structure. The Football Association of Ireland has chosen to fulfil its upcoming fixtures against Israel despite political controversy and domestic pressure to avoid the matches. The association concluded that refusing to play could expose Ireland to serious sporting and financial consequences, including potential disciplinary action and exclusion from future competitions.
France, meanwhile, enter a new era under Zinedine Zidane. The former Real Madrid manager was appointed as Didier Deschamps’ successor in July on a contract running through the 2030 World Cup, giving him responsibility for guiding one of international football’s strongest squads across the next major cycle.
For now, the idea of a UEFA–CONCACAF Nations League is best understood as a potentially significant proposal rather than an approved competition. If it develops, its success will depend on whether the confederations can create a credible format without further stretching the calendar—or intensifying the increasingly visible struggle for control of international football.
