Opinions, analysis and commentary
UEFA and Concacaf aren’t just floating a new tournament; they’re planning to dismantle both existing Nations Leagues and rebuild a single 96-team competition in their place. The move follows a bitter standoff with FIFA over a proposed private-equity stake sale, one that pushed both confederations into open revolt over the summer. The mechanics matter more than the politics here: this would pool commercial revenue across 96 federations, redraw promotion and relegation, and quietly reshape how international football outside the World Cup actually functions. An autumn 2028 launch is the target.
The backdrop is the FIFA Forward Enterprise crisis. Infantino proposed selling a 20 percent stake in a new company that controls the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. UEFA’s 55 associations voted unanimously on July 30, 2026 to boycott future FIFA competitions unless the plan was dropped entirely, and Concacaf’s 41 member associations followed, citing a lack of due process.
The AFC released a solidarity statement on August 10. The FFE plan was scrapped before the 2026 World Cup, but the institutional damage was done. UEFA and Concacaf had already signed a memorandum of understanding in Vancouver on April 30, 2026, committing to cooperation through June 2031, and the Nations League proposal is the competitive extension of that relationship.
As reported by The Guardian and confirmed by ESPN sources, the proposed tournament would include all 96 member associations across UEFA and Concacaf. It would launch as early as autumn 2028, following the next European Championship, and would replace rather than add to the two confederations’ current Nations Leagues.
Neither UEFA nor Concacaf has issued an official confirmation, but sources with knowledge of the discussions say talks are active. Below is a direct format comparison between the two current competitions and the proposed joint version.
Format Comparison: Current vs Proposed
| Format | Teams | Structure | Timeline |
| UEFA Nations League (2026-27) | 55 | 4 leagues (A, B, C: 16 teams each; D: 6 teams); group stage, QF, Final Four | Ongoing; biennial cycle |
| Concacaf Nations League (2026-27) | 41 | 3 leagues (A: 16 teams; B: 16 teams; C: 9 teams); group stage, knockout, Final Four | Ongoing; biennial cycle |
| Proposed Joint Format | 96 | Multi-league tiers based on ranking (Leagues A-D+); group stage, knockout, Final Four of 4 teams | Target: autumn 2028; biennial |
The working model uses September, October and November international windows for league phase matches, the same slots already used by both existing competitions. Knockout rounds would fall in March, with a four-team Final Four in June, mirroring the current UEFA schedule.
The number of teams per league hasn’t been determined yet, but League A, the highest division, would pit Europe’s elite, England, Spain, France, Germany, directly against Concacaf’s best: the United States, Mexico and Canada. Promotion and relegation between leagues would preserve competitive integrity for all 96 members, with fixtures organised in geographic blocks to reduce transatlantic travel costs.
The commercial argument is the most structurally significant part of this proposal. Much of the revenue would be pooled across all 96 participants, generating meaningful income for smaller nations, a direct challenge to FIFA’s centralised revenue model.
The appeal is clearest in North America, where regular competitive home matches against European giants would carry real commercial value for US Soccer, Canada Soccer and, in particular, the Mexican Football Federation. The FMF, frustrated by the financial ceiling of competing solely within Concacaf, had previously held exploratory talks about joining South America’s Conmebol, a move that would require FIFA ratification. A joint Nations League generating pooled European revenues could make that leap unnecessary.
The proposal is explicitly designed to be expandable. The Asian Football Confederation, representing 47 member associations, has expressed interest in joining a globally scoped Nations League in the future, and the working format is being built with enough structural flexibility to accommodate that expansion.
Combined, UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC alone would represent 143 of FIFA’s 211 member associations. Whether FIFA could block the tournament remains a live question: the international match windows involved are already part of the global calendar, but a UEFA-Concacaf Nations League 2028 format crossing multiple confederations would raise direct questions about FIFA’s regulatory authority, and FIFA has issued no public response so far.
Would a 96-team UEFA-Concacaf Nations League actually strengthen international football, or just fracture FIFA’s authority for good? Let us know what you think.
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What is the joint Nations League plan between UEFA and Concacaf?
UEFA and Concacaf are discussing a merger of their separate competitions into one 96-team tournament. All 55 UEFA and all 41 Concacaf associations would take part, replacing rather than supplementing what exists now.
When could the new format actually launch?
The earliest proposed start date is autumn 2028, right after the next European Championship. Both confederations’ current competition cycles already run through the 2026-27 season, making any earlier launch date unrealistic.
How does FIFA regulate competitions across multiple confederations?
FIFA’s Regulations Governing International Matches require authorisation for any competition spanning more than one confederation. Sources note the match windows themselves are already part of FIFA’s calendar, though FIFA has not commented on this specific proposal.
Which countries would play in League A of the new tournament?
League A is expected to feature Europe’s top nations alongside Concacaf’s strongest teams. England, Spain, France and Germany would face the United States, Mexico and Canada in the highest tier.
Could Asian football ever join this tournament?
The Asian Football Confederation has expressed interest in joining a future global version of the competition. Its 47 member associations would push the total reach to 143 of FIFA’s 211 associations.
