UEFA builds European alliance in growing dispute with FIFA president Infantino

UEFA is widening its opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino by seeking a coordinated alliance involving European clubs and national associations, as tensions between the two governing bodies continue to rise.

The dispute escalated after Infantino withdrew a plan to privatise the commercial rights to FIFA competitions following widespread resistance. UEFA had called for Infantino to resign and warned that it could intensify its protests and seek a vote on his removal.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is due to meet European Club Association chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi on the eve of the UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg on 12 August. The talks are expected to focus on coordinating the clubs’ and UEFA’s positions towards FIFA, as well as the next stage of the confrontation.

Reports in Spanish newspaper Marca have suggested that Ceferin is putting pressure on the European Club Association to consider a more forceful response, including a possible boycott of the next FIFA Club World Cup. However, sources within the organisation said that option was not currently being considered.

One reason is that no agreement has yet been reached over the 2029 edition of the tournament, making any discussion about a boycott premature.

Discontent among European clubs is nevertheless growing. Clubs have not yet received financial compensation for releasing players to take part in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and the issue has become a subject of discussion within the European Club Association.

UEFA is also maintaining its opposition to any proposal to expand the FIFA Club World Cup to 48 teams. It believes such a change would place additional strain on an already congested football calendar.

Ceferin has previously criticised the increasing number of competitions and warned that the demands being placed on players and clubs were becoming excessive. UEFA’s concern is that a larger tournament would increase the number of matches and further reduce recovery time during an already crowded season.

European clubs also believe Infantino’s latest plan went beyond the usual institutional framework. They argue that it included arrangements affecting clubs’ rights, responsibilities and players without proper consultation or a prior agreement.

The relationship between FIFA and the European Club Association is governed by a memorandum of understanding covering those areas. That agreement remains valid until 2030, although it does not include the 2029 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.

UEFA’s efforts are not limited to the clubs. It is also working to bring Europe’s national football associations into a common position against FIFA’s plans.

All 55 UEFA member associations have opposed Infantino’s commercial model. However, only four have taken the additional step of formally withdrawing their support for his re-election as FIFA president: England, Wales, Sweden and Serbia.

Their decisions point to a broader challenge within European football, although the opposition remains at different stages among UEFA’s members. The planned meeting between Ceferin and Al-Khelaifi will therefore provide an opportunity for UEFA and the clubs to assess how far their cooperation can go as the dispute with FIFA develops.