UEFA, Concacaf's Latest Plot to Rival FIFA Would Be Massive Win for the USMNT

Both confederations have taken another step toward challenging FIFA.

Gianni Infantino has fallen out of favor with much of the world. | Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/Getty Images

After banding together last month in extreme disapproval of FIFA’s intentions to sell stakes of the World Cup, UEFA and Concacaf have reportedly begun talks in the last few weeks to orchestrate a joint tournament separate from soccer’s governing body.

According to The Guardian, the two confederations are interested in a biennial Nations League tournament that would feature all 96 European, Caribbean, North American and Central American countries, rivaling FIFA’s global competitions.

The tournament could launch as early as 2028 and feature a multi-league format, similar to how the two confederations’ individual Nations League tournaments operate currently—with the highest-ranked nations competing in the top-tier League A, followed by a knockout phase.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), who publicly sided with Concacaf and UEFA against FIFA, does not currently have its own Nations League competition, but has expressed interest in competing in the joint edition sometime in the future.

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Major Win for the USMNT

Mauricio Pochettino signed a four-year contract extension. | Soobum Im/FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Although a joint biennial tournament for UEFA and Concacaf would only further fracture a crumbling FIFA, it would mark a significant win for the U.S. men’s national team.

The Stars and Stripes have consistently faltered in the modern era of the World Cup—advancing only once to the quarterfinals back in 2002—in large part to a lack of consistent top-tier competition in the years leading up to the quadrennial global affair. A joint Nations League, granting the USMNT consistent competition with top European teams in high stakes affairs is exactly what the squad needs to be better prepared for the world stage and to finally eliminate the shock factor that has typically overtaken the men in recent editions of the World Cup.

Across the last four-year cycle between the 2022 and 2026, the currently ranked No. 16 Stars and Stripes played in just five matches against teams ranked top-10 globally prior to the start of the World Cup this summer, two of which were against Germany and none of which were competitive matches. Three of the five were all stacked in the months leading up to the World Cup, as opposed to consistently spread throughout the four years.

A joint Nations League would be rather straight-forward to set up as well, given both confederations already stage the tournament individually during the same international windows. The league phases typically take place during September, October and November, while the knockout stages happen in March and the finals in June.

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