European football's governing body is reportedly in discussions to broaden the Uefa Nations League by bringing in teams from outside the continent, a move that would coincide with growing scrutiny of Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
According to reports, Uefa has opened talks with Concacaf, the confederation that governs football across North and Central America and the Caribbean, about a potential expansion of the competition. The idea is understood to be under serious consideration, with the earliest possible implementation being the 2028-29 edition of the tournament.
The move signals deepening cooperation between Uefa and Concacaf on cross-continental competitions, notably without Fifa's involvement. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and his Concacaf counterpart Victor Montagliani are both said to believe that Infantino should step down from his role at Fifa rather than pursue another term, amid the fallout from his unsuccessful bid to bring in private investment for the running of the World Cup and other Fifa-organised events.
The Asian Football Confederation is also said to be part of the ongoing conversations around the Nations League's future, though its involvement would reportedly come at a later stage than any Concacaf inclusion.
Organisers appear to have been mindful of the congested football calendar in shaping the proposal. Incorporating Concacaf nations into the competition would not require any extra dates, as the league phase would be played during the autumn international windows in 2028, with the finals following in March and June of 2029.
The developments come at a sensitive moment for Infantino, who is expected to travel to the Dominican Republic this weekend for a youth football event. The trip could offer him a chance to strengthen ties with Caribbean federations within Concacaf, several of which — including St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda — have already voiced their backing for him. It has been noted that Infantino's invitation to the event was extended well before the controversy over his private investment plans came to light.
Should he attend, Infantino would likely find himself in the same room as Montagliani, who many within the sport regard as a serious contender to challenge him for the Fifa presidency.
Infantino's standing has taken a further hit this week following the dismissal of Fifa's Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour. The sacking came just a fortnight after Lamour publicly criticised Infantino, accusing him of "deceiving" Fifa staff over the collapsed plan to sell off stakes in World Cup and other Fifa commercial rights to private investors.
The combination of internal dissent, confederation-level maneuvering, and public criticism has placed Infantino under some of the heaviest pressure of his tenure. With Uefa and Concacaf seemingly aligning on both footballing and political fronts, the coming months could prove pivotal not only for the future shape of international competitions like the Nations League, but also for the leadership of world football's governing body itself.
Based on reporting from The Independent.