Uefa and Fifa discuss global expansion of Nations League

By Saj ChowdhuryBBC Sport

Last updated on 7 November 2017.From the section Football69

Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin — Fifa president Gianni Infantino (left) and Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin (right) are having ongoing discussions regarding how to develop the international calendar

Uefa says it has "initiated" talks with Fifa and other regional confederations about expanding its new Nations League into a global competition.

The Nations League starts next September and will replace most international friendlies on Fifa's calendar which involve European teams.

Uefa and Fifa told BBC Sport they are having "constructive discussions" about the league's development.

But Uefa says "no decisions have been made".

"These discussions involve our national associations, European football stakeholders, all confederations and of course Fifa, with whom we have a very good relationship," Uefa added in a statement.

"We have included them in discussions on this topic since the start."

The Nations League, which involves all 55 Uefa nations, will provide four qualifying spots for Euro 2020 and will determine the composition of the draw pots for the subsequent Euro 2020 qualifiers.

What is the Uefa Nations League? And how will it work?

Germany's Bild and Associated Press (AP) stated the new global tournament would take place during odd-numbered years and would be an expansion of the new Nations League.

Recent reports stated Fifa had its own idea for a new global competition.

"Fifa has been involved from the start of the process," the world governing body added.

"Thanks to the co-operative atmosphere, Fifa will continue to have constructive discussions about the next steps together with Uefa and the other confederations."

According to AP's report, the global expansion would see teams divided into seven divisions according to their Fifa ranking. Each confederation would run its own qualifying groups with promotion and relegation every two years.

Group winners would advance to eight-team intercontinental tournaments played in June.

Last month, the BBC reported that Fifa was considering introducing longer but fewer international breaks during the domestic season.

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69 comments

Comment posted by PetreDyche, at 12:53 7 Nov 2017
Or, we save the big teams playing each other for finals of major tournaments when it actually matters and give it a sense of special occasion? No? Ok then, quantity over quality it is.
Comment posted by Gollybhoy, at 13:15 7 Nov 2017
@6 didn't know man Utd were a country
Comment posted by Champ20ns, at 13:18 7 Nov 2017
A nations tournament sounds more interesting than friendlies.

Fewer qualification games for WC/Euros would help. No one need to play the likes of San Marino and Luxembourg.

Make those nations play a preliminary qualification round and you can lower the amount of games in the qualifiers that the big nations have to play.
Comment posted by dan0304, at 13:17 7 Nov 2017
@6 Clubs that should be included in a breakaway league:

La liga: Real Madrid, Barcelona
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich, Dortmund
Serie A: Juventus, Napoli
Ligue 1: PSG
Premier league: Man Utd

Why would you want that??? Lukaku wouldn't score any goals
Comment posted by Loiner76, at 15:19 7 Nov 2017
Saturation point has surely been reached!!!
The endless quest for money money money is deplorable.
The players will no doubt want a bigger cut and how long until players can transfer between countries?
I hate what this great game has become and I hate even more that we the fans allow this to happen.
Comment posted by Jaffabhoy , at 14:19 7 Nov 2017
UEFA & FIFA need more money! Stuffed envelopes & brown bags only.
Comment posted by Ruud Bullit, at 13:14 7 Nov 2017
If the likes of san marino, andorra et al (no disrespect intended) are still around for a guaranteed 6+ goals a game for opponents then I am going to stop watching qualifiers altogether.
Uefa need to seperate the lesser teams and reduce the number of qualifiers making each one more meaningful.
The south american qualifiers are much more exciting & competitive. Shame about the time difference.
Comment posted by What does Marsellus Wallace look like, at 13:19 7 Nov 2017
This is definitely something I would be more invested in, especially as it removes the 'meaningless friendly' owing to the fact countries play teams more at their level which only increases competition as each game is winnable all through the leagues. Players should always be motivated, but excitement/anticipation will always be higher amongst players and fans against Spain and Italy than Andorra.
Comment posted by User0136233578, at 13:05 7 Nov 2017
Yet another money making racket for the cartel.
Comment posted by pbharrison, at 13:46 7 Nov 2017
#6 - United? based on what? past 4yrs they have not even been top 4, and this season struggling to hang onto 2nd, playing most negative football in the top half.
Comment posted by wolf359, at 13:53 7 Nov 2017
If it is organised properly the 'Global Leagues'could do with with World Cup Qualifiers.It will also be an oppertunity to redress the teams currently in the wrong organisations.Turkey and Israel can removed from the European World Cup groups they are presently in and be put back where they belong in a Middle Eastern League.
Comment posted by SomewhereElse, at 13:02 7 Nov 2017
Does anyone believe that any of these clowns have the competency or integrity to a jumble sail, let alone world football? Headline might as well read "UEFA and FIFA discuss new ways for individuals to cream cash off the top". First step, move their operations out of Switzerland to countries not named in any tax haven scandal!
Comment posted by Ruud Bullit, at 13:23 7 Nov 2017
To make international football exciting teams like iceland, croatia, chile, colombia and poland are needed.
Dark horses for the tournament but capable of beating anyone on their day.
Otherwise the same lineups in finals and semi finals makes it boring. Like the champions league.
Comment posted by Ben, at 13:36 7 Nov 2017
I like the look of the nations league for Europe, at the moment I don't think it should be global though. Can we not try the Nations League first before talking about expanding it?
Hopefully the nations league will spell the end to friendlies in Europe and actually make international football interesting.
Comment posted by DarrenI, at 15:07 7 Nov 2017
People seem to have missed the point, the only reason this is being debated is because of the champions league. The clubs have got too greedy and have been adding European games at the determent of international football. I know it will not happen but we need the European cup competitions to be just that, knock out cups!
Comment posted by bamba, at 13:17 7 Nov 2017
I think we can all agree that most friendlies are a waste of time & the clubs/players don't want them so games that have something riding on them may be worth looking at, personally I'd like to see the home nations(inc Eire) play in a competition home & away spread over the season, a bit of silver ware for the winner & 9 times out of ten sold out stadiums & less travelling for fans & players
Comment posted by User0682819042, at 14:25 7 Nov 2017
6 ommanutd

Clubs that should be included in a breakaway league:

La liga: Real Madrid, Barcelona
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich, Dortmund
Serie A: Juventus, Napoli
Ligue 1: PSG
Premier league: Man Utd

---

Please, please let it happen.

It would suit the majority of die hard manure 'fans' - those from Africa, SE Asia and the Middle East who hadn't heard of the club before 1992.
Comment posted by Tonbar , at 20:41 7 Nov 2017
The point of this if for FIFA to get a bigger share of the global football pot.It will only result in a diminishing of the World Cup, which FIFA were already managing to do nicely themselves with the bent deals for Qatar and Russia and global corruption for votes.The Premier League is where its at,plus the German,Spanish and Italian leagues.Can't we stop tinkering and instead bring back integrity?
Comment posted by James, at 15:37 7 Nov 2017
Frankly friendlies don't interest anyone and the sooner we knock them on the head the better.
Comment posted by DaveC, at 20:32 7 Nov 2017
We should be looking at competitions which enhance the skills of the younger players, rather than piling more cash into the back pockets of the 'superstars'!