Uefa has put European football on a war footing with Fifa after the world governing body lifted Folarin Balogun's suspension for the USA's last-16 match against Belgium. In a statement, Uefa accused Fifa of crossing a red line with an incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision that undermines the integrity of the game and the credibility of the competition.
Background of tensions
The dispute between Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been simmering since 2018, when Infantino proposed an expanded Club World Cup. That tournament finally launched in the US last year with 32 teams, but Fifa now wants to expand it to 48 teams for the 2029 edition. Uefa generates nearly €5bn (£4.27bn) annually from the Champions League, with revenues set to rise by about 20% from next year. Fifa, whose four-year revenues of $14bn (£10.5bn) come largely from the World Cup, wants a share of club football's financial pie.
Recent flashpoints
Public enmity flared in May 2025 when European delegates walked out of the Fifa congress in Paraguay to protest Infantino's late arrival, as he had been attending a summit with world leaders including Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. A fragile truce had since held, with both presidents facing re-election next year and agreeing to keep infighting minimal. However, Fifa's use of article 27 of its disciplinary code to clear Balogun—and Cristiano Ronaldo last year—shattered that peace. Uefa officials, locked in crisis talks on Monday, expressed disbelief at Fifa's ad-hoc policymaking.
Next steps
Uefa's next moves depend partly on Belgium's appeal against Fifa's decision. Sources at the Royal Belgian Football Association told the Guardian they expect no U-turn and are exploring legal options, including taking Fifa to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Uefa could support such action, leveraging its expertise in Swiss law. Ceferin remains personally opposed to expanding the Club World Cup, fearing it would entrench elite dominance and threaten the Champions League. With Fifa set to negotiate the global calendar after 2030, Uefa could also lead protests over the 2034 World Cup date in Saudi Arabia, though Trump and Prince Mohammed back Fifa.
