Archive · 22 Aug 2026
UEFA and CONCACAF Explore Nations League Merger for 2028
UEFA and CONCACAF are considering combining their football tournaments.
UEFA organizes competitions for European teams, while CONCACAF covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.
The new tournament could begin in autumn 2028.
It may use different levels, so teams could play in tiers.
The United States and Mexico could face strong European teams more often.
Right now, scheduling makes it harder for North American teams to arrange matches against top European opponents.
Organizers still need to solve problems involving travel and promotion and relegation.
The tournament could also create business opportunities around the growing interest in football in North America.
UEFA and CONCACAF are discussing merging their Nations League tournaments.
A revamped, tiered competition could launch as early as autumn 2028.
The merger could give teams such as the United States and Mexico more regular high-level matches.
Travel, scheduling, and promotion-and-relegation arrangements remain unresolved.
The proposal could bring economic benefits as UEFA expands its presence in North America.
- Who
- UEFA and CONCACAF are discussing the proposal, which could involve European and North and Central American teams.
- What
- A possible merger of the UEFA Nations League and CONCACAF Nations League into a revamped, tiered tournament.
- When
- The competition could launch as early as autumn 2028.
- Where
- It would involve teams from Europe and the CONCACAF region, including North and Central America.
- Why
- The proposal could provide more high-level competition for CONCACAF teams and create economic opportunities in the North American market.
Potential benefits
Outstanding concerns
More elite competition
Potential benefits
A unified tournament could give teams from the CONCACAF region more frequent matches against top European opposition.
Outstanding concerns
The article does not identify a confirmed final format, and the existing international schedule limits when additional matches can be played.
Tiered structure
Potential benefits
UEFA and CONCACAF are discussing retaining tiered league systems used in their current Nations League competitions.
Outstanding concerns
How promotion and relegation would work between two confederations remains unresolved.
Commercial expansion
Potential benefits
The competition could help UEFA expand its footprint in North America and benefit from rising football interest there.
Outstanding concerns
The article presents these as potential economic benefits, not guaranteed outcomes.
- Potential launch
- Autumn 2028
- Organizing bodies
- UEFA and CONCACAF
- Proposed format
- A revamped tiered league structure
- Potential beneficiaries
- CONCACAF teams such as the United States and Mexico
- Main obstacles
- Travel logistics, international-calendar constraints, and promotion-and-relegation mechanics
- Commercial context
- Football interest in North America has increased ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico