UEFA Congress: Ceferin Emphasizes Unity in European Football

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin highlights unity and cooperation in European football at the 50th UEFA Congress.

“Domestic leagues draw their strength from their territory, their traditions and match-going fans...”

LaLiga and Serie A had plans to host matches abroad, including Villarreal vs Barcelona in the US and AC Milan vs Como in Australia, but these were scrapped last year. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin had cautioned clubs about prioritizing global reach over local roots, emphasizing the importance of tradition and local identity in European football.

Ceferin's comments reflect concerns about the potential dilution of domestic leagues' identities and fan bases if matches are held outside their home countries. The decision to cancel the plans was likely influenced by these concerns, as well as potential logistical and financial considerations.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has voiced his opposition to hosting domestic league matches abroad, emphasizing that European leagues should prioritize their supporters' loyalty over short-term gains. He made this statement during his speech at the European body's 50th Congress, stressing that domestic leagues derive strength from their territory, traditions, and match-going fans.

Ceferin also highlighted the importance of retaining a single, open pyramid in European soccer, a day after UEFA reached a settlement with Real Madrid, ending their legal dispute over the European Super League. He noted that exporting domestic matches abroad could weaken connections and erode loyalty, asking, “How do you build identity if you remove the game from its home... how do you sustain local passion if you trade it away?”

“Domestic leagues draw their strength from their territory, their traditions and match-going fans. Exporting domestic matches abroad might serve short-term interests but it weakens connection and erodes loyalty,” the Slovenian lawyer and soccer administrator ⁠said.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized that European Football “will never be closed,” referencing the failed European Super League proposal. The Super League, launched in 2021, aimed to guarantee top clubs' participation but faced intense backlash and eventually collapsed.

Ceferin's comments came during the 50th UEFA Congress, where he highlighted the importance of unity in European football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino echoed this sentiment, saying “football wins when we unite.” The agreement between UEFA and Real Madrid formally ended the Super League project.

“It is for all. And what belongs to everyone is stronger than any single force... we chose unity over fragmentation. We chose stewardship over improvisation,” he said.

“This season alone, more than 400 million euros ($475 million) will be redistributed to the ‌clubs outside of the (Champions League's) league phase. And out of ​that, 308 million will go to clubs that don't ‌participate in European competitions at all. Would this exist in a system driven only by profit? I am sure the answer is clear.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised UEFA and Real Madrid for resolving their legal dispute over the European Super League. “Because football wins when we unite,” Infantino said, emphasizing the importance of unity in the sport.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin highlighted the vital role national associations play in developing football across Europe.#UEFACongress pic.twitter.com/fHA1QrqHzg

— UEFA (@UEFA) February 12, 2026

FIFPRO Europe President Joins UEFA Committee

David Terrier, president of FIFPRO Europe, has been elected to UEFA's executive committee with full voting rights, marking a significant milestone for player representation. The UEFA Congress voted in favor of Terrier's inclusion, which FIFPRO hailed as a “landmark development.”

Terrier's role will give players a stronger voice in UEFA's decision-making processes, aligning with FIFPRO's goals of improving player welfare and promoting solidarity in football. 

“For the first time, players are formally represented at the highest level of decision-making in European football... players are no longer outside ⁠the room. Their position is ⁠now part of a formal ‌process,” Terrier told FIFPRO's official website.