The UEFA is reportedly negotiating with CONMEBOL about setting a Nations League competition with a new look from 2024.
Vice president of URA Mr. Zbigniew Boniek confirmed that an agreement has been reached with the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) on organizing the Nations League for the country teams from 2 regions.
The Nations League, which started in 2018, currently features 55 UEFA member countries. However, with the new agreement between UEFA and CONMEBOL, 10 teams from South America will participate in the competition starting in 2024.
“The 2022/23 season will be the last UEFA Nations League. From 2024, South American teams will participate in the Nations League.” Boniek said.
“UEFA and CONMEBOL have signed a memorandum of understanding for this cooperation. At the moment, we still do not know in what format the tournament will take place.” he added.
Boniek added that out of the 10 participating South American teams, 6 teams will compete in group A and 4 teams will compete in group B.
However, the number of teams in each group will increase respectively. 22 and 20. Matches are scheduled to take place in Europe to avoid a lot of movement for the players.
An expanded Nations League is said to be the next step in the move to tighten ties between UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The two leading football bodies in the world signed a joint agreement, committing to cooperate and organize football events until June 2028.
The agreement also includes the opening of a joint office in London, which will be in charge of coordination of projects of mutual interest.
This new Nations League project is also considered a move to protest against FIFA’s plan to hold the World Cup every two years. Previously, UEFA and CONMEBOL both publicly quitly opposed on the proposal.
