UEFA, the governing body of European
football, is in talks with their South American counterparts, CONMEBOL, over a
newly planned joint Nations League , that will see South American heavyweights
Brazil and Argentina featuring in the expanded competition.

Also Read: France defeat Spain, win UEFA Nations League

Both UEFA and CONMEBOL have opposed FIFA’s
plan to host the World Cup twice in a four-year cycle, with the two this week
signing an extended Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) until June 2028.

The UEFA has already released the schedule
for the joint Nations League, with Euro 2020 champion Italy taking on Copa
America winners Argentina in the so-called ‘Finalissima’ on June 1 next year in
London.

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“UEFA is working on a number of
projects with CONMEBOL, including a joint Nations League but nothing is
finalised and no decisions have yet been made,” a spokesperson said.

UEFA vice-president Zbigniew Boniek on
Thursday said 10 South American teams will play in the Nations League
competition from 2024.

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“From 2024 CONMEBOL will join the
Nations League. We do not know yet in what formula, in what form. We signed a
memorandum about cooperation between CONMEBOL and UEFA and from 2024 these
teams will play in the Nations League,” he said.

Is Nations League against FIFA’s biennial World Cup
plans?

Boniek also said that six CONMEBOL teams
will join League A of the Nations League while the other four will join League
B.

Also Read: Which teams have qualified for FIFA World Cup 2022?

There is no doubt that the entry of South
American sides would bring more eyeballs towards the Nations League. The number
of teams in the two groups would increase from 16 to 22 and 20 respectively,
with all the matches set to be played in Europe to avoid excessive travel.

The revamped Nations League would also
represent direct competition to FIFA’s plans for a World Cup every two years, a
proposal Boniek said would be difficult to implement, adding that he was
against the idea of introducing more new events.

Also Read: UEFA cancels Tottenham’s Europa Conference League game with Rennes

FIFA will hold a global summit on Monday to
discuss their ambitious plans, but UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who has
been a vocal critic of the biennial World Cup idea, said the meeting would not
be a defining moment in the process.