The Champions League draw has been overshadowed by an ongoing dispute between UEFA and FIFA over plans to introduce private investment into the organisation’s major competitions.
UEFA is reportedly preparing to withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments, according to sources who spoke to AFP ahead of Thursday’s Champions League draw in Monaco.
The disagreement began in late July after reports emerged that FIFA, led by Gianni Infantino, was considering establishing a commercial company to manage major competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup.
The proposal would have allowed private investors to take stakes in a company established under the FIFA Forward Enterprise, FFE, initiative.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin strongly criticised the proposal, describing it as a “shady, opaque backroom deal.”
UEFA subsequently warned that no European national team would participate in FIFA competitions as long as the proposal remained under consideration.
The threat was widely seen as contributing to the rapid shelving of the controversial plan.
However, UEFA executives and representatives of European member associations meeting in Monaco before the Champions League draw are now expected to withdraw the boycott threat.
UEFA had demanded that the proposed financing plan be abandoned and sought assurances that similar attempts to change the structure of football governance would not be repeated.
A source told AFP that UEFA was satisfied the additional assurance had been provided.
The withdrawal would allow UEFA to maintain a united position in its broader push for Infantino to leave his position, without risking divisions among its members over participation in FIFA competitions.
The Under-20 Women’s World Cup will take place in Poland next month, while European qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil is still underway.
PSG target historic third consecutive title
Attention in the men’s game now turns to the new Champions League season, following the conclusion of the World Cup in North America and the return of Europe’s major domestic leagues.
Paris Saint-Germain will begin their campaign aiming to win the Champions League for a third consecutive season after defeating Arsenal on penalties in last season’s final in Budapest.
The Real Madrid side of 2016 to 2018 remains the only team in the last 50 years to win the European title three years in succession.
PSG coach Luis Enrique said his team believes a third straight title is possible, although he acknowledged the challenge will be difficult.
This will be the third season under the Champions League’s new format, which features 36 teams in a single league phase, with each club playing eight matches against different opponents.
The competition continues to highlight the growing financial gap in European club football, with the wealthiest teams expected to dominate both participation and prize earnings.
Half of the teams in this season’s competition come from England, Spain, Italy and Germany.
England has five representatives — Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa. Spain also has five clubs, including Real Betis, who return to the Champions League after a 20-year absence.
Italian club Como, coached by former Arsenal, Barcelona and Spain star Cesc Fabregas, will make its Champions League debut after disrupting the established order in Serie A.
Azerbaijani club Sabah will also appear in the competition for the first time after starting in the opening qualifying round and winning four ties to reach the league phase.
Austria’s LASK will make its Champions League debut as well, following a dramatic comeback victory over Celtic in the play-offs.
The first league-phase matches are scheduled for Tuesday, September 8 to Thursday, September 10.
The league phase will run until late January, while the Champions League final is scheduled for June 5, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
