UEFA ready to welcome Barcelona back to the fold
After Laporta's recent decision to abandon the Super League project, UEFA prepares for a peaceful congress with Barça no longer in opposition
UEFA’s upcoming 50th ordinary congress in Brussels promises to be the most peaceful in years, with Barcelona moving closer to the European football family after Joan Laporta’s recent decision to abandon the Super League project.
Superliga ghost fading away
The spectre of a breakaway competition led by Real Madrid, Juventus (who left in 2024), and Barcelona that haunted previous gatherings seems to be dissipating. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who will deliver his customary address, has consistently kept the door open for clubs to actively rejoin the UEFA fold, and tomorrow could officially welcome Barcelona back into the European football family.
It’s proper bread and butter stuff for the Catalans now, as they return to the mainstream after their Super League flirtation went Pete Tong.
New Champions League success
The Congress will also showcase the viability of the revamped Champions League format that emerged in response to the Super League threat. According to financial data being presented:
- European competitions generated over €5 billion in revenue last season
- The new format is being hailed as more sustainable
- This season’s league phase, with its nail-biting final matchday, is considered a success
Political tensions bubbling under
While UEFA wants to display good relations with FIFA, new challenges loom:
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently suggested lifting the Russian ban for youth competitions
- This proposal was promptly rejected by the European Union through commissioner Glenn Micallef
- Discussions about a potential boycott of the 2026 World Cup in North America due to Donald Trump’s immigration policies have emerged in some forums
UEFA hasn’t officially commented on these matters, though relations between the governing bodies remain cordial, and no European federation has seriously considered boycott actions.
Nations League draw
The afternoon will feature the Nations League draw for the competition running from September 24-26 to November 15-17. Spain, as the current runners-up, will be in Pot 1 alongside champions Portugal, France and Germany.
The remaining pots include Italy, Netherlands, Denmark and Croatia (Pot 2); Serbia, Belgium, England and Norway (Pot 3); and Wales, Czech Republic, Greece and Turkey (Pot 4).