Commercial power struggle between FIFA and European football leadership escalates ahead of March congress election

At an event in Copenhagen, UEFA's leading report announced plans to launch "World Football Clubs", a global club representative body independent of FIFA with support from six continental confederations. This move is seen as a direct response ahead of the March FIFA presidential election, amid mounting tension between Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Ceferin leading opposing factions. The conflict stems from disputes over the transfer of commercial broadcasting rights — an issue that has led to legal battles in U.S. courts. Ceferin warned that "no amount of politics or power gives anyone the right to sell football", raising questions about transparency and ownership of core commercial assets. Meanwhile, Infantino accused his rival of running a "misinformation campaign" aimed at influencing the election outcome directly. All developments are fueling concerns over a potential split within global football governance, forcing sponsors and broadcasters to await clarification on commercial entitlements.