Why UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin Skipped the 2025 Club World Cup Amid FIFA Tensions
Story Written By Myra Okafor | July 15, 2025
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin was noticeably absent from the recently concluded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, further deepening tensions between UEFA and FIFA over control of global club football.
Despite his dual role as FIFA Vice-President by virtue of his UEFA presidency, Ceferin refused to attend any of the tournament’s fixtures, making him the only continental federation leader to fully boycott the event. This development, reported by The Athletic, highlights growing concerns within UEFA about FIFA’s expanding influence in club football.
Ceferin’s absence comes as FIFA continues to push forward with its ambitious Club World Cup expansion plans. The 2025 edition featured 32 teams for the first time, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly discussed the possibility of making the tournament biennial—a move UEFA strongly opposes.
Fears of Rivalry with Champions League
At the core of UEFA’s resistance is the fear that the expanded Club World Cup could eventually rival the UEFA Champions League, both in prestige and commercial value. Sources within UEFA have expressed unease about the growing global reach of FIFA’s club competition, warning it could disrupt the balance of power in world football.
Infantino, speaking at a press conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Saturday, July 12, refused to rule out further changes to the Club World Cup format. He even named elite European sides such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Barcelona, Milan, and Napoli as examples of clubs he would like to see featured in future editions.
“For 63 matches, the average is $33 million per game. There is no other club competition in the world that comes close. It is already the most successful club competition in all aspects,” Infantino said.
UEFA’s Official Explanation Disputed
When The Athletic contacted UEFA for comment, a spokesperson claimed Ceferin’s absence was due to his focus on the UEFA Women’s EURO, which is currently ongoing in Switzerland.
“In case you forgot, all the attention of UEFA and its president is currently focused on the Women’s EURO. This is an important event for us, and understandably requires a lot of commitment and attention,” the spokesperson stated.
However, scrutiny of Ceferin’s schedule raises questions about the validity of that explanation. The Club World Cup kicked off on June 13, nearly three weeks before the Women’s EURO began on July 2. In addition, records show that Ceferin attended only one of the first 22 matches of the Women’s tournament.
His refusal to attend any part of FIFA’s flagship club event is being widely interpreted as a deliberate snub, signaling escalating friction between the two governing bodies over the future of elite club football.
As FIFA pushes ahead with global expansion and revenue growth, UEFA appears determined to protect the prominence and integrity of the Champions League — a competition it considers the crown jewel of European football.
