Uefa president boycotts World Cup final in protest against Fifa
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin did not attend the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain in New Jersey, protesting a series of Fifa decisions. Key grievances include Fifa's decision to let US striker Folarin Balogun escape suspension after US President Donald Trump intervened, which Uefa called 'unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.' Ceferin also opposes Fifa's introduction of half-time shows (extending breaks to over 27 minutes), a proposed 64-team World Cup, high ticket prices, and new VAR protocols that penalize mouth-covering and diving differently than Uefa rules. Uefa has frozen Euro 2028 ticket prices and invited Somali referee Omar Artan, denied US entry, to officiate the Super Cup. The boycott highlights deepening tensions between European and world football governing bodies.
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