Al-Khelaïfi Plans Global Expansion of European Club Association with “World Football Clubs” to Unite Global Football

Proposed Expansion of the European Club Association

The ECA currently represents approximately 900 European football clubs. Al Khelaïfi’s proposal aims to extend this influence into regions such as South America and Africa, where clubs have reportedly expressed frustration over a lack of unified representation compared to their European counterparts. By establishing a framework potentially titled World Football Clubs (WFC), the ECA seeks to offer the same level of organizational stability and regulatory advocacy to major clubs in South America—such as River Plate, Boca Juniors, Flamengo, and Palmeiras—as well as leading entities in Asia and Africa.

This expansion strategy is framed as an effort to help non-European clubs align their commercial and regulatory standing with the established norms of the European game. The move follows reports that major South American clubs have engaged with the ECA to voice concerns regarding the disparity in how their regional needs are managed.

Commercial Integration and FIFA Relations

A core component of this global expansion involves a potential joint venture with FIFA. The ECA is evaluating a model similar to the partnership between UEFA and the commercial entity UC3, which manages the exploitation of commercial and television rights for European competitions. By mirroring this structure at a global level, the ECA hopes to create a more unified approach to revenue generation for clubs and confederations.

This initiative comes at a time of strained relations between the ECA and FIFA. Disagreements persist following the most recent Club World Cup, specifically regarding unpaid solidarity payments that were previously promised to participating clubs. There is currently no established dialogue between the two organizations regarding the logistics or commercial frameworks for future iterations of the tournament, including the 2029 Club World Cup.

Context of the Assembly in Copenhagen

The announcement in Copenhagen occurred alongside broader discussions within the football community, including reports concerning the potential return of Madrid to the ECA. The assembly served as a venue for the ECA to address both its internal governance and its external strategy for the coming years.