(Football news) A partnership between Europe’s football governing body UEFA and CONMEBOL has led to an agreement that will see Euro 2020 winners Italy face off against Copa America winners in a friendly next June with the venue still to be decided. In addition, the next two Euros and Copa America tournaments will see their winners play against each other as well.
A statement between the two governing bodies said “UEFA and CONMEBOL have today announced the broadening of their existing cooperation as well as the staging of a match between the UEFA EURO 2020 winners Italy and the CONMEBOL Copa America 2021 winners Argentina during the international window in June 2022 at a venue to be confirmed.
“The organising of this match is part of the expansion of the cooperation between UEFA and CONMEBOL, which notably includes women’s football, futsal and youth categories, the exchange of referees, as well as technical training schemes.
“The agreement reached by the two organisations currently covers three editions of this match between the respective continental winners, and also includes the opening of a joint office in London, which will be in charge of coordinating projects of common interest.
“By reaching this agreement, UEFA and CONMEBOL express their commitment to the development of football beyond their geographical zones, as a bridge uniting people, countries, continents and cultures.”
The significance of this partnership is that both the governing bodies have opposed FIFA’s plan for a biennial World Cup and strengthening ties with each other could bring new possibilities in football between Europe and South America. In a statement by CONMEBOL, the governing body said “In the current conditions, it is already complex to harmonize times, schedules, logistics, adequate preparation of equipment and commitments.
“The situation would be extremely difficult with the proposed change. It could even put the quality of other tournaments, both club and national, at risk. A World Cup every two years could distort the most important football competition on the planet, lowering its quality and undermining its exclusive character and its current demanding standards.
“The World Cup is an event that attracts the attention and expectations of billions of people because it represents the culmination of a process of elimination that lasts the entire four-year period and has its own dynamics and appeal.”
