UEFA chief absence at World Cup final

British media outlets have revealed that the President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Slovenians Alexander Ceferin, boycotted the final match of the 2026 World Cup held in New Jersey as a protest against FIFA's decisions during the tournament, leading to increased tensions between the two football governing bodies. Ceferin had attended the opening match in Mexico City but refused to travel to New Jersey, objecting to FIFA's handling of organizational and disciplinary matters, particularly the decision to lift the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun following a request from U.S. President Donald Trump, which Ceferin considered an unjustified precedent and a submission to political pressures. He also expressed his displeasure at FIFA’s refusal to permit a Somali referee into the United States and its rejection of certain organizational amendments, such as pauses during the game and the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology conditions. Additionally, he criticized the increased number of participating teams, which he believed resulted in less exciting matches, and the rising ticket prices.

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