UEFA–CONMEBOL memorandum of understanding

Memorandum of understanding between the South American and European football associations

The UEFA–CONMEBOL memorandum of understanding (Spanish: Memorando de Entendimiento)^[2] is an agreement between UEFA and CONMEBOL, the association football confederations of Europe and South America, respectively, signed between both parties with the aim of achieving close collaboration for the development of this sport in the regions. It was signed on 12 February 2020^[3][4] and extended on 15 December 2021 in a first stage,^[2][5] and on 2 June 2022 in a second stage.^[6] This will permit creation of official championships in the branches of men's, women's, youth and indoor football and the possibility of exchanging referees in the tournaments organised by both entities.

In January 2022, CONMEBOL and UEFA authorities met at the CONMEBOL headquarters in Asunción, Paraguay, and ratified the agreements they had already signed for future competitions. Both parts also agreed to establish a joint office in London.^[1]

Mission and objectives

The MoU seeks to provide assistance and support between both confederations to establish and implement projects and activities related to:^[4][3]

• the promotion and development of grassroots football, youth football and women's football
• the organisation of championships
• marketing, legal and social responsibility matters
• security;
• the promotion of ethical principles and good governance in football

Committees

In order to move forward with the projects, 4 joint committees were created through the memorandum.^[4] The strategies of both confederations in the different committees are coordinated in a Joint Representation Office located in London, England, United Kingdom, inaugurated on 4 April 2022.^[7]

The committees are:

Refereeing

As of the signing of the MoU, a referee exchange program was started, allowing referees and assistant referees appointed by their respective confederation to participate in matches in competitions organised by the other signatory party.^[4] Below is the list of referees appointed within the exchange program:

Women's football

The agreement provides a development strategy for this branch in all its member associations, as well as the creation of different competitions. The first women's football championship planned from the MoU is the UEFA-CONMEBOL Women's Finalissima, a tournament that emulates the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions in the women's branch.^[6]

Development and coaches

The purpose of this committee is to provide a joint project for the creation of:

• Elite young player development programs
• Scout Development^[4]
• Joint coaching licences: A mutual recognition of titles and coaching licences (for example, equivalence between UEFA Pro License and CONMEBOL PRO License) is planned for 2023.^[6]

Competitions

The competitions created under the memorandum are the following ones:

• Finalissima: a quadrennial match featuring men's football champions of the UEFA Euro and the CONMEBOL Copa América. There were two editions prior to the signing of the MoU (1985 and 1993). Its relaunch was made official on 28 September 2021, agreeing to organise three new editions. The first of them was held on 1 June 2022 at Wembley Stadium, under the name of Finalissima.^[5][18]
• Under-20 Intercontinental Cup: a biennial match featuring men's football champions of the UEFA Youth League and the U-20 Copa Libertadores. Its first edition was held on 21 August 2022 at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo.^[6][19]
• Futsal Finalissima: a quadrennial match featuring men's futsal champions and runners-up of the UEFA Futsal Championship and the Copa América de Futsal. The first edition was held from 15 to 18 September 2022 at the Movistar Arena Stadium in Buenos Aires.^[6]
• UEFA–CONMEBOL Women's Finalissima: a quadrennial match featuring women's football champions of the UEFA Women's Euro and the Women's Conmebol Copa América. The first edition was played on FIFA Women's International Matchweek of February 2023 in Europe.^[6][20]
• UEFA–CONMEBOL Club Challenge: an annual match featuring men's football champions of the CONMEBOL and UEFA's second-tier competitions the UEFA Europa League and CONMEBOL Sudamericana.^[21] Its first edition was held on 19 July 2023 at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in Seville.^[22]

References

1. El acuerdo entre UEFA y Conmebol toma más fuerza y Argentina podría jugar la Liga de Naciones en Europa on Perfil, 20 January 2022
2. La CONMEBOL y la UEFA amplían el Memorando de Entendimiento on Conmebol, 15 December 2021
3. CONMEBOL y UEFA renuevan Memorando de Entendimiento on AFA, 12 February 2020
4. "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation". Nyon: UEFA. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
5. "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew and extend Memorandum of Understanding". Nyon: UEFA. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
6. "UEFA and CONMEBOL launch new intercontinental events". Nyon: UEFA. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
7. Iveson, Ali (8 April 2022). "UEFA-CONMEBOL joint office in London opens". Inside the Games. Dunsar Media. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
8. "UEFA Euro 2020 – Referees and Assistant referees" (PDF). Nyon: UEFA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
9. "UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Match Officials" (PDF). Nyon: UEFA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
10. "CONMEBOL Copa América 2021– Árbitros convocados" (PDF) (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
11. "Prosigue intercambio y colaboración entre árbitros de la CONMEBOL y la UEFA" (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
12. "Árbitras convocadas para la CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2022" (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
13. "Árbitras convocadas para la CONMEBOL Libertadores Femenina 2022" (PDF) (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 21 September 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
14. "Árbitros confirmados para la Finalissima" (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
15. "Árbitros confirmados para la Sub20 Intercontinental" [Referees confirmed for Under-20 Intercontinental] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
16. "¡Comienza la acción en la Futsal Finalissima 2022!" [All set for 2022 Futsal Finalissima!] (in Spanish). Conmebol. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
17. "Argentina vs. Paraguay, por un lugar en el podio de la Futsal Finalissima 2022" [Argentina vs Paraguay, for a spot in 2022 Futsal Finalissima podium] (in Spanish). Conmebol. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
18. "CONMEBOL y UEFA amplían su cooperación" (in Spanish). Luque: CONMEBOL. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
19. "Todo lo que debes saber de la Sub-20 Intercontinental" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
20. Conmebol (7 July 2022). "Calendario de torneos de la CONMEBOL 2023" (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2022.
21. "UEFA and CONMEBOL launch Club Challenge between winners of UEFA Europa League and CONMEBOL Sudamericana". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
22. "El UEFA CONMEBOL Desafío de Clubes 2023: Todo lo que necesitas saber" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.