The team proposing an alternative European soccer league has resurfaced with a new initiative. This time, they’ve named the tournament the Unify League. The brainchild of A22 Sports Management, based in Madrid, the aim is to reshape the landscape of elite soccer by introducing a competing format to the UEFA Champions League and other UEFA events.
This fresh proposal comes almost four years after the original attempt to establish a European Super League, which was initially perceived as ambitious but quickly fell apart. The journey towards a separate league has been turbulent, and the pathway to realization remains uncertain, if not implausible.
The initial concept of the Super League emerged dramatically one Sunday night in April 2021 when a dozen top clubs in Europe shook the football world by announcing their intention to form a breakaway league that would have replaced the Champions League. The 12 founding teams included notable clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and others, envisioning a 20-team competition that would largely be closed off with 15 teams guaranteed protection from relegation. The plan, however, dissolved within 48 hours, largely due to the withdrawal of the six English clubs, who faced intense backlash from fans and the government alike, prompting three additional teams to exit shortly thereafter.
However, the notion of a breakaway league never fully disappeared. Clubs like Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus continued to persist in private discussions, albeit in a somewhat diminished capacity after Juventus stepped back in mid-2023. Nonetheless, the Spanish clubs celebrated a legal victory in December of that year when a European Union court ruled against UEFA and FIFA for obstructing plans for the breakaway competition, claiming it violated EU law. This legal backing fueled A22’s initiative to reintroduce these ideas with new competitions aimed at capturing a younger audience.
The latest proposal, the Unify League, has been presented to UEFA and FIFA for their endorsement. A22’s plan involves creating a midweek competition featuring 96 men’s teams organized into four divisions—Star, Gold, Blue, and Union—and an additional 32 women’s teams split across two leagues—Star and Gold. Each league would narrow down to knockout stages featuring eight teams, with all participants guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season. Qualifying for the competitions won’t be automatic; rather, it will be determined by teams’ performances in their domestic leagues. A notable aspect of this new format would be the option of free streaming for these matches via a dedicated “Unify” platform, aiming to enhance the connection between clubs and their global supporters while simplifying the viewing process. Furthermore, there would also be a premium ad-free subscription version. If approved, clubs would have the opportunity to choose between the traditional UEFA tournaments or the newcomer.
Despite these grand ambitions, the response thus far has been largely negative. None of the significant clubs have publicly supported the Unify League, raising questions about its viability. A22 indicated that they based their plans on discussions with various stakeholders but did not elaborate on who engaged in those talks. Notably, even the Spanish powerhouses like Barcelona and Madrid have remained silent, and La Liga issued a critical statement, arguing that the proposal threatens the very governance of European football and could undermine the economic stability of national leagues. The league further doubted the support of clubs, federations, players, and fans, echoing skepticism toward the league.
The likelihood of success for the Unify League appears slim at this juncture, particularly in light of the backlash from the initial Super League attempt. There is a palpable unwillingness among clubs, especially in England, where the Premier League has firmly rejected any notions of a breakaway league, emphasizing that clubs should focus solely on its established formats. Moreover, a forthcoming government bill in the U.K. could prohibit English teams from participating in any new competitive endeavors of that nature. Financial aspects regarding the funding of the Unify League are still unclear, and the current proposal emerges at a time when the balance of power in European football is shifting. With UEFA’s revamped Champions League and FIFA’s newly established Club World Cup, which has substantial backing from Saudi Arabia, the climate of discontent that existed four years ago is lessened. Nevertheless, A22 is hopeful that its modifications meet UEFA’s authorization requirements and believes club support will materialize once the Unify League is officially recognized, with co-founder John Hahn expressing that such support naturally follows official endorsement.