UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin does not attend the World Cup final in protest, according to multiple outlets. The decision follows UEFA’s public criticism of FIFA over the handling of a disciplinary matter involving U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. UEFA argues the ruling related to Balogun’s eligibility is unjustified and has disputed FIFA’s approach, saying it is “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
Reporting also links the boycott to broader tensions between UEFA and FIFA during the tournament period, with some coverage framing the Balogun case as one element within a wider dispute between the organizations. The Mirror describes Ceferin’s absence as reflecting major concerns UEFA has about how FIFA manages decisions affecting teams and competition rules.
Across the sources, the central agreed point is that Ceferin’s non-attendance is directly tied to his dissatisfaction with FIFA’s decision to defer or adjust a ban connected to Balogun, and it is presented as a form of protest against FIFA’s governance during the 2026 World Cup.
