UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin's decision to skip the World Cup final highlighted deep tensions between UEFA and FIFA.The rift stems from disputes over disciplinary protocols, referee appointments, and tournament management.

FIFA's suspension of US player Folarin Balogun after a red card sparked UEFA's strong condemnation, calling it an interference with established rules.Somali referee Omar Artan's denied entry to the US further strained relations, prompting UEFA to assign him to the UEFA Super Cup.Concerns also arose over FIFA's handling of geopolitical issues involving Iran and operational changes like extended halftime breaks.Despite the controversies, Spain won the tournament against Argentina.The conflict underscores growing governance challenges in international football.