UEFA is holding talks with CONCACAF to expand the Nations League to include non-European teams from 2028, escalating pressure on embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign.
The negotiations between European football's governing body and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America plus the Caribbean, could see Scotland and other European nations play against teams from outside Europe in the 2028-29 tournament format.
The Asian Football Confederation is also believed to be involved in early discussions with a view to joining the expanded competition at a later point.
UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, created the Nations League in 2018 as a biennial tournament for European national teams. Expanding the competition to other continental confederations represents a major strategic shift in international football governance.
The negotiations are the latest example of UEFA and CONCACAF working together to try to undermine Infantino in the wake of his failed attempt to sell off equity in the World Cup to private investors.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani, the head of CONCACAF, are understood to want the Swiss administrator to resign rather than challenge for re-election next year.
Infantino, who has been in the post since 2016, will seek another term in office when voting takes place in Morocco on March 18. He requires 106 out of FIFA's 211 member associations to vote for him.
Although Montagliani has been mentioned as a possible opponent, no alternative candidate has yet thrown their hat into the ring.
Infantino is not yet certain of getting a third term, with Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland among the nations confirming that they will no longer back him.
Scottish FA aligns with European opposition
Last week, chief executive Ian Maxwell confirmed the Scottish Football Association's position following discussions among European football leaders.
Maxwell said: "The position of the SFA has been clear since the 55 UEFA associations met. We have aligned ourselves with the UEFA position and 55 nations are stronger than one voice."
"Their statement since then has talked about a lack of confidence in the FIFA leadership and the Scottish FA agree completely with that decision," Maxwell added. "The SFA will not be voting for Gianni Infantino come the re-election in early 2027."
UEFA's member associations were instrumental in Infantino binning his plan after they threatened to boycott the World Cup.
New Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli could lead the national team into the expanded Nations League if the proposed tournament changes take effect.
Ethics request and Caribbean campaigning
Maxwell's remarks came as FairSquare, a non-profit organisation which campaigns for accountability in sport, wrote to FIFA's governance, audit and compliance committee requesting that Infantino be ruled ineligible to run again for the presidency.
Infantino is expected to attend a youth football event in the Dominican Republic this weekend, which would give him an opportunity to try to shore up support among CONCACAF's Caribbean nations.
Some Caribbean nations have already publicly expressed their support, including St Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda. It is believed there was a longstanding invitation for Infantino to attend, sent prior to the emergence of the private investor scandal.
Fan groups demand FIFA overhaul
Meanwhile, Tartan Army chiefs have backed a worldwide petition calling for Infantino to quit.
The Association of Tartan Army Clubs have joined a collection of fan bases around the world calling for him to resign and for FIFA to be restructured. The fan groups include Football Supporters Europe, Football Supporters Africa and the Independent Supporters Council of North America.
An ATAC spokesman said: "Infantino has to go if FIFA wants to retain any credibility in the world of football. He went rogue when he was trying to do shady backroom deals with unscrupulous chancers to sell off something that does not belong to him."
"Once he is away, the governance at FIFA needs to be overhauled to make sure that any future president cannot abuse the position again," the spokesman added.
The petition, labelled "InfantinOut", calls for FIFA "to be rebuilt so that the current debacle can never happen again." It states: "The shameful attempt by one individual - the FIFA President himself - to sell off the World Cup to private investors exposed a betrayal football will never forget."
