FIFA

FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour has left the organisation, just weeks after publicly criticising President Gianni Infantino’s controversial proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments. FIFA confirmed that Lamour’s working relationship with the governing body ended on August 17, 2026, without providing further details. Lamour Leaves FIFA After Criticising Infantino Plan Lamour joined FIFA’s senior leadership team in November 2024 after previously being part of Infantino’s campaign team during his successful presidential bid

Qatar and Morocco are among six Arab football associations that have publicly expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, despite growing criticism of his leadership following the collapse of a controversial private investment proposal. Six Arab Federations Express Support The football associations of Qatar, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan and Mauritania issued a joint statement backing Infantino and reaffirming their confidence in his leadership. The statement highlighted the role of Arab football in strengthening cooperation and bringing communities together, while praising Infantino's efforts to

Casablanca: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reportedly offered Morocco the opportunity to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in exchange for political backing as he battles growing opposition ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election, according to multiple media reports. The reports emerged as Infantino travelled to Morocco for a series of meetings with FIFA officials and African football leaders following the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell a stake in FIFA's future commercial revenues. The failed plan has triggered criticism

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to hold a crisis meeting with senior FIFA officials in Morocco as pressure mounts following the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell part of FIFA's commercial rights. The failed plan has triggered widespread criticism from football governing bodies and cast uncertainty over his bid for a fourth term as FIFA president. Crisis Meeting in Morocco Infantino will meet top FIFA officials on Wednesday at the organisation's Africa office in Sale, Morocco, as he seeks to stabilise

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting criticism after his proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of FIFA events, including the FIFA World Cup, was withdrawn following widespread opposition from regional football confederations. The backlash has prompted UEFA and CONCACAF to publicly question Infantino's leadership, raising concerns over governance, transparency and the future direction of world football. Controversial World Cup Rights Proposal Withdrawn The controversy centred on FIFA's reported $4.2 billion proposal to sell stakes in a new commercial entity

European football's governing body, UEFA, has warned that it will boycott the FIFA World Cup if FIFA proceeds with plans to allow private investors to acquire stakes in a new commercial entity overseeing its major competitions. In a strongly worded statement, UEFA said the World Cup "is not for sale" and insisted that football's governance should never be influenced by private investment. UEFA Warns of World Cup Boycott UEFA stated that no UEFA national teams would participate in any FIFA competition if the

FIFA has announced disciplinary charges against three members of Argentina's national team following the heated conclusion of the FIFA World Cup final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time. Midfielder Leandro Paredes, defender Nahuel Molina, and assistant coach Roberto Ayala are facing assault-related allegations stemming from incidents that occurred after the final whistle. Assault Allegations Against Argentina Trio According to FIFA: Ayala later apologized for the incident but claimed he reacted to something Olmo

FIFA has announced plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), valued at $20 billion, in a move aimed at expanding football's commercial growth while continuing to invest in the sport worldwide. The proposal will be presented to FIFA's 211 Member Associations and the FIFA Council for approval. According to FIFA, FFE will consolidate the organization's commercial and event-related operations, while FIFA will retain full control over football governance, competitions, regulations, and the international match calendar. The governing body

The first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup has only just concluded, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino has already acknowledged that the tournament could one day expand to 64 teams. Speaking to Swiss television during the tournament, Infantino said the proposal is one of several ideas that could be explored after the competition, reigniting debate over the future size of football’s biggest event. Bigger Tournament, Bigger Financial Impact A 64-team World Cup would have major financial implications for global football. Making qualification easier for more

FIFA has stepped in to defend referee Raphael Claus after President Donald Trump questioned his integrity. Trump made the remark following Claus's decision to send off USA forward Folarin Balogun. The incident happened during the USA's World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week. Trump called Claus "a little bit suspect" while speaking at the White House on Monday. He did not explain what he meant by the comment. Trump reportedly pushed FIFA directly to ensure Balogun could still play. Balogun featured in the

The United States' FIFA World Cup campaign has been thrust into controversy after FIFA suspended the automatic one-match ban on striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play against Belgium in Monday's Round of 16 clash. The decision came after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the red-card incident, sparking global debate over politics and football. The unprecedented move quickly became one of the tournament's biggest talking points, with fans, pundits, and football officials questioning whether FIFA had

FIFA has confirmed that fans will be allowed to bring rainbow flags to the FIFA World Cup Group G match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, despite objections from both participating nations. The fixture, scheduled during Pride weekend, has been designated as Seattle's "Pride Match" by the city's local organising committee, sparking debate ahead of kickoff. The controversy emerged after the World Cup draw paired Egypt and Iran for the Seattle fixture. Both Muslim-majority nations expressed concerns over the Pride-related branding. Egypt's Football

Beckenbauer: Football's Eternal Kaiser ,The Bundesliga is in deep mourning as it bids farewell to one of football's all-time greats, Franz Beckenbauer, who passed away at the age of 78. Known as "Der Kaiser," Beckenbauer left an indelible mark on German football, winning the FIFA World Cup and European Championships with Germany, claiming four Bundesliga titles, and securing three European Cups with Bayern Munich. His legacy extended beyond playing, as he achieved success as a coach, guiding both Bayern Munich and the German

As the global football community eagerly anticipates the arrival of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a wave of excitement and anticipation sweeps across nations. The tournament promises to be a spectacle of dreams, uniting fans from diverse corners of the world in a celebration of the beautiful game. In this exploration, we delve into the myriad reasons that make the FIFA World Cup 2026 a tournament of dreams, shaping up to be a

FIFA’s choice of Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima as its first global fan ambassador five months before the Women’s World Cup was described Tuesday as “tone deaf” by the former leader of the soccer body’s task force for women’s soccer. Lima’s appointment to “develop, promote and participate in several global initiatives” was announced by FIFA on Monday hours before the former Victoria’s Secret runway model helped present the fan prize in Paris at its annual award ceremony. “Seriously, FIFA, is this the fan engagement

Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the 2023 Club World Cup in December, FIFA announced on Tuesday. The FIFA Council unanimously voted for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to stage the event, which includes the six continental champions plus the host's national champions. The tournament will take place from Dec. 12-22. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia was selected by the Asian Football Confederation to host the 2027 Asian Cup. The country has previously hosted sporting events including this year's Spanish Super Cup,

World governing body FIFA has told India's football association to complete changes to its constitution and elect new office bearers by Sept. 15 to avoid being banned, officials said. India's highest court disbanded the All India Football Federation (AIFF) executive committee last month after it failed to hold elections on time and amend its regulations in line with rules stipulated by the national sports code. The court then appointed a three-member committee to run the body, amend the AIFF's constitution and conduct elections

Amnesty International and other rights groups have called on FIFA to set aside $440 million to compensate migrant workers in Qatar for "human rights abuses" during preparations for the 2022 World Cup. In a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the groups said world soccer's governing body should also work with the host nation to protect the rights of migrant workers in the future. "To remedy the litany of abuses committed since 2010, when FIFA awarded hosting rights to Qatar without requiring any

La'eeb is an Arabic word meaning super-skilled player, and he will be welcoming the world, inspiring young fans and cheering the action during the tournament, which will take place from November 21 to December 18 La’eeb, the official mascot of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar is playful, adventurous and curious. Sporting the flowing Qatari national dress, the mascot seems to be trying to stop a football in the air in the illustration released by FIFA and the tournament organising body —

Premier League: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he is not concerned about the 'best team' tag despite looking set to win another league title this season. Manchester City are runaway leaders at the top of the Premier League table but manager Pep Guardiola believes the Premier League side are not the best team in the world. City hammered Brentford 2-0 on Thursday in their league game at home to get to 60 points in 24 matches, extending the lead at the top