Controversial proposals to increase the size of the competition have won the backing of the game’s governing body, splitting opinion in the game FIFA has voted unanimously to expand the World Cup to a 48-team tournament in 2026. The new format, which will see the finals comprising 16 groups of three teams before a 32-team … Read more
The World Cup will be expanded to host 48 teams, up from 32, Fifa has decided. An initial stage of 16 groups of three teams will precede a knockout stage for the remaining 32 when the change is made for the 2026 tournament. The sport’s world governing body voted through the change at a meeting … Read more
Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez and their Barcelona team-mates will NOT be attending Monday’s FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards ceremony. Messi is one of three finalists for the ‘Best Player’ award, joining Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and favourite and current Ballon d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo on the shortlist. Neymar, Suarez and Andres Iniesta were named among … Read more
Fifa will vote on Tuesday on plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026, in line with the vision of president Gianni Infantino. The Swiss, who claims to have “overwhelming” support for the expansion plan, favours 16 groups of three countries, with the top two progressing to the knockout rounds. If successful, … Read more
Global football federations are “overwhelmingly in favour” of plans for a 48-team World Cup, Fifa president Gianni Infantino says. The head of football’s governing body outlined his vision for an expanded tournament comprising 16 groups of three teams earlier this month. The top two teams in each group would progress to the knockout rounds. A … Read more
Fifa is discussing whether to allow only captains to speak to referees, says former Netherlands striker and manager Marco van Basten. It would bring football in line with rugby union, which has strict rules around in-match communication. Van Basten, Fifa’s chief technical development officer, said there have been talks about how to improve player behaviour … Read more
FIFA has fined all four home nations for displaying poppies during World Cup qualifiers around Armistice Day. England and Scotland players wore armbands featuring the symbol when they met at Wembley on 11 November. Wales and Northern Ireland’s respective games featured displays on the pitch or in the stands to mark the event. England’s Football … Read more
Fifa has fined all four home nations for displaying poppies during World Cup qualifiers around Armistice Day. England and Scotland players wore armbands featuring the symbol when they met at Wembley on 11 November. Wales and Northern Ireland’s respective games featured displays on the pitch or in the stands to mark the event. England have … Read more
Using video replays to review decisions at the Club World Cup has produced “extremely positive results”, says Fifa president Gianni Infantino. The system was first used on Wednesday to award a penalty in Kashima Antlers’ 3-0 win over Atletico Nacional, with the referee alerted by his assistant. Marco van Basten, Fifa’s chief officer of technical … Read more
First Germany coach Joachim Low. Then Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. Now the organization that speaks for Europe’s biggest football clubs has rejected FIFA’s plan to expand the World Cup in 2026. The European Club Association said Thursday that the number of games played throughout the year was already at an “unacceptable” level, and urged … Read more
The organisation representing Europe’s leading clubs has rejected calls for the World Cup to be expanded. Earlier this month, Fifa president Gianni Infantino proposed a 48-team tournament consisting of 16 groups of three countries each. The European Club Association (ECA) say the number of games played in a year is already at an “unacceptable level”. … Read more
Referee Viktor Kassai made some soccer history on Wednesday, using video replay to award a penalty kick during the Club World Cup semifinals. Kashima Antlers midfielder Gaku Shibasaki sent in a free kick in the 31st minute, and teammate Daigo Nishi was then fouled inside the box by Atletico Nacional forward Orlando Berrio. After receiving … Read more
Ex-Fifa president Sepp Blatter has accused successor Gianni Infantino of disrespecting him and says the new head of world football does not answer his phone calls. The 80-year-old says he has met with Infantino to discuss “questions that should be solved” at Fifa. “[Infantino] said ‘I will work on that’ and he never came back,” … Read more
Dozens of coffins carrying those killed when a plane flying Brazil’s Chapecoense soccer team crashed into a Colombian mountain were loaded onto Brazilian air force planes for their final journey home on Friday. The disaster on Monday killed 71 people and shocked soccer fans the world over. The LAMIA Bolivia BAe146 airliner apparently ran out … Read more
FIFA’s decision to ban footballers from wearing poppies on the pitch is “utterly outrageous”, Theresa May has said. The Prime Minister lambasted football’s ruling body, saying that it should “get its own house in order” before telling the country’s footballers what to do. Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mrs May said: “I think the stance … Read more
Kwesi Nyantakyi and his FIFA Council colleagues ended their first meetings over two days on Friday. The new composition discussed a series of issues relating to the 2026 FIFA World Cup bidding process, women’s competitions, the FIFA Football Awards 2016, the venue for the 67th FIFA Congress and FIFA 2.0: The Vision for the Future … Read more
European countries will not be able to host the 2026 World Cup because of Fifa’s rotational policy. It means the previous two host confederations – Europe in 2018 and Asia in 2022 – are barred from bidding. The 2026 tournament could involve 40 or 48 nations after world governing body Fifa agreed to study in … Read more
Fifa has agreed to study options for expanding the World Cup to 40 or 48 teams for 2026 in greater detail, says council member Michel D’Hooghe. The proposals will be made at the football world governing body’s next meeting on 9 January 2017. “The feeling amongst the council is rather positive towards expansion,” said Fifa … Read more
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is the latest to join the millions who have sent in their condolences for departed Ghana football icon Osam Duodu who passed on last week. Below is the full letter the FIFA President sent to the Ghana Football Association. In memory of Fred Osam Duodu Dear President, Please accept my deepest … Read more
Newly-elected CAF representative Kwesi Nyantakyi will attend the first ever FIFA Council meeting in Zurich which starts today (Thursday) and ends tomorrow. Nyantakyi and 36 other influential persons including FIFA president Gianni Infantino will ratify decisions of the Bureau of the Council. They will be discussing key football issues including approving several programmes including a … Read more