All articles tagged with #worldcup
AFC president Sheikh Salman criticized FIFA’s plan to spin off a $20 billion World Cup subsidiary selling stakes to private investors, calling it 'totally unacceptable' for its lack of consultation and potential to undermine continental football; he urged member associations to wait for further governance reviews and broader consultations before deciding.
The European Union and UEFA criticized FIFA’s plan to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup and offer up to 20% stakes to external investors, warning it could undermine the sport and clash with EU law. FIFA says the capital would fund football development and investors would hold minority stakes, with proceeds reinvested. Reactions range from possible boycotts and concerns about due process to calls for careful scrutiny by regulators.
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee demand documents and a transcribed interview from FIFA president Gianni Infantino by Aug. 9, detailing ties with Donald Trump—including gifts and Trump Tower logs—as part of ongoing scrutiny of FIFA governance and World Cup-related actions.
Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Marc Cucurella are named in the fan-voted 2026 World Cup Dream XI, with Real Madrid having the most players on the lineup and the trio poised to lead the club next season.
FIFA has launched a disciplinary probe into post-match incidents after Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time in New Jersey, with Leandro Paredes seen shoving Eric Garcia and a melee breaking out among players from both sides; a Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor has been appointed to review possible breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and a findings report will be released when the investigation concludes.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal to give La Roja their second World Cup title. Jubilant celebrations spread across Spain, including Castelldefels, where a large Argentinian expatriate community and Messi’s enduring association with the area colored the post-match scene.
Celebrities from music, film and sports flocked to the New York/New Jersey Stadium to watch Spain face Argentina in the FIFA World Cup Final 2026, with a star-studded crowd including Beyoncé, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Hudson, Shakira, Victoria and David Beckham, Madonna and many more.
Messi and Lamine Yamal, who both wore the same number in their World Cup debuts, are now slated to meet in the FIFA World Cup Final.
England manager Thomas Tuchel reportedly delivered a blunt dressing-room assessment after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, shocking senior players who felt his critique undervalued his own tactical decisions. The FA plans a standard post-tournament review and remains committed to him through 2028, with a focus on repairing relationships in the dressing room ahead of Euro 2028.
At a Trump Tower event, Donald Trump praised FIFA president Gianni Infantino for suspending Balogun's one-game ban after Trump pressed for a review, while also criticizing England's defensive use of Kane and discussing potential expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams for 2030; the remarks highlighted ongoing controversy over alleged political influence in football as Infantino lauded the tournament's success and floated future bids, including a possible US-China bid for the next edition.
NFL players led by Caleb Williams and Cam Heyward are pushing to replace turf with natural grass in NFL stadiums, citing a World Cup experiment in which seven of 15 grass-capable venues used temporary grass. The NFLPA says players prefer grass, while the NFL notes similar injury rates on grass and turf in 2025 and highlights venue maintenance and event scheduling challenges. Examples like Hard Rock Stadium’s sod-farm grass production and Bernabéu’s underground greenhouse illustrate potential approaches, with grass-shift discussions likely to surface in talks ahead of the 2031 season as part of the current CBA through 2030.
Argentine President Javier Milei says Argentina is getting closer to reclaiming sovereignty over the Falklands after a World Cup victory banner sparked a diplomatic row; FIFA is reviewing potential disciplinary action over the banner, while Milei defended the players and emphasized pursuing the claim through diplomatic channels.
Alexi Lalas discusses the forthcoming France vs England third-place game, highlighting what to watch and why the match matters.
The White House says Donald Trump will attend Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey. FIFA president Gianni Infantino reiterated that the host-country president and the FIFA president will jointly present the trophy, following a tradition. Trump has previously lobbied FIFA over a red-card suspension in the tournament, and he is slated to attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City on Friday as part of the build-up to the event.
British ministers urged FIFA to investigate Argentina after players displayed a banner reading 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' ('The Falklands are Argentinian') following Argentina's 2-1 semifinal win over England, arguing it violates FIFA rules banning political symbols; Downing Street backed the call, while FIFA had not commented; the incident sits within the long-running Falklands dispute dating back to 1982 and renewed tensions over a British warship near the islands.