Gianni Infantino has issued a rare public apology for the controversial proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Despite the immense backlash that forced a total U-turn on the project, the embattled chief has managed to retain his position following crisis meetings in Morocco.
Gianni Infantino is set to remain in post as FIFA president despite facing unprecedented internal backlash and growing pressure to resign. Following marathon crisis talks with senior staff in Morocco on Wednesday, Infantino believes he retains sufficient political support across South America, Africa and Asia to weather the storm and resist mounting calls for his immediate departure from office.
Under immense pressure, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has allegedly promised Morocco the right to host the 2030 World Cup final. The embattled chief is desperately seeking their public endorsement amid severe backlash and growing calls for his immediate resignation following his collapsed plan to sell off stakes in the tournament to private investors.
Luis Figo has launched a blistering attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, demanding his immediate resignation over a devious plot to sell the World Cup to private investors. The Portugal great heavily criticised the controversial leader in a scathing open letter, describing his actions as incredibly deceitful and accusing him of destroying football's overall reputation.
Gianni Infantino is desperately fighting to save his presidency after reportedly calling a high-stakes crisis meeting in Morocco to address an unprecedented internal revolt. The FIFA chief has seen his authority crumble following the collapse of a controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Gianni Infantino is facing explosive allegations of blackmail from the head of the Jordan Football Association as his grip on the FIFA presidency continues to weaken. The stunning claims arrive just days after the Swiss administrator was forced into a humiliating retreat over plans to sell off billion-dollar stakes in the World Cup.
UEFA has reportedly launched a scathing legal offensive against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, warning the embattled chief not to destroy any documents related to his failed plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup. The European governing body has issued formal notice that it is considering lawsuits and regulatory complaints following the collapse of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme.
Gianni Infantino is facing the most significant threat to his decade-long reign as FIFA president after a botched attempt to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup sparked a global backlash. European governing body UEFA is now reportedly moving at pace to find a way to remove the Swiss official from power following a policy collapse.
The NWSL is reportedly planning to begin its 2027 season on Feb. 11, the earliest opening day in league history, before pausing for the World Cup in Brazil, according to The Athletic. Teams would begin preseason in January, while the playoffs and championship would remain in November, with the altered calendar designed to accommodate the June 24-July 25 tournament in South America.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has abandoned his controversial proposal to sell a stake in the commercial operation of the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors after a fierce global backlash, a threatened UEFA boycott and open revolt from senior officials inside the governing body. His own future is now reportedly in serious doubt.
CONCACAF is the latest confederation to come out against FIFA's shock plan to sell off part of its commercial rights to private investors. The confederation, which covers 41 football associations in North and Central America, released a statement Thursday afternoon saying they had 'rejected' the plan. Their move comes hours after UEFA boycotted FIFA competitions.
UEFA has asserted that its 55 member associations will not participate in FIFA competitions as long as Gianni Infantino's shock plan to sell off parts of World Cup rights to private investors exists. Their emphatic move comes after a series of statements and mixed reactions from football federations around the world - who were reportedly kept in the dark as to FIFA's decision-making.
Paris Saint-Germain chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi has reportedly rejected calls from UEFA to launch a bid for the FIFA presidency. Despite growing friction between European football's governing body and Gianni Infantino over a controversial World Cup project, Al-Khelaifi is not looking to move into the top job in world football.
World football is standing on the precipice of a civil war as FIFPRO Europe joins a growing revolt against FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The players’ union has formally condemned a radical proposal to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors, warning it could destroy the integrity of the sport.
Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has launched a scathing attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, expressing his disgust at proposals to involve private investors in the World Cup. The outspoken Bavarian chief suggested that the global governing body has lost its way, prioritising commercial gain over the integrity of the sport.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has presented member federations with a massive financial incentive to approve his controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. The 211 associations face a strict September 19 deadline to accept the proposal, which has already sparked severe backlash from major European governing bodies.
FIFA has confirmed it is exploring a proposal to create a $20 billion company that would combine commercial rights and event operations across its men's, women's and youth tournaments. The new entity would sell minority stakes to private investors while, FIFA says, leaving control of competitions, governance and the international match calendar with soccer's global governing body.
England will face Greece in the first round of Women's World Cup qualifying play-offs in October, having failed to secure direct entry into next summer's tournament. Defeat to Spain in June proved extremely costly for the Lionesses, allowing the world champions to top the qualifying group instead, and now Sarina Wiegman's side must navigate two rounds of two-legged play-offs instead, starting against Greece.
GOAL tracks all the qualification campaigns for the 2027 Women's World Cup, breaking down which teams have qualified and which nations could soon join them
England's Lionesses have always had great goalscorers. Even before the team was the major contender it is now, winning back-to-back European Championships under Sarina Wiegman and reaching a first Women's World Cup final, they could boast some incredible attacking talent, with Arsenal icon Kelly Smith, widely considered the Lionesses' greatest ever player, a prime example.
It was all there for England on Friday, as they faced Spain in Mallorca with automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup on the line. Avoid defeat and the Lionesses would punch their ticket to Brazil, forcing one of their biggest rivals for next summer’s title to have to navigate the play-offs. It was a huge opportunity, but one they spurned in incredible circumstances, suffering a 4-0 loss that stands out as the biggest for this team under Sarina Wiegman.
England women's national team has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, winning the European Championships in 2022 and 2025 while also reaching the 2023 Women's World Cup final, and those involved in those successes in Sarina Wiegman's side are now starting to creep into the record books when it comes to caps, as well as trophies.
A quick scroll through the Spain squad to face England in a crucial Women's World Cup qualifier on Friday and there is one team represented more than any other: Barcelona. Eleven of the 25 names selected by Sonia Bermudez are based in Catalunya, with La Roja able to tap into that familiarity in a very impactful way over the years. But a lot is going to change at Barca this summer.
England have received a significant injury boost ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifier against Spain, with Sarina Wiegman confirming that Lauren James is fit and ready to feature. The Lionesses travel to Mallorca knowing that avoiding defeat will officially punch their ticket to the 2027 tournament in Brazil with over a year to spare.
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