September 17 – Following the results of a fan survey FIFA says a majority of supporters back the world federation’s much-criticised plans to introduce a biennial World Cup, but on closer scrutiny that majority is rather a thin claim to stake.
September 17 – The war of words between FIFA and UEFA over the growing possibility of staging the World Cup every two years has taken a significant twist with UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin demanding a face-to-face summit with his FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino.
September 16 – Belgium remain top of the FIFA world ranking with Brazil a close second and England a newcomer on the podium, moving into third, following matches played in September’s international window.
September 15 – Players’ union FIFPRO has again said that any change to the international match calendar – and principally the introduction of a biennial World Cup – must put players and their workload at the centre of any decision-making.
September 15 – Ricardo Teixeira’s life ban from football has been upheld after the Court of Arbitration (CAS) dismissed his attempt to overturn it on appeal.
September 15 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has declared itself open-minded over the proposal of a biennial World Cup, seeking to support the “best interests of football”.
September 14 – South Africa has expressed interest in hosting the Club World Cup after Japan relinquished the hosting rights because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
September 24 – Concacaf has said that it “recognises the merits” of FIFA’s plan to create a new international match calendar – which would include a biennial World Cup – and that it will look at the proposals with an “open mind” and “positive engagement”.
September 14 – Caribbean Football Union (CFU) President Randy Harris has backed FIFA’s plans for a biennial World Cup, arguing that it would offer more “high-quality playing opportunities” for his member associations.
By Samindra Kunti
September 13 – South American confederation Conmebol has come out against plans for a biennial World Cup, joining UEFA as a critic and powerful opponent of FIFA’s dramatic proposal to overhaul the international match calendar.
September 13 – With transferred players bedding themselves into their new clubs for the coming season, FIFA has published its International Transfer Snapshot (June – August 2021), that looks at player transfer activity during the last transfer window.
September 13 – On Sunday, Fabinho was among the stars in Liverpool’s impressive 3-0 away victory at Leeds United. The Brazilian, alongside his compatriot Allison and other South American players, was eventually cleared to feature for his club in this weekend’s Premier League matches after football associations from South and Central America dropped their demand that FIFA impose the five-day rule.
September 13 – Olympic powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, once a major player at FIFA, has been sentenced to at least 13 months in prison after being found guilty of forgery.
September 10 – The host city selection process for the 2026 World Cup moves on a stage next week with FIFA beginning its inspection visits September 15-23.
By Samindra Kunti
September 10 – FIFA don’t do dissent, at least not when it comes to what it purports will be the ‘Football of Tomorrow’, the introduction of a biennial World Cup. In Doha, the world federation’s ultimate salesman Arsene Wenger rolled out plans for the tournament and a slate of legends nodded obediently in approval of what would be a dramatic overhaul of the match calendar.
