Inside World Football - For the Business of Football

Gold Cup 2025

USA clinch last four slot with penalty win over Costa Rica

USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)

June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,

Guatemala dump man-down Canada in penalty shoot-out

Mexico find the way to San Jose despite Saudi road blocks

Honduras stun Panama with penalty shoot-out win for spot in semi-finals

Gold Cup’s breakthrough strikers make case for Golden Boot and glory

Panama-Honduras in Glendale and Canada-Guatemala in Minnesota complete Gold Cup quarter final line-up

News

Fixtures

Match previews

Match reports

Stadiums

Teams

Vancouver offers to host more World Cup games if US politics and extreme weather is too hot to handle

June 1 – Canadian province British Columbia has written to FIFA offering to take on more games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer if a number of US cities currently scheduled to host are deemed inappropriate and dangerous to player and spectator health following the extreme heat conditions that have plagued the current Club World Cup.

Vancouver’s B.C. Place Stadium is scheduled to host seven matches, including two of Canada’s group games and two knockout games.

Club World Cup 2025

Late to the job site, Home Depot joins Club World Cup sponsor roster

June 30 – Despite the Club World Cup having completed its group stage and entered the last 16 knockout, FIFA has announced another sponsor partner in home improvement retailer The Home Depot, which becomes an Official Partner in North America.

Finance

Aston Villa to offload women’s team to V Sports parent

June 30 – Aston Villa are to sell their women’s team to V Sports, the club’s parent company, in a move designed to help comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR). The deal, while undisclosed in value, is expected to ease the financial strain that has impacted Villa in recent transfer windows.

FIFA

Qatar ponders 2029 CWC hosting bid. Spain, Morocco and Brazil declared

June 30 – Qatar is considering a bid to stage the 2029 Club World Cup.

Europe

UEFA launches joint study into impact of increased player workload

June 29 – With the Club World Cup now in the last 16 stages and European clubs dominating, UEFA, supported by the European Club Association, European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe, has launched a “scientific and data-driven” study into player workload and welfare.

Transport cuts could impact fans at World Cup 2026 in the City of Brotherly Love

June 30 – Major cuts to Philadelphia’s transit system have prompted concerns over the city’s readiness to host matches during the 2026 World Cup.

Club World Cup 2025

Klopp tears into FIFA’s Club World Cup expansion

June 20 – Jürgen Klopp has never been one to mince words, and the former Liverpool manager’s latest assessment of FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup is typically brutal.

Europe

Liga Portugal agrees €31.8m budget as Arena Liga Portugal comes on-line

June 28 – The Portuguese league – Liga Portugal – has approved a budget for the next season which forecasts record revenue of €31.8 million.

Competitions

England retain European U21 title with extra time win over Germany

June 30 – Marseilles winger Jonathan Rowe came off the bench a minute into extra time to fire England to a second successive Uefa U21 Euro crown after a 3-2 victory over Germany in Bratislava – a result that could put a few players in the frame for 2026 World Cup selection.

Club World Cup 2025

Bayern cruise past Flamengo to set up PSG clash

June 30 – Germany’s Bayern Munich cruised past Flamengo 4-2 to reach the last eight of the Club World Cup and eliminated the Brazilians.

Club World Cup 2025

Maresca slams Club World Cup weather chaos

June 30 – Enzo Maresca didn’t hold back after Chelsea’s dramatic 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica in the Club World Cup round of 16 – and his target wasn’t the Portuguese side.

West Ham extend Jeton finance app sponsorship

June 30 – West Ham United have announced a multi-year extension to their 5-year partnership with Jeton, which will see the brand continue as its Official Unified Finance App partner.

Finance

Zingarevich hands Botev Plovidv share and €3.5m of debt to Ilian Filipov

June 30 – Bulgaria’s Botev Plovdiv has a new owner! The former benefactor of Bulgaria’s oldest club, Anton Zingarevich, has officially stepped down from power after transferring all his shares to minority owner, the Botev Plovdiv Association.

Europe

Greeks plan a football ‘Renaissance’ from grassroots upwards

June 30 – The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) has unveiled it new grassroots development programme, dubbed ‘Renaissance’, aimed at nurturing young talent across Greece. The program emphasises a structured organisation of football academies and is set to usher in a new era for the sport in the country.

Gold Cup 2025

USA clinch last four slot with penalty win over Costa Rica

USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)

June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,