Novibet breaks Fortaleza sponsorship record with 2-season kit deal
March 17 – Fortaleza Esporte Clube has unveiled online bookmaker Novibet as the team’s main sponsor in a two-year deal starting this season.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Infantino points finger at a sceptical media who aren’t singing the company song
By Andrew Warshaw
March 16 – No sooner had he been re-elected FIFA president for another four years than Gianni Infantino indulged in yet another unexpected monologue today, this time defending his organisation’s global standing and, more tellingly, his own personal reputation.
FIFA’s members dutifully get with the programme and applaud Infantino to third term
By Samindra Kunti in Kigali, Rwanda
March 16 – Gianni Infantino has been re-elected FIFA president by acclamation for a four-year term until 2027. Football’s boss has also cleared a path that could see him seek to stay in power until 2031.
Infantino puts his ‘best ever’ FIFA foot forward in Congress address and promises a new video game
By Samindra Kunti in Kigali
March 16 – With FIFA’s wealth at an all-time high and his power base consolidated, FIFA president Gianni Infantino called on “unity” in the football family with the world federation in a “strong” and “stable” position, having “regained the trust of sponsors and institutions”.
Uzbekistan and Iraq win penalty shoot outs to set up AFC U20 Asian Cup final
March 16 – It took penalty shoot-outs for both hosts Uzbekistan and Iraq to overcome South Korea and Japan to qualify for the finals of then AFC U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan.
FIFA talent development scheme targets building academy in every country worldwide by 2026
March 16 – Speaking at the FIFA Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, FIFA’s chief of global development Arsene Wenger outlined plans for FIFA to create a youth development academy in every country of the world by 2026.
LaLiga accuses FIFA of ‘malpractise’ and ‘disregard’ for professional football worldwide
March 16 – Spain’s La Liga has thrown the book at FIFA for overhauling the international match calendar without sufficient consultation, in particular expanding the Club World Cup from seven to 32 teams from 2025.
European and World Leagues bodies slam FIFA for lack of consultation on match calendar
March 16 – The umbrella body representing all of Europe’s major leagues has slammed FIFA for acting “unilaterally” in introducing a new 32-team Club World Cup and playing 104 matches – 40 more than in the past and including a new round-of-32 stage – when the World Cup is expanded to 48 nations in 2026.
Real Madrid beat Liverpool again as UCL quarter finals take shape
March 16 – Holders Real Madrid cruised into the Champions League quarterfinals as French superstar Karim Benzema’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 win over Liverpool in their last-16 second leg tie that wrapped up a 6-2 aggregate victory.
FC Bayern and LAFC form j/v business to develop and sell players
March 16 – German champions Bayern Munich have formed a partnership with Major League Soccer champions LAFC to identify and develop young talent for their own teams but also for the international market.
Conmebol adds TCL as Copa Libertadores sponsor for 2023-26 cycle
March 16 – Consumer electronics brand TCL, has become an official sponsor of Conmebol’s Copa Libertadores club competition for the 2023-2026 cycle.
Morocco join Iberian bid in power play for 2030 World Cup hosting
By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
March 15 – After no fewer than five failures, an unenviable record, Morocco believe they have finally found a way to stage the World Cup.
FIFA Council agrees four team 2026 group stage, boosting total World Cup matches to 104
By Samindra Kunti in Kigali, Rwanda
March 15 – The World Cup will never be quite the same again. FIFA and its council decided that the global finals must be seemingly endless, the 48-team finals have now grown into a group stage of four teams and a tournament of 104 matches, eight to reach the final. In all the competition will last six, or seven days longer.
Scotiabank renews Concacaf commitment with CCL title deal and raft of championships
March 14 – Scotiabank have renewed its long term sponsorship of Concacaf’s major events, including the title sponsorship of the Champions League which is currently at the round of 16 knock out stage for the 2023 edition and in the final year of its current format before expansion in 2024.
Sarney claims ‘betrayal’ as Rodrigues takes his FIFA Council seat
March 15 – The Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues has ousted long-standing FIFA Council member Fernando Sarney (also Brazilian) as a South American representative on the world federation’s top body.