David Kogan named a chair of UK’s Independent Football Regulator
October 7 – The UK government has appointed David Hogan as the first chair of English football’s new independent regulator.
Author: Andy Elliott
NWSL newcomers Denver Summit hire Legends Global to expand brand
October 7 – When building a franchise from the ground up, expertise is needed on and off the pitch. Denver Summit FC, the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) newest expansion team, has taken the steps of bringing in commercial outfit Legends Global to oversee their business operations.
WSL Football hires banking giant Goldman Sachs to explore economic opportunities
October 7 – WSL Football, the governor of the FA Women’s Super League (WSL) and WSL2, is close to hiring banking giant Goldman Sachs to evaluate opportunities for raising new funding.
Fulham’s Craven Cottage to host major events inside Riverside Stand
October 7 – Football stadiums in England are swiftly becoming vibrant multi-use facilities rather than a bi-monthly place of worship by the club’s supporters.
FSS cancels public ticket sale for Serbia-Albania meeting in Leskovac
October 7 – The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) has announced that no tickets will be available for public sale for the upcoming football match between Serbia and Albania on October 11 at the Dubočica Stadium in Leskovac.
PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners purchase EA Sports in $55bn deal
October 2 – EA Sports, the studio behind the newly-released EA Sports FC26 video game, has been sold in a $55bn deal to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.
CBF confirms shake-up of domestic Brazilian calendar to accommodate 2026 World Cup
October 2 – In a major overhaul, Brazil’s domestic top-flight calendar will run from January to December next year, the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) confirmed on Wednesday.
Strasbourg lead way for youth development
October 2 – Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg have emerged as one of the youngest professional sides in world football this season, with CIES Football Observatory data highlighting how the club is essentially functioning as an extension of sister club Chelsea’s academy pipeline.
Northern Super League secures new partnership with YouTube Canada
October 2 – The Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s first professional women’s football league, has signed a new partnership with YouTube Canada which will broadcast live matches and deliver original content to grow its international fanbase.
Criticism of FIFA’s Aramco sponsorship amplifies ahead of 2026 World Cup
October 2 – Various rights groups have called out FIFA and other sporting governing bodies over their sponsorship deals with Saudi state oil company Aramco.
Kansas launches World Cup strategy aimed at small businesses
October 2 – Kansas City has a dream to become America’s soccer capital. From the rise of Sporting KC to the brand-new CPKC Stadium for the Kansas City Current, the city is a permanent fixture on the football map. Now, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup just months away, the organising committee is putting the pedal to the metal.
BBC secures Women’s Champions League rights
October 2 – The rise of women’s football in England has taken another step forward with the BBC joining the party by securing live broadcast rights to the UEFA Women’s Champions League until 2030.
Sleepless in Seattle: European World Cup followers face late kick-off times
October 2 – European fans tuning in to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada may need to adjust their sleep schedules with FIFA considering amended kick-off times to battle the searing North American summer heat.
Klopp: ‘Pay to play culture holding back US football’
October 2 – Money, according to Jürgen Klopp, is the great stumbling block holding American football back. Speaking to The Athletic in his new role as Head of Global Soccer for the Red Bull Group, the former Liverpool manager didn’t mince words.
Telefe, TV Pública secure World Cup rights in Argentina
October 2 – For months, there had been whispers in Buenos Aires that Argentinians might be left staring at a black screen when the 2026 World Cup rolls around. The prospect of Lionel Messi defending their title in North America without millions of fans at home able to follow the action on free-to-air TV at home was unthinkable.