June 18 – In the most surreal moments of the Club World Cup to date (and there have been a few), FIFA president Gianni Infantino paraded players and management from the Juventus team at the White House while president US Donald Trump was in the midst of a press briefing where he was answering questions about whether the US would be engaging militarily in the Israel/Iran conflict.
June 18 – Javier Tebas is seemingly determined not to make FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s Christmas card list, as his criticisms of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup are becoming increasingly vitriolic. But here’s the thing – he might actually have a point.
June 18 – Brazilian star Neymar has confirmed that Fluminense approached him with a short-term offer to join the club for the Club World Cup.
June 18 – FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup is attracting more attention over the thousands of empty seats in stadia across the US than the football that is being played.
June 17 – FIFA has opted not to display any explicit anti-racism or anti-discrimination messaging at this summer’s expanded Club World Cup in the United States, a stark shift from previous tournaments and one that leaves the governing body out of step with regional counterparts like Concacaf, who are actively promoting anti-racism protocols at every match of the ongoing Gold Cup.
June 17 – FIFA has added online betting firm Betano as a regional sponsor for the Club World Cup, reigniting a previous partnership from the Qatar 2022 World Cup as the governing body ramps up commercial activity around its expanded and controversial club tournament, even after it has already begun.
June 17 – Just 72 hours into FIFA’s Club World Cup spectacle, players and fans across the United States are expressing concerns about the stifling heat that has been witnessed from Miami to Los Angeles.
June 16 – Bayern Munich fans protested against the state of affairs and governance at world football’s governing body FIFA during their Club World Cup opener, unfurling a banner demanding ‘Smash FIFA’.
June 16 – FIFA has been forced into logistical gymnastics at the Club World Cup, shifting spectators around stadiums to ensure television broadcasts give the illusion of packed stands – a visual necessity as its new-format tournament struggles to ignite enough local interest to fill stadiums.
By Paul Nicholson in Los Angeles
June 13 – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be active at the Club World Cup that kicks off on Saturday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and throughout the month-long tournament.
June 13 – On Saturday, host club Inter Miami kick off the controversial 32-team Club World Cup against Al Ahly of Egypt. The build-up to the tournament has been marred by controversy, ranging from sporting integrity and low ticket sales to a lack of broadcast deals and disinterest from the major clubs.
June 13 – With the Club World Cup kicking off on Saturday in Miami and Los Angeles, broadcaster DAZN has agreed a deal with Sportradar for exclusive rights to distribute ultra-low latency betting data, as well as non-exclusive media content.
June 12 – Los Angeles finds itself at the centre of a brewing crisis that could fundamentally alter how international football operates in America. With the Concacaf Gold Cup and FIFA Club World Cup set to kick off this weekend, the city’s fifth consecutive day of immigration protests has created an unprecedented challenge.
June 11 – Javier Tebas isn’t holding back. The La Liga president just delivered his most explosive takedown yet of FIFA’s Club World Cup expansion, and it’s a masterclass in executive fury.
June 11 – The beautiful game has just borrowed from America’s biggest show. FIFA has announced that J Balvin, Doja Cat, and Tems will headline the first-ever Club World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Think Super Bowl meets soccer – with a global twist.