Brazilians scent blood with first win over European club side
June 20 – Botafogo stunned European champions Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to cause the first major upset of the Club World Cup.
FIFA
Leading sports agencies dominating European football market
June 19 – The latest report from the CIES Football Observatory highlights the growing dominance of a select few major sports agencies in European football, with the top firms now representing player assets worth billions of euros across the big five leagues.
FIFA makes anti-racism U-turn and displays messages at Club World Cup
By Samindra Kunti in Philadephia, USA
June 19 – Countering a major international backlash, FIFA played anti-racism messages at Wednesday’s Club World Cup matches to mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
White elephants at the White House. Gianni takes his Juve stooges in for a game of political football
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 US President 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.
Tebas says Club World Cup breaks the club eco-system and makes ending it his mission
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.
Heat turned up on FIFA after Rose Bowl tempers hit boiling point
June 17 – Even to the casual television viewer watching DAZN’s broadcast of Paris Saint-Germain versus Atlético Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, during FIFA’s Club World Cup, it looked brutally hot. Now we’re hearing from the fans and media who were actually there – and it’s an absolute horror story that should have the brass at FIFA headquarters asking questions.
‘100%’ fit Neymar turned down Club World Cup cameo for Fluminense
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.
Club World Cup attendances struggle from coast-to-coast as crowds fail to match the pre-game hype
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.
FIFA shies away from anti-racism messaging at Club World Cup
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.
Betano named regional sponsor for FIFA Club World 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.
Global superstar Robbie Williams unveiled as FIFA Music Ambassador
June 17 – Robbie Williams has been unveiled as FIFA’s latest Music Ambassador, headlining the start of the new-look Club World Cup with his official tournament track, Desire.
Players and fans showcase heat concerns at red hot FIFA Club World Cup
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.
DAZN increases its FIFA deal taking over failing FIFA+ streaming platform
June 16 – FIFA has handed control of its struggling FIFA+ digital streaming platform to DAZN, in a new long-term partnership that will see the sports streaming service operate and develop the product globally, announced on Saturday.
Bayern fans’ banner in Cincinnati demands change at FIFA, 10 years on from FBI raids
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’.
Slashed ticket process and re-allocated seats for TV, FIFA scrambles to project illusion of CWC interest
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.