Wenger goes cold on biennial World Cup but warms to winter editions
December 9 – Having championed staging the World Cup every two years, FIFA’s director of development Arsene Wenger now appears to be backtracking over the idea.
FIFA
Future World Cup city hosts gather in Doha for show-and-tell powwow
December 9 – FIFA has completed its World Cup Observer Programme in Qatar, designed to give future hosts insight into how FIFA expects its World Cups to be run.
US top women’s world rankings but European nations closing the gap
December 9 – Despite losing three of their past four matches, the US women’s team still top the FIFA world rankings, though the gap between them and second placed Germany is narrowing.
FIFA cracks down on Uruguayans behaving badly and Serbia’s anti-Kosovan politics
December 6 – FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against both Uruguay and Serbia for a range of misdemeanours during their respective final group games at the World Cup which saw both countries eliminated.
FIFA in informal talks over sticking to 4-team groups for 2026
December 2 – FIFA are reported to be considering scrapping three-team groups at the World Cup 2026 tournament – the first with 48 teams – and sticking with the status quo of four-team groups.
Collina defends decision to increase added time minutes
December 1 – Almost every game at this World Cup has exceeded 100 minutes in length, but FIFA’s head of referees has defended his referees for the vast amounts of injury time being added.
Serbia face FIFA disciplinary over ‘no surrender’ Kosovo banner in dressing room
November 27 – FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Serbia for hanging a political banner in their dressing room at the World Cup about neighbouring independent state Kosovo.
Denmark sticking with FIFA but not Infantino
November 25 – The Danish FA (DBU) are playing down reports they are leading a possible withdrawal from FIFA over the ‘OneLove’ armband storm.
FIFA’s moral confusion: No rainbow flags, hats or armbands, and no homophobic chanting naughty Ecuador
November 24 – FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Ecuador over homophobic chanting by their fans in their World Cup opener against hosts Qatar.
Budweiser demand $47m compensation for Qatar 2022 sponsorship humiliation, reports
November 24 – FIFA’s last-minute decision to ban alcoholic beer sales at World Cup stadiums could cost them $47 million, with tournament sponsors Budweiser reportedly seeking a massive deduction in its $75 million sponsorship deal after the humiliation of having had their beer concession rights withdrawn by Qatari World Cup organisers.
Germans to FIFA: ‘do you really think you will muzzle us?’
November 24 – In a defiant protest, Germany’s player covered their mouths against FIFA’s clampdown on free speech and the ban of the ‘OneLove’ armband’.
Germans threaten legal action against FIFA over ‘OneLove’ armband ban
November 23 – Germany’s football association (DFB) is examining whether FIFA’s threat to impose sanctions against players who wanted to wear the ‘OneLove’ armband at the World Cup is legal.
FIFA clampdown leaves Vertonghen in fear of supporting OneLove; Belgium ordered to change shirts
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
November 23 – On the eve of Belgium’s opening game with Canada in the World Cup, Belgian veteran player Jan Vertonghen has said that he is afraid to talk about the OneLove armband.
A different league: Infantino’s FIFA still no match for UEFA when it comes to revenue growth
By David Owen
November 23 – So, what do you know: 55 minutes into that extraordinary hour-long tormented, angry pre-World Cup vent by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, some hard, or hard-ish, financial information.
FIFA shows no love for ‘OneLove’ campaign and threatens ‘sporting sanctions’
November 22 – European teams have reacted with disappointment and dismay after being forced by FIFA to abandon plans to wear ‘OneLove’ armbands at the World Cup in support of LGBTQ rights.