Chile president tells FIFA it is not ‘serious’ after World Cup 2030 hosting snub
October 6 – Chile is up in arms after being snubbed as joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup by FIFA.
FIFA
Infantino appoints from within as hard man Grafstöm takes over from Samoura
October 6 – Matthias Grafstöm of Sweden has become the new FIFA secretary general on an interim basis, making him, on paper, the second-most powerful man in the world football governing body.
FIFA rubber stamps UEFA’s decision to let Russian U17 teams back into competition
October 6 – With UEFA’s executive committee having voted to let Russia’s U17 national teams back into international competition last week, the FIFA Council has now followed suit and extended this decision to cover the U-17 World Cup and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
FIFA launches women’s futsal championship and expands U20 women’s finals
October 6 – FIFA has unveiled plans for a new women’s futsal tournament while expanding its existing women’s age-group competitions.
FIFA picks on Cotton Day to push economic inclusion agenda for African nations
October 6 – FIFA has turned the world spotlight on African cotton producers ahead of World Cotton Day to explore how football can help small producers in the Cotton 4 (plus) countries in Africa.
FIFA decisions put Saudi Arabia in pole position to win hosting of 2034 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
October 5 – Within minutes of FIFA opening up the 2034 World Cup solely to countries from Asia and Oceania, Saudi Arabia became the first to announce it will bid to host the tournament, confirming a long-established desire to stage the biggest footballing show on earth.
FIFA ‘pre-awards’ 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Spain and Portugal with a nod to South American roots
By Samindra Kunti
October 5 – With a decision that will reshape football’s pinnacle event, FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino revealed that the 2030 finals will be played in six countries on three continents with opening matches to be held in South America to celebrate the tournament’s centenary. The decision paved the way for Saudi Arabia to stage the finals in 2034.
Qataris build on 2022 legacy with Football for Schools seminar
October 3 – With the support of FIFA, the Football for Schools project has concluded in Qatar, with a seminar programme focussed on women in the sport.
French issue arrest warrant for Bin Hamman as probe in to Qatar 2022 vote corruption gains pace
September 27 – An international arrest warrant was been issued by a French judge for former AFC president and FIFA vice president Mohamed bin Hamman (pictured) in connection with allegations over the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar in 2010.
Gelsenkirchen drafted in to German WWC2027 joint hosting bid with Netherlands and Belgium
September 27 – Gelsenkirchen, the home of Schalke 04, has been named as a candidate host city for the 2027 Women’s World Cup bid by Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
FIFA opens first of three ticket windows for Club World Cup in Saudi
September 27 – FIFA have opened the first phase of ticket sales for the FIFA Club World Cup 2023, to be held in Saudi Arabia.
FIFAgate prosecutors to appeal acquittals of former Fox exec Lopez and sports marketer Full Play
September 26 – US interest in policing world football’s governing body might not be over, despite two convictions of a media executive and rights company in the FIFAgate case having been reversed by US federal judge Pamela Chen earlier this month.
FIFA renews paper commitment with UNODC to fight football crime, but how and where?
September 26 – FIFA and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have extended their Memorandum of Understanding “to kick crime out of the game”.
FIFA opens voting for 2023 goal of the year
September 25 – FIFA has opened voting for the 2023 Puskas Award, given to the scorer of the world’s best goal last season between December 19, 2022 and August 20, 2023.
Argentina stay on top of the world after double win in opening 2026 World Cup qualifiers
September 21 – World champions Argentina remain top (1851 points) of the World Rankings after two wins from two in the opening round of CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifiers, as the Albiceleste cruised past Ecuador and Bolivia without conceding a goal.