News Archives - Page 10 of 1949 - Inside World Football

FIFA deepens Saudi ties with major World Cup 2026 sponsorship

May 15 – FIFA has expanded its partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) which has become a major sponsor of the 2026 World Cup. Last month FIFA announced in Atlanta that all its World Cup 2026 sponsorship categories had been filled.

On Thursday, the world governing body announced that PIF will headline the tournament sponsorship, building on a previous partnership around last summer’s Club World Cup and reinforcing the ties between the global governing body and the Arab Kingdom that will host the 2034 World Cup.

US waives bonds of up to $15,000 for 2026 ticket holders from flagged countries

May 14 – The Trump administration has suspended a requirement that foreign visitors from countries that have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup pay bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the United States, provided they hold tickets for the tournament.

World Cup

FIFA throws a cold towel over extreme heat warnings

May 15 – FIFA has responded swiftly to a call from a group of health experts and leading scientists to address the heat risk for players at the 2026 World Cup, saying that it “has convened a dedicated Heat Illness Mitigation and Management Task Force comprising medical and operational experts.

Madonna, Shakira and BTS headline World Cup final half time show

May 14 – FIFA has confirmed Madonna, Shakira and BTS as the headline acts for the first half-time show in World Cup final history, with this summer’s tournament finale set to adopt a distinctly American-style entertainment format.

Broadcast

RTL and AMC enter negotiations for UEFA’s men club competitions in Hungary

May 15 – Politically Hungary’s media landscape may be in a state of flux, but its need for premium football product appears unaffected.

UC3, the joint venture between UEFA and European Football Clubs (EFC) that controls and manages the strategic marketing, sales and delivery of commercial rights for UEFA club competitions, has entered exclusive negotiation periods for all three UEFA men’s club competitions.

RTL are set to retain the premium Champions League media rights for the 2027–31 media rights cycle.

Saints halo slips as beaten Middlesbrough demand they are kicked out of EPL play-off

May 15 – The Championship play-off final has been thrown into uncertainty after the English Football League confirmed it is investigating allegations that Southampton spied on a Middlesbrough training session ahead of last weekend’s semi-final first leg.

An Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing is scheduled to take place on or before Tuesday May 19, just four days before Southampton are due to face Hull City at Wembley Stadium for a place in next season’s Premier League

Tagged as the world’s richest football match,

FIFA

Shakira tunes up for a big World Cup

May 15 – Having been announced as one of the acts to perform during the half time show of the World Cup final this summer, her song Dai Dai, recorded with Burna Boy, has been released as the official World Cup 2026 song.

Released via Sony Music Latin, the song is available now on all streaming platforms.

Revenue raised from the sale of the song will go to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,

Europe

VakıfBank puts its money on the future success of Turkish national teams

May 15 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) have agreed VakıfBank as the main sponsor of its national teams.

Chelsea target US with Roc Nation alliance

May 14 – Premier League club Chelsea have announced a new strategic partnership with Roc Nation Sports International, in a deal designed to expand the club’s cultural footprint and fan base across the United States.

Health experts continue to criticise FIFA’s weather mitigation measures

May 14 – A group of health experts and leading scientists have called on FIFA to address the heat risk for players at the 2026 World Cup, calling the current mitigation measures “inadequate.”

Football Marketing

Monzo maintains link with Coventry City ahead of English Premier League return

May 14 – Coventry City will head back into the English Premier League with Monzo still displayed across the front of their shirts after the two parties agreed a one-year extension to their sponsorship deal for the 2026/27 season.

Football Marketing

Arsenal expand relationship with payroll platform Deel

May 14 – Arsenal have expanded their commercial relationship with Deel after confirming the global payroll platform as the club’s new official sleeve partner from the start of the 2026/27 season – where the branding may well sit beside a gold Premier League badge.

Africa

CAF President Motsepe downplays 2027 AFCON preparation delays

May 14 – Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has downplayed fears over delays in preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Doubt has been repeatedly cast over the preparedness of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to stage the continent’s flagship tournament next year, but, on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Motsepe once again offered reassurances that the co-hosts are working to deliver a spotless finals.

Europe

FIFA Arena initiative opens first football pitch in North Macedonia

May 14 – The first football pitch in North Macedonia under the global “FIFA Arena” initiative was officially inaugurated today with a ceremony in Bosilovo. This project is part of a broader FIFA initiative to develop grassroots football and improve facilities for children and youth worldwide.

Pricing backlash forces MetLife shuttle bus U-turn ahead of World Cup

May 14 – The cost of shuttle buses to World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey has been cut by 75 percent following sustained backlash from supporters.