FIFA signs first major 2026 sponsorship with Bank of America
August 16 – FIFA has announced Bank of America as an official sponsor for the 2026 World Cup, the first time the organisation has partnered with a bank.
World Cup
Uruguay to upgrade iconic Centenario Stadium for 2030 World Cup hosting
August 1 – Uruguay has solidified plans to renovate its iconic Centenario Stadium as part of its preparations for the 2030 World Cup, following the official submission of the joint hosting bid book on Monday.
FIFA closes the door on Palestine hosting 2026 qualifiers but it might not be good for Israel
July 29 – FIFA and the AFC have refused Palestine the right to stage their home World Cup qualifying matches in September in the West Bank.
UN says Qatar 2022 whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais is wrongfully imprisoned
July 24 – The United Nations has determined that the detention of Abdullah Ibhais (pictured), a former employee of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Legacy and Delivery, is ‘arbitrary’ and has called for his immediate release.
FIFA drops long time partner Match for On Location for 2026 hospitality sales
July 19 – FIFA has selected On Location, a premium global hospitality and travel agency, to be the official high-end hospitality provider of the 2026 World Cup being hosted jointly hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
Morocco unveils plans for world’s biggest football stadium in Casablanca
July 16 – The first images of Morocco’s plans to build the world’s biggest football stadium, the Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca, have been shared ahead of the confirmation expected by FIFA for the country’s joint hosting of the 2030 World Cup.
India demand review of controversial Qatari goal that ended their 2026 WC campaign
June 13 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has demanded FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) investigate Qatar’s controversial goal in recent World Cup qualifiers that ended India’s hopes of reaching the third round of the campaign.
FIFA unveils first 24 base camp options for 2026 and more detail on match schedule
June 13 – FIFA has published the first 24 Team Base Camps for the 2026 World Cup across the Canada, Mexico and the USA, and released a more detailed version of the tournament match schedule.
Cayman Islands forfeit 2026 qualifier against Cuba over fear of US VISA reprisals
June 13 – The long-standing issues of VISA entry to the US for Cubans took a different twist this week with the Cayman Islands men’s team pulling out of a World Cup qualifying fixture in Cuba.
India crash out of 2026 World Cup qualifying
June 12 – In an indictment of Igor Stimac’s management, India crashed out of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after a 2-1 defeat against Qatar ended their hopes of making the third round group stages.
With 2-year countdown to 2026 World Cup underway, Infantino anticipates another ‘greatest’
June 11 – The two year countdown to the 2026 World Cup kick-off at the Estadio Azteca Mexico City on June 11 has begun, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino continuing his ‘greatest’ theme saying the finals would be “the greatest event, the greatest show, the greatest tournament”.
Cameroon overcome off-field power struggle to beat Cape Verde in 2026 qualifying
June 10 – Amid an institutional crisis at Cameroon’s football federation over the government appointment of head coach Marc Brys, he led the Indomitable Lions to a comfortable 4-1 victory against Cape Verde in the World Cup qualifiers.
Haiti to host 2026 qualifiers in Barbados as Concacaf unveils opening group schedules
May 13 – Concacaf has released the schedule for second round of World Cup Qualifying that will begin next month complete in 2024.
Amnesty pressures FIFA to release post-Qatar 2022 report into migrant worker conditions
May 10 – With the FIFA Congress taking place next week, Amnesty International has pressed the world governing body to publish the long-awaited Qatar labour report into the treatment and rights of migrant workers who built World Cup infrastructure.
AFC 2026 World Cup qualifying sees seven nations qualified for 18 team third round
April 3 – The second round group qualifiers for AFC nations chasing places at the 2026 World Cup has now seen seven out of 18 slots filled for the third round.