Champions League needs to bring a bigger show, says Al-Khelaifi
April 5 – Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi has called on UEFA to jazz up the Champions League final to make it more like the Super Bowl.
World Football
The FA closes gender pay gap while ethnicity pay gap also narrows
April 5 – The English Football Association has reported its gender pay gap has been reduced to 2.2%, which it says is below the national average of 15.5%.
Concacaf draws teams for Nations League groups that will decide Gold Cup qualifiers
April 6 – Concacaf completed the draw for the second edition of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) which will serve as a qualifier for the 2023 Gold Cup.
Van Dijk promises support for van Gaal and a World Cup to remember
April 5 – Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk says he wants to give coach Louis van Gaal “a World Cup to never forget” in Qatar later this year in the light of van Gaal’s health situation.
Crystal Dunn and Alphonso Davies scoop Concacaf Player of the Year awards
April 5 – US national team and Portland Thorns star Crystal Dunn has been named 2021 Concacaf Women’s player of the year, while Canada and Bayern Munich standout Alphonso Davies has taken the men’s award.
Conmebol and UEFA open joint London office, Finalissima sold out in a week
April 4 – The shared London office between Conmebol and UEFA was opened today (Monday) with the announcement that the first major project between the two confederations, the Finalissima match at Wembley between Argentina and Italy, is already sold out.
Van Gaal sick with prostate cancer but will still lead Dutch in Qatar
April 4 – Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has revealed he is suffering from prostate cancer – but still plans to lead the side at the World Cup.
Concacaf to draw Nations League groups that will decide 2023 Gold Cup qualification
April 4 – Concacaf is sticking with the 12-team Gold Cup Prelims as the route to deciding the final places at the 16-team 2023 Gold Cup, with its Nations League.
CBF won’t block a new club-owned top tier league, says Rodrigues
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
April 4 – The new president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) Ednaldo Rodrigues has confirmed that the governing body will leading clubs to form a new league, a move that gathered momentum last year as the CBF struggled with another institutional crisis.
Re-elected Dominguez says he prefers building with Europe over a biennial World Cup
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
April 1 – Alejandro Dominguez, newly re-elected as president of Conmebol, wasted no time in saying he preferred the idea of South American teams participating in the Nations League over a biennial World Cup.
NFL International Series adds Bayern’s Allianz Arena to Wembley, Tottenham and Azteca venues
March 31 – With round ball football from Europe trying to get the permissions to take regular league games to the US, the oval-ball NFL is already building its presence and bran in football’s major stadia.
US lose to Costa Rica but qualify for 2022 on goal difference. Ticos now face Kiwis
March 31 – Lightening almost struck twice. The US were knocked out of World Cup qualifying for Russia 2018 after losing to a better organised and prepared Trinidad and Tobago. Last night they hung on to their automatic 2022 qualification place on goal difference.
Barca vs Real Madrid sets new record attendance for women’s game
March 31 – The record for the highest attendance ever at a women’s football match was set last night in the Camp Nou in the second leg of the Champions League final between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Egypt and Nigeria out as Mane penalty and away goals send Senegal and Ghana to Qatar
March 30 – Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia all booked their places at the World Cup finals Tuesday on a frantic night of final African play-off action.
Pacific Media Group adds Kaiserslautern taking portfolio to seven European clubs
March 30 – Pacific Media Group (PMG) have acquired a stake of just under 10% in FC Kaiserslautern, the German club have announced.