Senegal and Morocco advance to African Cup of Nations final
January 15 – Senegal and hosts Morocco will meet in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final after semi-final wins over Egypt and Nigeria respectively on Wednesday night.
World Football
CSKA Sofia sign SIS Pitches contract for Bulgarian Army stadium turf
January 15 – CSKA Sofia have announced a landmark step in the complete reconstruction of its iconic Bulgarian Army stadium.
Paratici returns to Italy to take up Fiorentina role after Tottenham stint
January 15 – Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that Fabio Paratici is heading back to Italy – to take up a position at Fiorentinia – leaving the club just three and a half months after being reappointed as sporting director. Spurs, once again, are left explaining another senior exit that raises more questions than answers.
Coppa Italia Final case study set to dictate Serie A sustainability policy
January 15 – Lega Serie A is starting to treat sustainability less like a side project and more like part of the job. The 2024/25 Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Final was set up as a full-scale operational test, using the match as a real-world trial for how a major football event can be planned, measured, and improved through an environmental lens under the league’s Road to Zero framework.
Serbian FA agrees 2026 budget, but with no major tournament play, money is dangerously tight
January 14 – The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) has agreed its budget for 2026, totalling €32,234,253. While the figure represents a symbolic increase on paper compared to last year, local warnings are that the organisation is entering its most precarious financial period in a decade.
New co-operation sees US Soccer Federation takes a big step towards US Club Soccer
January 14 – U.S. Soccer has finally taken a significant step toward getting the youth game moving in the same direction, announcing a new strategic relationship with US Club Soccer as part of its Pathways Strategy. The agreement is about alignment, reducing friction in the alphabet soup of US youth soccer, and making the sport easier to access and afford for families, clubs, and players.
France’s Ligue 1 reports record mid-season attendances
January 14 – Ligue 1 has posted its strongest-ever attendance figures at the midpoint of a season, offering further evidence that fan demand for the French club game has stabilised – and grown – since the league moved to an 18-team format.
FIFA focuses on Football for Schools impact at African Union meeting in Burundi
January 14 – FIFA used last month’s fifth African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sport (STC-YCS-V) in Bujumbura to underline its growing focus on grassroots infrastructure and education across the continent.
Canada’s CPL agrees integrated retail partnership with Team Town Sports
January 14 – Canadian Soccer Business (CSB) has added a new multi-year partnership to its league roster with retailer Team Town Sports becoming the Official Footwear Retailer of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) and League1 Canada.
Real Madrid axe Alonso, eye Klopp as dressing-room issues arise
January 13 – Xabi Alonso’s short spell as head coach of Real Madrid has come to an abrupt end, with the club confirming his departure after just seven months in charge.
BPFL partners with BET.bg for Bulgarian Super Cup final
January 13 – The Bulgarian sports betting and casino platform, BET.bg, will serve as the general sponsor for the Bulgarian Super Cup final.
Fan jailed for throwing seat that disfigured Aberdeen star
January 13 – A football supporter has been jailed for 18 months after hitting Aberdeen’s Jack MacKenzie in the face with a seat thrown from the stands during a Scottish Premiership match.
Afghanistan’s ATN secures EFL Cup rights
January 13 – English football seemingly always finds an audience. The latest proof comes from Afghanistan, where Ariana Television Network (ATN) has secured the rights to show the closing stages of this season’s EFL Cup.
WLA supports Italian regulator and Serie A in Cloudfare piracy protection dispute
January 13 — The World Leagues Association (WLA) has come out in support of Italy’s Serie A and its member leagues following statements by web security platform Cloudflare after it was fined €14.2 million by Italy’s communications regulator for failing to block access to pirate streaming sites.
Hosts Morocco face Nigeria and Egypt meet Senegal in AFCON semis
January 12 – Egypt brought Côte d’Ivoire’s Africa Cup of Nations title defence to an end as the quarter-final stage concluded with Egypt joining Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal in the semi-finals.