By Samindra Kunti in Dunedin
July 28 – Argentina rallied late to rescue a 2-2 draw against South Africa in an enthralling Group G match with both the South Americans and Banyana Banyana retaining a chance of progressing from the group.
July 27 – The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) has filed a complaint at UEFA following Serbian club FK Crvena Zvezda’s (Red Star Bekgrade) unfurling of a huge fan activation of a tank against the background of the Serbian flag, and a banner underneath with writing in Serbian saying: ‘When the army returns to Kosovo’.
July 27 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has held the draw for the first and second round World Cup 2026 qualifiers for the AFC’s potential nine slots at the expanded 48-team finals.
July 27 – Nigeria came from behind to stun co-hosts Australia 3-2 on Thursday and leave the Matildas fighting for their lives to qualify for the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup.
July 27 – Former UEFA chief Michel Platini has reacted with outrage after a criminal complaint he brought against FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the French courts 18 months ago for alleged influence peddling was bizarrely transferred to the Swiss justice system.
July 27 – Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has confirmed his departure from the club after 12 years after becoming the latest Premier League player to move to Saudi Arabia.
July 27 – Netherlands coach Andries Jonker had mixed feelings following an intense 1-1 draw with the United States in Group E, a result that allows the Dutch to claim top spot at the expense of the Americans in their final group game. “I didn’t sign for this,” lamented Jonker.
July 27 – The Kylian Mbappé saga is rolling on after the French superstar reportedly snubbed a world record offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal.
July 27 – Canada Men’s National Team Players Association have taken a stand against Canada Soccer sponsors’ use of players’ names, images, and likenesses in their marketing and advertising.
July 27 – Germany’s Bundesliga have struck a partnership with digital publisher Minute Media in an effort to increase fan content and engagement in the United States.
July 27 – The Swiss Football league (SFL) has chosen Stats Perform as its official data partner in a three-season deal that will run into 2026 and boost the league’s real time statistics and visual data content for fans.
July 26 – Joe Lewis, the Bahamas-based British billionaire and veteran owner of Premier League Tottenham Hotspur, has been sensationally charged in New York with “orchestrating a brazen insider trader scheme”.
July 26 – The Football Forum (TFF) – an association of national football agent bodies – has said that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling against the Professional Football Agents Association’s (PROFAA) challenge of FIFA’s new Football Agents Regulations (FAR), does not apply to their members.
July 26 – FIFA has issued an invitation to tender for centralised media rights to Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualifying matches ahead of the largest CAF World Cup qualifying in history.
By Samindra Kunti in Auckland
July 26 – Indigenous Football Australia (IFA) have written to FIFA and Football Australia, slamming their “empty symbolism” of Indigenous imagery at the Women’s World Cup. FIFA, however, say work is being done on space for indigenous football.