Inside World Football - Page 54 of 2234 - For the Business of Football

USSF and MLS dodge a $375m bullet after court rules for them in NASL anti-trust case

February 4 – The US Soccer Federation (USSF) and the MLS are celebrating a major win after a federal jury in New York found that the USSF did not violate anti-trust law in denying the North American Soccer League (NASL) Division II league status.

The NASL which operated between 2011 and 2017 and included perhaps the US’s best known club name globally – the New York Cosmos – argued that the USSF and MLS had illegally conspired against the NASL to ensure it wasn’t sanctioned as a Division II league.

AFC News

Visa expands AFC partnership to major club competitions and 2026 qualifiers

February 4 – Visa has renewed and expanded its sponsor partnership with AFC to cover more of the confederation’s regions and competitions for the next two seasons.

Concacaf

Fox’s Tubi streaming service secures live rights for Concacaf Champions Cup games

February 4 – Streaming service Tubi, owned by Fox Corporation, is to become the exclusive home for the Concacaf Champions Cup in Mexico.

FIFA

FIFA tells European Parliament to get back in line after their 2034 World Cup bid criticisms

February 3 – In a strongly worded letter, world governing body FIFA has rebuked criticism by Members of the European Parliament over the host award of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia.

Europe

Tebas launches blistering attacks against A22, Unify League, Perez and FIFA’s Club World Cup

February 3 – Outspoken Spanish league boss Javier Tebas (pictured) has launched another scathing attack on Real Madrid for backing a European Super League and warns against taking revised plans for the breakaway league lightly, saying it could do untold damage.

FIFA

After ‘peace in our time’ Infantino love-in, trade war erupts between 2026 World Cup partners

February 3 – US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, prompting a trade war between the long-time allies and the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup.

Sponsorship

Arsenal, Bayern and PSG pressured over Visit Rwanda sponsorship as rebels lay waste to DRC

February 3 – The Democratic Republic of Congo has called on Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain to end their “blood stained” sponsorship deals with Visit Rwanda because of the ongoing conflict in the region.

Broadcast

FIFA+ agrees broadcast distribution deal with UAE’s Evision

February 3 – Evision, the media and entertainment subsidiary of UAE mobile telecoms business e& (formerly Etisalat), has announced a strategic partnership with FIFA+ to bring the football-focused channel to STARZ ON, its free ad-supported streaming platform. This collaboration aims to enhance football content offerings in the MENA region by providing 24/7 access to premium FIFA programming at no cost.

Europe

Stones rollover to open window for Barca to keep playing at Olympic Stadium as Nou Camp return delayed

February 3 – Having been close to being without a home stadium with their return to Camp Nou delayed and the Olympic Stadium booked for other events, Barcelona have been granted a lifeline and have formally requested an extension to their stay at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium until the end of the season.

Football Marketing

Bitpanda expands AC Milan sponsorship to back-of-shirt

February 3 – AC Milan have strengthened their ties with online trading platform Bitpanda, announcing an expanded partnership that will see the company’s logo feature on the back of the Rossoneri’s shirts with immediate effect.

Football Asia

Jhon Duran heads to Saudi to join Ronaldo, Benrahma loaned to Neom

February 3 – Colombia and Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran has departed the English Premier League for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr in a reported £64 million deal.

Concacaf

MLS catches a cold over Open Cup fever

February 3 – In 2024, Major League Soccer (MLS) caused uproar in the US community as the league announced that all of its teams would not participate in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup due to fixture congestion. After negotiations in December 2023, MLS allowed eight clubs to compete along with nine MLS-affiliated MLS Next Pro teams.

Europe

Botev Plodiv’s Zingarevich still in dark over Bulgarian ban, but his club is thriving

February 2 – The Russian owner of Botev Plovdiv, Anton Zingarevich, said he has still not received any official explanation from the Bulgarian authorities about why he has been issued with a 10-year ban from residing in Bulgaria.

Club World Cup 2025

Adidas releases new €160 ball for Club World Cup

February 3 – You can’t play the ‘beautiful game’ without a ball, and the game is littered with iconic and controversial balls. The Adidas Telstar and tango from the 1970 and 1978 World Cups are still considered the crown jewels with football aficionados while the Adidas Jabulani from 2010 was described by Brazilian goalkeeper, Julio Cesar, as “a ball you buy in a supermarket”.

Atlanta warms up for 2026 with 500-day countdown, but before then it has a 6-match CWC schedule to deliver

February 3 – Atlanta, which has just completed the hosting of the College Football Playoff National Championship, has turned its attention to the 500-day countdown to the 2026 World Cup where it will host eight matches, including a semi-final.