May 12 – The Union of European Clubs (UEC) has proposed an overhaul of how UEFA distributes funds from its club competitions to better recognise player development. It’s chances of any immediate implementation or discussion are slim with UEFA having already agreed a new distribution cycle that is currently in its first year of operation.
May 12 – Following the expansion of the FIFA men’s World Cup to 48 teams, the FIFA Council has unanimously approved plans to increase the Women’s World Cup (WWC) to the same number of participating countries.
The expansion will take place at the 2031 edition, which is expected to be hosted by the United States should they win what looks like an uncontested bid for hosting rights.
May 12 – The announcement last week of the personnel on the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 was dominated by US president Donald Trump and the appointment of Andrew Guiliani, son of Trump’s former lawyer and former Mayor of New York Rudy Guiliani.
Buried underneath the political noise and posturing of the Task Force personnel was the news that FIFA also had a representative on key governmental working group.
May 12 – FIFA is to establish an Afghan women’s refugee football team, allowing exiled Afghan players to compete in matches recognised by the sport’s global governing body, but which will not count towards the country’s ranking.
May 12 – The dressing room in England – that sacred temple of half-time hairdryers, tactical diagrams and hot tea – has long been football’s final frontier of privacy. Now, in a move that would make even American sports blush, the Premier League is asking clubs to swing those doors wide open for the prying eye of television cameras.
May 12 – UEFA has placed fan experience and engagement at the heart of its preparations for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, hosting a dedicated Fan Forum in Switzerland this week for supporter representatives from all 16 participating nations.
May 12 – FIFA has made a major update to its disciplinary code aimed at strengthening the fight against racism in football. The decisions were made during a virtual meeting of the FIFA Council.
May 12 – Bulgaria’s Spartak Varna has lost its license to participate Bulgaria’s top tier next season. The decision was taken by the Bulgarian Football Union’s Licensing Commission following Spartak’s failure to meet financial rules over payment of government taxes.
May 12 – FIFA continues to land sponsors at an impressive rate for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Global spirits leader Diageo is the latest company to sign on the dotted line, becoming a Tournament Supporter.
May 12 – Manchester City have reached a key milestone in their £300 million stadium expansion and entertainment complex, completing the highest structural point of the project as part of an ongoing redevelopment of the Etihad Stadium and surrounding area.
May 12 – Japan’s Meiji Yasuda J.League has set a new record for total attendance in a single day, recording more than 420,000 fans for the first time in the league’s history on May 3.
May 12 – Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League fixture against Djurgården has sparked concerns over stadium security following widespread infiltration of the home end by away fans.
May 12 – Keith Mweemba will serve as the new president of the Zambian FA for a five-year term after he defeated incumbent Andrew Kamanga in a vote.
May 8 – FIFA have brought forward a Council meeting to facilitate Gianni Infantino’s joint trip with US President Donald Trump to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
First reported by The Athletic, the Council, FIFA’s highest decision-making body, will convene on Friday at 4pm CET online instead of in-person next week, on the eve of the FIFA Congress in Asuncion, Paraguay, because of Infantino’s Middle East trip. Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar will mark the U.S.
May 9 -Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will face off in an all-English UEFA Europa League final on May 21 in Bilbao, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash between two domestic underachievers with contrasting European histories.