FIFA – Inside World Football

IFAB to approve time-wasting clampdown ahead of World Cup

Andy Elliott — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:29:37 +0000

February 24 – Five-second countdowns for throw-ins and goal kicks are set to feature at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, with football’s lawmakers moving to clamp down on time-wasting and slow restarts.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is expected to approve a series of amendments at its upcoming annual general meeting in Wales, building on the introduction of the eight-second goalkeeper rule trialled this season. That measure – requiring keepers to release the ball promptly or concede a corner – Read more …

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Match schedule revealed for FIFA Series 2026

Andy Elliott — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:04:12 +0000

February 2026 – International football’s once-maligned friendly window is growing more competitive every year, and the FIFA Series 2026 is the world governing body’s firmest attempt yet to make those dates matter.

FIFA has released the official match schedule for the 2026 edition, following confirmation of host nations and group compositions in January. The schedule gives teams, broadcasters, and fans clarity on dates, kick-off times, and venues.

A total of 48 national teams,

The post Match schedule revealed for FIFA Series 2026 appeared first on Inside World Football.

Infantino says FIFA coin under review at Trumps’ Mar-a-Lago crypto promo

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:26:13 +0000

February 23 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has again floated the idea of world football launching its own cryptocurrency, telling an audience in Florida that the organisation is studying the creation of a ‘FIFA token’ or ‘FIFA coin’.

Infantino was speaking at the World Liberty Forum hosted at Mar-a-Lago, the private residence of friend and US President Donald Trump, when he outlined the concept.

“We are also studying the development of a FIFA token and a FIFA coin –

IOC gives FIFA a clean bill of health over its backing of Trump and his ‘Board of Peace’

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:17:02 +0000

February 23 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s growing bromance with U.S. President Donald Trump has attracted interest in the corridors of power of Olympic sport, though having initially said they would investigate, have now issued a statement saying that the role Infantino is promoting for FIFA in Gaza is “in keeping’ with the role os a sports federation.

The IOC, which has close links with the United Nations and its various development and humanitarian programmes,

Infantino pledges £75m to Trump’s Board of Peace to rebuild Palestinean football infrastructure

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:37:38 +0000

February 20 – World governing body FIFA will invest $75 million to rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure as a part of Donald Trump’s Board of Peace plans.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has yet again deepened ties with Donald Trump, committing world football’s governing body to a “true partnership” with the US president’s newly created peace initiative. On Thursday, in Washington DC, the football supremo promised that his organisation will invest around $75 million in the programme.

Resistance to 48-team Club World Cup softens as quadrennial schedule gathers support

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:48:30 +0000

February 20 – Uefa looks set to greenlight FIFA’s plan to expand the Club World Cup to 48 teams for its next edition in 2029.

Previously, European football’s governing body was concerned that a bloated Club World Cup could impact the Champions League and further strain the football calendar that some see as almost unworkable. That resistance has softened, however, with Uefa now reportedly willing to offer its backing in return for assurances the competition will not become a biennial fixture.

Kansas City confirms FIFA Fan Festival details

Andy Elliott — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:07:16 +0000

February 19 – Kansas City’s local World Cup organisers have confirmed details for the area’s FIFA Fan Festival, which is set to be a free, multi-week celebration right in the heart of the city.

The fan fest will align with World Cup matchdays in the city, games involving the US men’s national team and 4 July, which this year marks the country’s 250th anniversary.

Some days will be fully programmed,

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No budging in Foxborough as World Cup Fan Festival fails to distract

Andy Elliott — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:04:24 +0000

February 19 – When FIFA comes to town, municipalities usually roll over – but two weeks after Foxborough’s World Cup security funding dispute burst into public view, there is no sign that local authorities are willing to budge on who will cover nearly $8 million in public safety costs tied to the seven 2026 World Cup matches scheduled for Gillette Stadium.

In a meeting at Foxborough’s municipal building, local officials again asked organisers who would cover the cost of security funding,

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino accepts Lebanese passport

Andy Elliott — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:20:45 +0000

February 17 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino was presented with a Lebanese passport at the Interior Ministry in Beirut on Monday, several months after being granted citizenship by the country’s president.

Married to Lina al-Ashkar, who is from the Middle Eastern state, Infantino can now also claim to be Lebanese. He filed documents and had his fingerprints taken.

On Instagram, Infantino wrote: “It was my honour to be in Beirut to receive my Lebanese passport from the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities.

Ukraine FA President Shevchenko seeks meeting with FIFA counterpart Infantino

Andy Elliott — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:09:35 +0000

February 12 – Ukrainian Football Association President Andriy Shevchenko is seeking a meeting with Gianni Infantino after the FIFA President’s recent push to reintegrate Russia into the international game.

On the sidelines of the Thursday’s UEFA Congress in the Belgian capital Brussels, Shevchenko expressed his desire for a face-to-face meeting with Infantino after the FIFA boss called for Russian’s return to football in an interview with Sky News.

The Ukrainian FA had immediately issued a strong rebuke of Infantino’s words.

Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 turns to art to mark 500 days to kick-off

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 06:47:54 +0000

February 9 – With exactly 500 days to go until the Women’s World Cup kicks off in Brazil, FIFA has shifted focus to building the narrative of the competition, unveiling a host-city artwork project designed to anchor the event in local culture.

The milestone comes a month after FIFA launched the competition’s brand identity in Rio de Janeiro, revealing the Official Emblem, Sonic Identity and slogan ‘Go Epic’.

That campaign aims to position the tournament at a cultural and sporting crossroads,

Infantino wants Russia ban lifted, sparking outrage in Ukraine

Andy Elliott — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:34:43 +0000

February 3 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reiterated that football should lift its ban on Russia, arguing that the measure “has achieved nothing.”

The Russians are prohibited from competing in international competitions, but Infantino told Sky Sports in an interview that the ban should be lifted – at least for youth categories.

“We have to [look at readmitting Russia]. Definitely. This ban has achieved nothing; it has only created more frustration and hatred.

Arsenal beat Flamengo to win FIFA Women’s Champions Cup and $1.7m prize pot

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:23:50 +0000

February 2 – Arsenal won the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup on Sunday evening picking up the largest prize payout in the history of women’s football. An English team also won the first edition of the expanded men’s Club World Cup last summer, when Chelsea picked up $100 million.

Renée Slegers’ side defeated South American champions Corinthians 3–2 after extra time at the Emirates Stadium, landing a £1.7 million winners’ cheque as FIFA’s new six-team tournament made its debut in the international calendar.

Women’s Club World Cup legacy focused on increasing women’s coaching numbers

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 01:25:32 +0000

February 2 – FIFA, The FA and the Women’s Super League Football (WSL Football) have announced two programmes to increase the number of women’s coaches in the game as the cornerstone of the Women’s Champions Cup 2026 legacy programme.

The aim is to remove barriers, accelerate professional development and create sustainable pathways for female coaches. FIFA is fund a targeted scholarship programme providing financial support for female coaches in England who are pursuing the UEFA A Diploma and the UEFA Pro Diploma.

IFAB’s no-brainer. Pressure builds on rule makers to bring in concussion sub protocols

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:40:21 +0000

January 30 – The push from the Premier League and Major League Soccer, amongst many others, for temporary concussion substitutions (TCS) feels increasingly like an overdue correction rather than a tweaking of the rules.

Football’s lawmakers at IFAB (International Football Association Board) will review the proposal at next month’s Annual General Meeting in Cardiff, and will be under pressure to enact change as more than 25 leagues and unions are urging approval for formal trials.

Gotham FC players complain FIFA’s out-of-season Women’s Champions Cup needs better scheduling

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:15:20 +0000

January 30 – Gotham FC’s defeat to Corinthians in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup semifinal has reignited a debate in the women’s game that expansion, while promoting the game, has to have a calendar that aligns or sporting integrity suffers.

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) champions were beaten 1-0 in London by the Brazilians in what was Gotham’s first competitive match since lifting the league trophy on November 22. Corinthians finished their season December 14,

Arsenal and Corinthians advance to FIFA Women’s Champions Cup final

Andy Elliott — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:49:26 +0000

January 29 – Arsenal and Corinthians will contest the inaugural final of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. The Brazilians upset Gotham 1-0 while Arsenal beat ASFAR 6-0 at a half-empty GTech Stadium in Brentford.

With kickoff times at 12.30 pm and 6 pm local time, few supporters found their way to the ground in West London. They missed out on Brazilian club Corinthians upsetting Gotham from the United States.

Both teams are currently in off season mode,

FIFA outlines plan for nationwide fan engagement programme in Canada

Andy Elliott — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:42:11 +0000

January 29 – FIFA has outlined plans for a nationwide fan engagement programme in Canada ahead of the World Cup this summer, launching a series of one-day public events designed to extend the tournament experience beyond the country’s two Host Cities.

Branded ‘Canada Celebrates’, the programme will run parallel with the tournament from June 11 to July 19 and feature up to 40 stops across the country. FIFA says more than 75% of Canada’s population will be within a two-hour drive of at least one event,

FIFA releases Global Transfer Report as spending hits $13.11billion

Andy Elliott — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:36:56 +0000

January 29 – FIFA has released in annual report of global transfer spending, with transactions in the transfer market topping €10 billion for the first time – a sign that football’s economic profile continues to expand.

The 2025 Global Transfer Report shows that more than 86,000 international transfers were completed across the men’s and women’s game in 2025 — the highest figure recorded.

Transfer spending didn’t just creep upward either as it soared through the $10 billion ceiling,

Spanish FA boss stakes claim for 2030 World Cup final hosting as Morocco blots its reputation

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:31:09 +0000

January 28 – Spain has wasted little time in staking its claim to being the central point of the 2030 World Cup after the chaos of the AFCON final and in the process, delivered a series of barely disguised jabs at its co-host across the Mediterranean.

Spanish FA president Rafael Louzán said this week that the men’s World Cup final “will be held here,” positioning Spain as the de facto leader of the tri-nation bid with Portugal and Morocco.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter urges fans against travelling to U.S. for World Cup

Andy Elliott — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:17:28 +0000

January 27 – Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has suggested that fans across the globe should not travel to the United States this summer for the World Cup due to the current political situation in the country.

The U.S. will co-host this summer’s global finals with neighbours Mexico and Canada, but security concerns are rising after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti following interaction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

89-year-old Blatter echoes sentiments made by lawyer Mark Pieth,

DFB President Bernd Neuendorf rules out German World Cup boycott

Andy Elliott — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:13:39 +0000

January 27 – German Football Association (DFB) President Bernd Neuendorf has ruled out a German boycott of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Oke Göttlich, DFB board member and St Pauli President, had brought up discussions of a boycott in publicised comments over the weekend, with Neuendorf offering a staunch response to the suggestion.

“I don’t think this is a major debate at all,” Neuendorf said,

FIFA begins Women’s World Cup countdown with Rio launch

Andy Elliott — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:46:51 +0000

January 27 – FIFA has officially begun the countdown to the Women’s World Cup 2027 with a launch event on the iconic Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.

The celebration marked a milestone on the road to the first Women’s World Cup to be staged in South America, with FIFA unveiling the tournament’s emblem, the ‘GO EPIC’ slogan.

“Brazil lives and breathes football, and you can feel the excitement here about welcoming the world and hosting a historic event,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Brazil unveils Women’s World Cup 2027 branding on Copacabana Beach

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:25:39 +0000

January 26 – Brazil has unveiled the branding for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, formally launching the tournament with an event in Rio de Janeiro as FIFA begins selling its vision for the first women’s World Cup to be staged in South America.

The reveal took place on Copacabana beach, where FIFA presented the competition’s emblem, slogan and ‘sonic identity’, placing Brazil’s role as host front and centre 18 months out from kick-off.

FIFA puts up record $4m price money for Women’s Champions Cup

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:14:57 +0000

January 26 – The inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup is potentially reshaping the financial landscape of women’s club football, with FIFA is throwing down the gauntlet to UEFA and the other confederations with ambitions to develop their club games by offering the biggest prize money in the women’s international club game to date.

The club that lifts the first-ever FIFA Women’s Champions Cup Trophy in 2026 will earn $2.3 million. In comparison Arsenal Women earned about $1.8 million in prize money for winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League last season.

Infantino urges world to get behind Trump and his Board of Peace

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:45:00 +0000

January 23 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has pledged FIFA’s full support to US president Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Infantino said: “FIFA gives its full support to President Trump and all members of the Board of Peace. We must support peace. We must unite people.”

On Thursday, Trump launched his board of peace, purported to promote peace and set Gaza’s future.

Infantino defends 2026 ticket pricing saying many will be touted on resale platforms

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:05:42 +0000

January 23 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has admitted that a significant number of 2026 World Cup ticket applicants intend to sell them on resale platforms for profit.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Infantino trumpeted that FIFA received 500 million ticket requests during the last sales phase for 2026 World Cup tickets, but acknowledged that some of those tickets will be acquired to simply sell on.

“In the U.S.,

Michele Kang’s Kynsica takes Presenting Partner sponsorship of upcoming FIFA Women’s Champions Cup

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:00:34 +0000

January 23 – FIFA has announced Michele Kang’s women’s sports investment group Kynisca as the Presenting Partner of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, with the decisive phase of the new competition set to be staged in London later this month.

FIFA will bring its first women’s intercontinental club competition to two Premier League club venues in London later. The semi-finals of the Women’s Champions Cup will take place at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday January 28,

Launch of FIFA Pass raises issues over openness of World Cup

Andy Elliott — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:08:23 +0000

January 22 – Previous World Cups have all attempted to sell a feeling of open borders, shared stories, and football as a common language. World Cup 2026 is currently selling something else entirely, starting with priority visa appointments, disclaimers, and an asterisk.

Ticket holders can now access expedited visa interviews through the newly launched FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System, aka the “FIFA Pass” — a scheme announced by US President Donald Trump in November and activated this week.

WSL says FIFA Club World Cup scheduling could be “catastrophic”

Andy Elliott — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:41:02 +0000

January 22 – The Women’s Super League (WSL) has raised “serious concerns” over the scheduling of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, set to run from January 5–30, 2028, warning the decision could be “catastrophic” for both the domestic competition and player welfare.

FIFA insists its calendar works because it has been approved. Domestic leagues are increasingly asking a different question: approved by whom?

The dates, signed off by the FIFA Council in December,