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Tag: Fifa

  • My goal is to get Club World Cup scrapped – La Liga president

    My goal is to get Club World Cup scrapped – La Liga president

    La Liga president Javier Tebas has told FIFA to scrap the Club World Cup from the football calendar.

    The ongoing Club World Cup organised by FIFA has been a controversial competition since it was announced due to its location in the USA, its major prize pool and the number of games at the end of another exhausting season packed full of games which means player welfare is at risk.

    Spanish top flight clubs Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are both involved in the tournament whilst La Liga champions Barcelona missed out alongside Premier League champions Liverpool in what is another hiccup before the tournament began. Speaking at a football industry event, Tebas was asked how FIFA can revise the current Club World Cup which many players, coaches and fans have spoken out about.

    “By eliminating it. My goal is to ensure there are no more Club World Cups, that’s very clear to me.”

    He was then asked whether there was a way to make the tournament more compatible with the intense football calendar and revealed that it is not possible and that the tournament must be ripped apart.

    “There are no dates. There’s no need for yet another competition that moves money to a sector of clubs and players and comes from somewhere. There’s no more money here; we have to maintain the ecosystem and eliminate it. Keep it as it was before, which was a weekend. There’s no way, neither in terms of dates, nor economics, nor maintaining the sustainability of football.”

    The Club World Cup will continue this week with the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Juventus all kicking off over the next few days. Despite such huge fixtures, the tournament has failed to attract the American crowd who have left many of the stadiums more than half empty.

  • Singer Tems excited ahead of historic FIFA Club World Cup show

    Singer Tems excited ahead of historic FIFA Club World Cup show

    Grammy-winning Nigerian music sensation, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has expressed excitement ahead of her performance at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show.

    The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled to be held between June 14 and July 13 in the United States, with the highly anticipated halftime show billed for  July 13 at the MetLife Stadium.

    According to a statement by Global Citizen, producers of the show, Tems will headline the show alongside Colombian hitmaker, J Balvin and American pop star, Doja, of a performance that will be broadcast live.

    In reaction to the historic performance, Tems expressed excitement about the significance of the show.

    “We’re going to bring the world together for a beautiful moment — to celebrate football, feel the unity that music brings, and help improve the lives of millions of children through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund (FGCEF).”

    “I can’t wait. See you at the FIFA Club World Cup final!”, she said.

    According to the organisers, the performance is part of a broader effort to raise awareness and support for the FGCEF.

    The FGCEF is a joint initiative led by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino and Global Citizen co-founder, Hugh Evans.

    The fund aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football for children across the globe.

  • FIFA approves 48 teams for Women’s World Cup from 2031

    FIFA approves 48 teams for Women’s World Cup from 2031

    The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams from the 2031 edition onwards after the FIFA Council approved the proposal at a virtual meeting on Friday.

    The 48-team World Cup will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 – the same as the expanded men’s World Cup in 2026 – and extending the tournament by one week.

    The 2027 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Brazil, will have 32 teams.

    The 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand was the first to have 32 teams, up from 24 in the 2019 tournament hosted by France.

    “This is not just about having 16 more teams playing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup but taking the next steps in relation to the women’s game in general,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

    “More FIFA member associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women’s football structures from a holistic point of view,”he said.

    The U.S. is poised to be named host of the 2031 Women’s World Cup as the only bid, making the third time the country will stage the tournament after previously hosting it in 1999 and 2003.

    The United Kingdom is the sole bidder for the 2035 tournament. Hosts for the 2031 and 2035 editions are yet to be ratified.

    Although there are concerns that games could be one-sided with 48 teams, Infantino said the 2023 edition showed sides are closing the gap on the elite.

    “The  Women’s World Cup 2023, the first in which teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage, mong many other records, set a new standard for global competitiveness,” he added.

  • Ex-NFF president, Amaju Pinnick loses FIFA council seat

    Ex-NFF president, Amaju Pinnick loses FIFA council seat

    Former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has failed in his bid for re-election into the FIFA Council, missing out by just one vote.

    The two-term president of NFF missed out by just one vote.

    At the Confederation of African Football General Assembly in Cairo on Wednesday, Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi secured the last available seat with 29 votes, edging out Pinnick, who managed 28.

    Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa topped the election with 49 votes, while Egypt’s Hani Rida and Niger’s Djibrilla Hamidou each polled 35 votes. Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Waberi also secured their places with 29 votes apiece.

    The outcome marks a setback for Pinnick, who had served on FIFA’s highest decision-making body since 2021 and was hoping to extend his tenure.

    In the women’s category, Kanizat Ibrahim from Comoros clinched the seat with 30 votes, outpacing Lydia Nsekera (13 votes) and Isha Johansen (7 votes).

  • Vinicius Jr named FIFA Best men’s player for 2024

    Vinicius Jr named FIFA Best men’s player for 2024

    Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinicius Junior was voted as FIFA’s Best men’s player for 2024 on Tuesday.

    The 24-year-old, who helped Real Madrid win the Champions League and La Liga, beat nine other nominees including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and record winner Lionel Messi.

    It is his first major international award. He skipped the rival Ballon d’Or ceremony in October after being angry about not winning.

    The awards were held at a dinner attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the Qatari capital Doha, announced at one day’s notice.

    Most winners sent video messages instead of attending although Vinicius Junior was in attendance.

    FIFA’s Best was voted for by national coaches and captains, journalists and fans worldwide via an online poll.

    Earlier, Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was named Best women’s player for the second straight year.

    US coach and former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes won the women’s coach award for winning the Premier League and Olympics. Carlo Ancelotti took the men’s prize having guided Madrid to a 15th European Cup and his fifth personally.

    Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United received the Puskas Award for the Best men’s goal for his overhead kick against Everton in the Premier League.

    The women’s equivalent gong, the inaugural Marta Award, was picked up by Marta herself after the Brazil star’s strike in a friendly against Jamaica before her international retirement.

    The Best women’s goalkeeper was American Alyssa Naeher while the men’s award went to Argentina and Aston Villa stopper Emiliano Martinez.

    The award ceremony was criticised, not just for the short notice meaning few winners could be there, but also because it clashed with women’s Champions League matches.

    The online feed started late, a camera was shaky and there were several other technical and procedural glitches.

  • 2026 World Cup: FIFA confirms at least 9 teams for Africa

    2026 World Cup: FIFA confirms at least 9 teams for Africa

    FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday confirmed that at least nine African teams will compete in the 2026 World Cup that would take place in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

    Infantino made the remarks when the 46th Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ordinary General Assembly opened on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

    This brought together leaders and delegates of member associations from across Africa.

    “In World Cup 2026, there will be nine or 10 African countries (and regions) participating in the World Cup,’’ said Infantino.

    He noted that the increase is to be made in line with FIFA’s expanded World Cup format.

    Infantino urged African countries to further invest in and unleash the potential of the continent’s young football players.

    “I encourage all of you to continue investing in youth football because those kids, those girls and boys, will be the stars of tomorrow,’’ he said.

    The president said FIFA is also considering increasing the number of African teams participating in the FIFA Women’s World Cup to six.

    He also noted that Morocco is set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030, which would make the country the second African nation to host the World Cup after South Africa.

    Addressing the opening session of the Assembly, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie appealed to CAF to endorse Ethiopia’s bid to host the 2029 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2029) tournament.

    Atske Selassie  noted the need to bring the World Cup trophy to African soil, although many players with African roots becoming instrumental for the victory of non-African nations to claim the prestigious football trophy.

    “The key to elevating the football sport and nurturing young talent lies in the scaling up of the collective efforts.

    “With this foundational talent in place, African football can thrive and occupy its rightful place on the global stage,’’ Atske Selassie said.

    Expressing best wishes for Ethiopia’s bid to host AFCON 2029, CAF President Patrice Motsepe encouraged the government of Ethiopia and the football federation to work closely to make timely decisions regarding Ethiopia’s proposal submission.

    “We are very excited about the intention of Ethiopia to submit a proposal to host the AFCON 2029.

    “The success of football is what happens in Ethiopia, what happens in other parts of the continent. We are successful in some countries.

    “In others, we are not successful,’’ he added.

    Former African football stars, including Samuel Eto’o, Jay-Jay Okocha, El-Hadji Diouf, among others, attended the 46th CAF Ordinary General Assembly.

  • 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria smash New Zealand

    2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria smash New Zealand

    The Nigerian team on Wednesday in the Dominican Republic defeated their New Zealand counterparts 4-1 in their opening match at the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

    NAN reports that, in the match played at the Cibao Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, the Flamingos were outstanding in recording their first victory.

    Shakirat Moshood opened scoring in the second minute of the game, before Taiwo Adegoke doubled the lead in the 13th minute to give the team a good advantage.

    Faridat Abdulwahab scored the third goal in the 28th minute to take the game beyond their opponents by the end of the first half of the match.

    The New Zealand girls fought back but they could not convert any of their goal scoring chances before the end of the first half.

    On resumption of the second half, the Flamingos continued to dominate the game and Taiwo Afolabi duly scored the fourth goal in the 55th minute.

    Hannah Saxon went on to score New Zealand’s only goal in the 60th minute to make the final scores 4-1.

    The Flamingos will now in their next game on Saturday face Ecuador, who beat host nation Dominican Republic 2-0 later on Wednesday.

    Nigeria will end their Group A campaign on Tuesday when they take on the host nation at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo.

    NAN reports that Nigeria have participated in every edition of the competition, finishing in the semi-finals in the last edition at India in 2022.

    That was the closest they have ever got to winning the competition.

    NAN reports that 16 teams from six confederations are participating in the ongoing 2024 edition which began on Wednesday and is expected to end on Nov. 3.

  • FIFA hammer Cameroon football federation chairman, Etoo for 6 months

    FIFA hammer Cameroon football federation chairman, Etoo for 6 months

    FIFA has hammered Cameroon football federation president Samuel Eto’o for six months on Monday over his conduct at a Women’s Under-20 World Cup match.

    The former Barcelona star was deemed guilty of breaching FIFA’s rules relating to “offensive behaviour, violation of the principles of fair-play and misconduct of players and officials”.

    The charges relate to Cameroon’s last-16 game against Brazil, which the South Americans won 3-1 after extra time.

    Eto’o and the Cameroon delegation saw red over a penalty that led to Brazil’s equaliser at the match in Bogota, Colombia on September 11.

    Eto’o is suspended from attending any Cameroon matches, men or women and of any age category, but the sanction does not effect his role as president of Fecafoot, Cameroon’s football federation.

    In July, Eto’o was fined $200,000 for a brand deal with an online gambling firm ruled to be an ethics violation by the Confederation of African Football.

    Eto’o, elected president of Fecafoot in 2021, was also in conflict with his country’s sports ministry, calling their appointment of Belgian Marc Brys earlier this year as the men’s team coach “illegal”.

  • How clubs spent $6.46bn in concluded transfer window

    How clubs spent $6.46bn in concluded transfer window

    The summer transfer window has seen a record 11,000 players around the world join new clubs in men’s football, with $6.46 billion spent, the ruling body FIFA said on Tuesday.

    FIFA said in its International Transfer Snapshot covering the period June 1 to Sept. 2 that spendings were only exceeded in 2023 when 10,490 players moved for $7.43 billion.

    English clubs led the way in money spent on new players ($1.69 billion), received for departing players ($1.25 billion), as well as for the number of players arriving (526) and leaving (523).

    Even smaller clubs such as Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion and promoted Ipswich Town were able to spend more than $100 million on new players.

    Italy followed with $825 million spent, ahead of France ($697 million) Spain ($599 million), Germany ($572 million) and Saudi Arabia ($431 million) which had splashed out big sums 12 months ago.

    Italian clubs spent almost double the $425 million they received for player sales, while French sides generated more with $756 million than they spent.

    The biggest summer transfer was the move of Argentina forward Julian Alvarez from Manchester City to Atlético Madrid for around €75 million ($83 million), plus add-ons.

    The women’s game meanwhile saw spendings more than doubled from 2023 to a record $6.8 million, with 1,125 players also moving, a record up from 853 last year.

    List of major signings in 2024/2025 transfer window

    The following is a list of major signings during the 2024/2025 pre-season transfer window, which closed on Aug. 30 (transfer fees reported by club or media include add-ons):

    ENGLAND

    • Raheem Sterling: From Chelsea to Arsenal (loan)
    • Jadon Sancho: From Manchester United to Chelsea (loan)
    • Dominic Solanke: From Bournemouth to Tottenham Hotspur (65 million pounds)
    • Pedro Neto: From Wolverhampton Wanderers to Chelsea (54 million pounds)
    • Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui: From Bayern Munich to Manchester United (50 million pounds combined)
    • Amadou Onana: From Everton to Aston Villa (50 million pounds)
    • Manuel Ugarte: From Paris St Germain to Manchester United (50 million euros)
    • Joao Felix: From Atletico Madrid to Chelsea (46 milion pounds)
    • Joshua Zirkzee: From Bologna to Manchester United (42.5 million euros)
    • Evanilson: From Porto to Bournemouth (40.2 million pounds)
    • Archie Gray: From Leeds United to Tottenham Hotspur (40 milion pounds)
    • Jean-Clair Todibo: From Nice to West Ham United (40 million euros)
    • Georginio Rutter: From Leeds United to Brighton & Hove Albion (40 million pounds)
    • Riccardo Calafiori: From Bologna to Arsenal (40 million euros)
    • lan Maatsen: From Chelsea to Aston Villa (40 million pounds)
    • Mikel Merino: From Real Sociedad to Arsenal (31 million pounds)
    • Eddie Nketiah: From Arsenal to Crystal Palace (30 million pounds)
    • Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: From Leicester to Chelsea (30 million pounds)
    • Yankuba Minteh: From Newcastle to Brighton (30 million pounds)
    • Joachim Andersen: From Crystal Palace to Fulham (30 million pounds)
    • Fabio Carvalho: From Liverpool to Brentford (27.5 million pounds)
    • David Raya: From Brentford to Arsenal (27 million pounds)
    • Aaron Ramsdale: From Arsenal to Southampton (25 million pounds)
    • Matt O’Riley: From Celtic to Brighton & Hove Albion (25 million pounds)
    • Sepp van den Berg: From Liverpool to Brentford (25 million pounds)
    • Filip Jorgensen: From Villarreal to Chelsea (20 million pounds)
    • Omari Hutchinson: From Chelsea to Ipswich (20 million pounds)
    • Oliver Skipp: From Tottenham Hotspur to Leicester City (20 million pounds)
    • Filip Jorgensen: From Villarreal to Chelsea (20 million pounds)
    • Sander Berge: From Burnley to Fulham (20 milion pounds)
    • Omari Kellyman: From Aston Villa to Chelsea (19 million pounds)
    • Jake O’Brien: From Olympique Lyonnais to Everton (17 million pounds)
    • Dean Huijsen: From Juventus FC to AFC Bournemouth (15.2 million euros)
    • Aaron Wan-Bissaka: From Manchester United to West Ham United (15 million pounds)
    • Cameron Archer: From Aston Villa to Southampton FC (15 million pounds)
    • Mateus Fernandes: From Sporting to Southanpton (15 million pounds)
    • Federico Chiesa: From Juve to Liverpool (12 million euros)
    • Ismaila Sarr: From Olympique de Marseille to Crystal Palace (12.5 million pounds)
    • Caleb Wiley: From Major League Soccer to Chelsea (8.5 million pounds)
    • lkay Gundogan: From Barcelona to Manchester City (undisclosed)
    • Ross Barkley: From Luton to Aston Villa (undisclosed)
    • Samuel lling-Junior: From Juve to Aston Villa (undisclosed)
    • Enzo Barrenechea: From Juve to Aston Villa (undisclosed
    • Adam Lallana: From Brighton to Southampton (undisclosed)
    • Tosin Adarabioyo: Fulham to Chelsea (free transfer)
    • Jorgen Strand Larsen: Celta Vigo to Wolverhampton Wanderers (undisclosed)
    • liman Ndiaye: From Olympique de Marseille to Everton (undisclosed)
    • Caleb Okoli: From Atalanta to Leicester City (undisclosed)
    • Miodrag Pivas: From Jedinstvo Ub to Newcastle United (undisclosed)
    • Yang Min-Hyeok: From Gangwon FC to Tottenham Hotspur (undisclosed)
    • Kuryu Matsuki: From FC Tokyo to Southanmpton FC (undisclosed)
    • Anwar EI Ghazi: From Mainz to Cardiff City (undisclosed)
    • Wilson Odobert: From Burnley to Tottenham Hotspur (undisclosed)
    • Dara 0’Shea: from Burnley to Ipswich Town (undisclosed)
    • Alex Moreno: From Aston Villa to Nottingham Forest (fee undisclosed)
    • Sam Johnstone: From Crystal Palace to Wolverhampton (undisclosed)
    • Daichi Kamada: From Lazio to Crystal Palace (free transfer)
    • Neto: From Bournemouth to Arsenal (loan)

    UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

    Mohamed Elneny: From Arsenal to A-Jazira (free transfer)

    SCOTLAND

    Kasper Schmeichel: From Anderlecht to Celtic (free transfer)

    TURKEY

    Youssef En-Nesyri: From Sevilla to Fenerbahce (20 milion euros)

    AUSTRIA

    Bobby Clark: From Liverpool to RB Salzburg (10 million pounds).

  • Samson Siasia reflects on difficult years of FIFA ban

    Samson Siasia reflects on difficult years of FIFA ban

    Coach Samson Siasia says that he is more renewed and prepared to continue with his lifetime passion of coaching, following his return to full scale football activities. Siasia spoke on the sidelines of an event organised by friends and parents of Siaone Soccer Academy to mark his return to full football activities on Saturday in Abuja.

    Siasia, a renowned former Super Eagles player and coach, completed a ban imposed by FIFA for a match-fixing allegation. Initially a lifetime penalty, it  was reduced to five years by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in 2019. He admitted that it had been five difficult years of momentary pain and emotional anguish for him.

    Siasia said that the ban came as a shock to him and was very devastating, adding that it was over an offence he never committed. He said  that he was charged, investigated, tried and sentenced without his knowledge.

    “I was never informed that I was under investigation over any allegation against me. I did not have the chance to defend myself for one second before I was banned. I was prevented from fully practicing my only profession, the game of football. But I thank God that the night is over, the day is here at last and I am free again to practice my profession with my usual honesty and sincerity of character.

    “In my over 25 years of coaching career, I have jealously guarded and maintained my principles and character with utmost uncompromising sincerity. I have never and will never partake in bribery, corruption and dirty deals of any sorts,” he said.

    The 57-year-old tactician, however said that he was inseparable from football, adding that the ban did not forbid him from renewing his knowledge of the game. He said that his one and only aspiration was to see Nigeria succeed and get back, and reclaim her rightful position among the successful football-playing nations of the world.

    “I wish to inform my supporters across Nigerians and beyond that I did not spend the last five years in idleness or lamentation. Not one day out of the 1,826 days was wasted in agony or hopelessness. It was a period of serious reflection and painstaking updating and close appraisal and reappraisal of the dynamics of the game of my youth and adulthood.

    “Today, I am back more resolved, more determined, more committed and unbowed. For five years, I was down, but I am certainly not out because it is not over. I am returning to the game renewed and prepared to continue with my lifetime passion,” he said.

    Siasia expressed gratitude to all those who stood by him during his trying moments, including his family, supporters and sports journalists for their solidarity. He appreciated the committee of friends and parents of Siaone Soccer Academy for hosting the event in his honour.