English football clubs facing financial distress drops by 50 per cent December 10, 2025 The financial health of English football appears to be improving, with the number of clubs in the EFL deemed to be facing distress halving since last year. Only three of the 72 teams in the English Football League, which comprises the three professional divisions below the Premier League, meet that bar, according to an annual [...]
Icons, purpose and gastronomy: How brands can win at the 2026 World Cup December 7, 2025 The Fifa men’s World Cup is more than a tournament, it’s becoming the most glamorous, immersive and culturally defining sporting event of the decade. With 48 teams, three host nations, and a projected $17bn economic impact, the scale of the World Cup is staggering. And in true American style, Fifa has even announced the 2026 [...]
World Cup has found ‘right number’ by expanding to 48 teams, says Wenger December 5, 2025 Arsene Wenger insists that Fifa has found the “right number” by expanding the World Cup to 48 teams for the first time in 2026. The former Arsenal manager, now Fifa’s chief of global football development, has long been among the most vocal supporters for the expansion. Critics argue that the move makes the tournament too [...]
World Cup draw: Why Scotland have bookmakers running scared December 5, 2025 Scottish success is the result that bookmakers fear the most ahead of today’s 2026 World Cup draw, William Hill has said. Scotland booked their return to football’s biggest event, ending a 28-year absence, with a dramatic win over Denmark last month. Steve Clarke’s team are 125-1 outsiders to lift the World Cup but that hasn’t [...]
London City Lionesses score deal as Mastercard doubles down on Kang December 5, 2025 Mastercard has expanded its partnership with Michele Kang’s stable of women’s football clubs by becoming a sponsor of London City Lionesses. The company has become official payments partner as part of a wider deal with the club that will see it offer cardholders and supporters “Priceless” matchday experiences, including meeting players and mascot opportunities. Mastercard [...]
Lineker 1, BBC 0: Goalhanger set for bumper World Cup deal with Netflix December 2, 2025 Netflix has reportedly signed Gary Lineker’s The Rest Is Football podcast in a deal which will see the former BBC presenter go up against his old employer at next year’s World Cup. Lineker is expected set to earn millions of pounds from selling the rights to the show, in which he discusses topical football matters [...]
Sheffield Wednesday: Chansiri gets three-year ban as tuna tycoon canned December 1, 2025 Sheffield Wednesday’s former owner Dejphon Chansiri has been banned from football for three years for his role in the club’s ongoing financial crisis. Wednesday, one of England’s most historic clubs, are in administration and look destined for relegation to the third tier after a further six-point deduction today left them 23 points adrift at the [...]
Selhurst Park among 22 stadiums for 2035 Women’s World Cup November 28, 2025 Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace, Birmingham City’s planned new stadium and Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground are set to host games at the Women’s World Cup in 2035. They are among 22 venues – along with the more established likes of Wembley, the Principality Stadium, Hampden Park and Windsor Park – proposed by the football [...]
Budget crackdown on football image rights ‘incredible’, say tax experts November 27, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been accused of disproportionately targeting football for tax rises after the Budget laid out plans for a raid on image rights earnings. Top footballers benefit from setting up image rights companies which are taxed at a lower rate than their salaries, but the government says it will legislate “to ensure that [...]
West Ham sponsor: Bookmakers won’t desert football over Premier League ban November 24, 2025 West Ham’s front-of-shirt sponsor has reassured the Premier League that the gambling industry won’t run away from football after a ban on betting partners takes effect next year. England’s leading clubs voted to voluntarily ban gambling sponsors as front-of-shirt partners in a move due to come into force at the start of next season. Over [...]