English rugby is on brink of seismic change. It mustn’t fumble at the try line Sport Business Ed Warner was part of the group that has recommended major changes to the way English rugby is governed. He explains why this is a generational opportunity. This is news overload time for English rugby. The men’s national team wilting twice in the Six Nations under weighty expectations, debate about the possible impact of head [...]
World Cup events in doubt as US shutdown risks host city funding Sport Business Fears of “catastrophic” security issues at this year’s Fifa World Cup have emerged after US officials warned of financial shortfalls to the tune of over £650m. A partial federal government shutdown across the pond forced the freezing of nearly $900m of funding that would have been spent on the 11 US cities co-hosting the World [...]
Six Nations in-game ads pave way for football to be split into quarters Sport Business Like many Welsh rugby fans, the highlight of the first round of the Six Nations was the small moment of relief granted by the ad breaks in either half, twenty seconds of respite from giving away penalties, points and accumulating yellow cards. I’m not sure everyone was as pleased to see them as me. They [...]
Boycott 2026 World Cup over Greenland, European countries told January 20, 2026 European countries should consider a boycott of the 2026 World Cup over US president Donald Trump’s attempts to seize Greenland, say senior football figures in Germany and France. The US is set to stage the lion’s share of this summer’s tournament, which it is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, including all knockout games from the [...]
Fifa World Cup faces threats from cyber attacks and hacktivists January 6, 2026 The 2026 Fifa World Cup faces the “very real risk” of cyber attacks from anti-Western “hacktivists”, according to experts. This summer’s tournament – being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada – is set to be targeted by rogue states determined to disrupt the global spectacle. An attempt to harm Fifa World Cup infrastructure [...]
Some Scots to get bank holiday to celebrate Fifa World Cup January 5, 2026 Some Scots will enjoy a bank holiday this year to celebrate the national team’s return to the Fifa World Cup. Scotland qualified for the event – co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico – to reach their first World Cup since 1998. And Scottish First Minister John Swinney has said that 15 June will [...]
Why 2026 will be the year of technology and AI in sport January 4, 2026 Arthur Hu, the chief information officer at Lenovo, discusses why 2026 is the year for AI and technology in sport It feels as if the sporting calendar never stops, it just keeps spinning with yet another tournament, match or race around the corner. And 2026 will be no different, headlined by the Winter Olympic and [...]
Fifa boss Infantino defends 2026 World Cup ticket prices, citing demand December 29, 2025 Fifa boss Gianni Infantino has defended the price of tickets for next year’s World Cup. Football’s governing body has come under intense pressure surrounding the cost of tickets, with the cheapest seat at next summer’s final costing over £3,000. Infantino’s Fifa was forced to introduce capped tickets for some fans of the teams competing at [...]
US investors buy stakes in Liga MX’s Club America and Azteca Stadium in $490m enterprise value deal December 24, 2025 US investors have purchased stakes in Mexican football team Club America and the iconic Azteca Stadium in a $490m enterprise value deal to go into Mexican football just months before the 2026 Fifa World Cup. In a joint statement to the Mexican stock exchange — Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV) — a new entity known as [...]
World Cup: The rise of the armchair fan and why it matters December 16, 2025 The row over the 2026 World Cup ticket prices is as predictable as a plucky, late-stage English exit. But the eyewatering price tags are only part of the story. Without going into the economic principle of supply versus demand (the tickets will still sell out, in my opinion), I thought it was more interesting to [...]