Madonna, Shakira and BTS announced for Fifa World Cup half-time show Sport Business Madonna, Shakira and BTS will perform in the first ever World Cup half-time show, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The three global superstar acts are set to appear on the pitch at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey during an extended interval to the final on Sunday 19 July. Martin announced the line-up today [...]
Fifa’s World Cup model is grotesque and will drive away credible future hosts Sport Business The FA and other potential future World Cup hosts should take Fifa to task over an event model that makes no sense for rational bidders, says Ed Warner. Great news! It’s just got cheaper to get to the World Cup. NJ Transit has slashed the price of a return train from Penn Station to the [...]
Fifa defends World Cup ticket prices: ‘We had to apply market rates’ Sport Business Fifa president Gianni Infantino has defended the price of tickets at this summer’s World Cup, insisting football’s world governing body “had to apply market rates”. Tickets for the tournament are the most expensive in its history and have triggered a wave of criticism, including a formal complaint from a fans’ group to the European Commission. [...]
Why we can’t just dismiss Infantino’s sports diplomacy with Trump May 3, 2026 Former FCDO special adviser, Flint Global’s Alan Sendorek, discusses the sport diplomacy playing out with Fifa’s Infantino and Trump at its centre. Gianni Infantino’s efforts to cultivate a visibly warm relationship with Donald Trump have been mocked in many quarters. From the award of the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize to hailing the President as ‘my [...]
Death of Football Focus is a signal for every brand at the World Cup May 1, 2026 Brands will spend fortunes on this summer’s World Cup but they should heed the BBC’s warning when scrapping Football Focus, writes Amar Singh. I grew up with Football Focus. Saturday lunchtime, Bob Wilson in a grey suit, grainy footage of some Division Two ground in the rain. It was the traditional seat-warmer for a weekend [...]
2026 World Cup prize money boosted as Fifa counts on $11bn revenue bonanza April 29, 2026 Fifa has topped up prize money for the 2026 World Cup after teams raised concerns about the cost of competing in a tournament that spans the US, Canada and Mexico. Football’s world governing body has approved an increase in total payouts from the $727m it announced in December to $871m, raising the guaranteed sum for [...]
Beer fear: CO2 shortage could lead to state-backed beer at World Cup April 16, 2026 Brits face drinking state-backed beer during the Fifa World Cup as CO2 shortage fears leave breweries and boozers reliant on government gas. The war in Iran has caused chaos across Gulf shipping lanes with government analysis suggesting a closure of the Strait of Hormuz for a long period of time could lead to shortages of [...]
Trump-linked crypto firm Nexo in Fifa World Cup deal with Messi’s Argentina April 14, 2026 Donald Trump-linked crypto firm Nexo has announced a sponsorship deal with Lionel Messi’s Argentina ahead of this summer’s Fifa World Cup. The digital wealth platform will be the Argentine Football Association’s official digital asset partner when they attempt to defend their title at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The deal bolsters [...]
Panmure Liberum: Netherlands will win first Fifa World Cup April 9, 2026 Investment bank Panmure Liberum has predicted the Netherlands will win their first World Cup this summer having correctly forecast the previous three winners. In a note published on Thursday, author Joachim Klement said that the Netherlands under Ronald Koeman will lift the iconic gold trophy in New Jersey this summer. He correctly predicted Germany to [...]
Fifa World Cup tickets on resale for $11m as costs soar April 8, 2026 Tickets for this year’s Fifa World Cup are being resold for an eye-watering $11m as fans fear taking out second mortgages to get to North America. The category four ticket at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami would give a fan access to Scotland’s showpiece group match against Brazil, but will cost $11m on Fifa’s [...]