Global Citizen’s links to Fifa chief Motsepe and the first ever World Cup half-time show July 19, 2026 If you haven’t heard of Global Citizen before, that may be about to change due to the charity’s role in the first ever half-time show during a World Cup final on Sunday. The show, curated by Coldplay frontman and longtime Global Citizen supporter Chris Martin, will feature performances from some of the biggest stars in [...]
World Cup final half-time show has been coming, but Fifa must be careful July 19, 2026 For a very long time, the World Cup final has needed no additional entertainment. The match was the spectacle. The players, the history and the occasion were enough. That is why Fifa’s decision to stage the first World Cup final half-time show has made me and plenty of others feel a bit uncomfortable. Madonna, Shakira, [...]
What can the Rugby World Cup learn from US nailing of Fifa World Cup? July 17, 2026 With a United States Rugby World Cup just five years away, Ollie Phillips asks what can the sport learn from the Fifa World Cup. Sitting here in the UK looking across the Atlantic to a World Cup mainly staged in the United States, it is difficult not to get just a little bit excited about [...]
World Cup demand pushes price of private jet charters up 30 per cent July 16, 2026 The price of chartering a private jet between some US cities has surged by up to 30 per cent due to “exceptionally strong demand” during the World Cup. Corporate groups, wealthy football fans and syndicates of supporters travelling together have turned to private charters in increasing numbers to navigate the biggest and most geographically dispersed [...]
NBA Europe bosses using World Cup final to hold talks with football club chiefs July 15, 2026 NBA chiefs say they plan to hold further talks with bidders for franchises in its planned European league during the World Cup final weekend in New York. Spain – home to perhaps the two most important prospective NBA Europe franchise locations in Madrid and Barcelona – will be in town after they beat France in [...]
England v Argentina: Bellingham bounce attracts more bets than Messi to score July 14, 2026 Jude Bellingham’s emergence as England’s World Cup hero has seen him backed by more punters than Lionel Messi to score in Wednesday’s semi-final with Argentina. Data from Sportradar, which processes betting tickets for 250 gambling firms worldwide, reveals that Bellingham has accounted for more than half (52 per cent) of wagers in the goalscorer market. [...]
Infantino facing IOC probe after complaint lodged over Trump’s Balogun intervention July 14, 2026 Fifa boss Gianni Infantino is facing an International Olympic Committee investigation after an official complaint was filed following US President Donald Trump’s intervention to block Folarin Balogun’s ban. The decision to suspend Balogun’s ban – enabling the USA’s best player to continue playing in the World Cup after he was sent off against Bosnia and [...]
Fifa’s 64-team World Cup plan facing opposition from Uefa, Concacaf and Asia July 13, 2026 Fifa’s plan to consider expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is facing major pushback, with Uefa and other confederations believed to be firmly opposed to the proposal. The first edition of the tournament to feature 48 nations is yet to finish but Fifa president Gianni Infantino has revived the prospect of further expansion [...]
Why Fifa World Cup players are drowning in commercial red tape July 12, 2026 Joshua Charalambous and Ellie Chakarto take a look at why this World Cup is restraining its stars A lot has been made about the star power at the Fifa Men’s World Cup – goals for Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal – and of course, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who both [...]
Miami heat: Why climate could be key in 40C England v Norway World Cup quarter-final July 10, 2026 Athletes from Norway are the masters of staying elite in the heat, but their football team hasn’t had the chance to test that theory ahead of their World Cup clash with England in sweltering Florida on Saturday. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. If England’s World Cup last-16 clash was about resilience [...]