How sport could shape Xi Jinping’s next five-year China plan June 25, 2025 It doesn’t feel like that long ago when the world was captivated by 2,008 drummers from China opening the Beijing Olympic Games in perfect harmony. But that was a different China in a different era, and the Sleeping Dragon has been in something of a comatose state since due to a number of factors including [...]
Trump policies may betray spirit of football, fans say June 11, 2025 A fans’ group chief has warned that clipping the right to free speech by the Trump administration at the 2026 Fifa World Cup would be “a betrayal of the spirit of football”. The calls to resist curbing free speech comes as the US – which this week hosts the Club World Cup and next year [...]
Carlo Ancelotti becomes Brazil national football team manager May 12, 2025 Carlo Ancelotti has been announced as the manager of the Brazil football team, it was confirmed on Monday. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced Ancelotti will become the next head coach of the Seleção, who have won the Fifa World Cup on five occasions, having concluded a successful stint with Real Madrid. The Italian has [...]
UK to host first Fifa World Cup since 1966 triumph April 3, 2025 The United Kingdom’s 2035 Fifa Women’s World Cup bid is the only “valid” application, according to Fifa. The organisation’s chief Gianni Infantino admitted at the Fifa Congress that it’s the “one valid bid” following the submission deadline. “I can confirm that we have received one bid for 2031, and one valid bid for 2035,” Infantino [...]
Starmer throws weight behind 2035 Fifa World Cup bid March 6, 2025 Prime Minister Keir Starmer has thrown his weight behind a United Kingdom bid for the 2035 Fifa Women’s World Cup. The bid would combine stadiums from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and, if it is successful, would see the Home Nations host the showpiece women’s event for the first time ever. Starmer said the [...]
Trump: 2026 Fifa World Cup co-host Canada hits out at 51st State jibe February 27, 2025 The manager of America’s 2026 Fifa World Cup co-host Canada has hit out at President Donald Trump over claims The Great White North should be the US’ 51st State. Trump previously said: “If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that they’d become a state.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford hit [...]
Dry in the desert: Alcohol to be banned at 2034 Fifa World Cup in Saudi Arabia February 12, 2025 Alcohol will not be allowed at the 2034 Fifa World Cup in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom’s ambassador said on Wednesday. Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud said that “there’s no alcohol at all” in the country, adding that there would not be an exemption for the World Cup, which Saudi Arabia won last year. The [...]
Exclusive: Saudi Arabia readies Olympic Games bid but may hold until 2040 February 4, 2025 Saudi Arabia is readying a bid to host the Olympic Games but is prepared to wait until 2040 to maximise its chances, a leading official has told City AM. Group CEO of Diriyah Company Jerry Inzerillo said it was a “matter of time before Saudi will announce an intention for an Olympic bid”, adding that [...]
European football to rebel over winter World Cup in Saudi Arabia December 10, 2024 European football leagues are set to rebel against plans to host the 2034 Fifa World Cup in Saudi Arabia in the winter. The Middle Eastern kingdom is set to be officially confirmed as hosts for the 2034 edition of the World Cup on Wednesday at a Fifa congress meeting. The move could see Saudi Arabia [...]
Saudi Arabia: The proposed stadiums of the 2034 Fifa World Cup August 1, 2024 Saudi Arabia is probably going to be hosting the 2034 Fifa World Cup. They are the only bidder at the moment and the process has closed, so it’s odds on. And, unsurprisingly, they’ve gone all out in their stadium design. This week their respective delegation submitted their bid with renders of the proposed stadiums. Take [...]