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 [...]
Mexico’s Club Leon banned from Fifa Club World Cup in USA March 21, 2025 Mexico’s Club Leon have been kicked out of the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup over multi-club ownership rules. The 2023 CONCACAF Champions League winners Leon are owned by the same group – Grupo Pachuca – that owns fellow Mexican side Pachuca, who are also in this year’s Club World Cup. And due to rules banning [...]
Eyebrows raised as Manchester United skip tender to hire Foster for stadium March 12, 2025 Manchester United are set to confirm Sir Norman Foster’s firm as architects of their planned £2bn, 100,000-seat stadium without running a formal tender process. The absence of an open tender has caused surprise in the industry, given United are a listed company on the New York Stock Exchange, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe has also taken [...]
Fifa asks Coldplay to curate first ever World Cup final half-time show March 5, 2025 Fifa is introducing a half-time show for the 2026 World Cup final and has asked Coldplay singer Chris Martin to help curate a selection of artists to perform. The half-time show is a staple of NFL’s Super Bowl and, with the next World Cup final set to be held in the US, Fifa is importing [...]
Coca-Cola and Fifa resolve legal spat to continue Club World Cup deal February 21, 2025 Coca-Cola and football governing body Fifa appear to have resolved their legal spat after the soft drinks giant was confirmed as a sponsor for the Club World Cup. Alongside German sports apparel firm Adidas, Coca-Cola opened separate legal cases against Fifa surrounding the sponsorship rights of the Club World Cup. The pair were reportedly unhappy [...]
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 [...]
Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the US are the countries to watch in sport in 2025 January 1, 2025 Professor Simon Chadwick explains why Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United States are his three countries to watch in sport in 2025. With the global sport industry apparently set to continue on its growth trajectory in 2025, albeit in the context of uncertain geopolitical times, many countries across the world will find themselves jockeying for [...]
Ahead of the Game: Man United cuts could be copied by other clubs December 30, 2024 Manchester United’s controversial move to slash the funding it provides to its charitable foundation as part of cost-cutting measures introduced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be followed by other Premier League clubs. The Manchester United Foundation are set to be the latest victims of Ratcliffe’s drive to cut costs at Old Trafford, with Sky News [...]
Netflix and FIFA sign landmark TV rights deal for Women’s World Cup December 20, 2024 The tournament marks the first competition to be acquired in full by Netflix, as the streaming giant looks to expand its sporting coverage.
LaLiga slam ‘failed’ Super League plans as Unify League announced December 17, 2024 Spanish football league LaLiga has hit out at revised plans for the European Super League, now under the name of the Unify League. The organisers of the European Super League have announced its rebranding as the “Unify League” as they step up efforts to revive the breakaway competition. A year after the European Court of [...]