Motsepe backed to succeed Fifa’s Infantino by South African minister Sport Business African football chief Patrice Motsepe has been backed to succeed Gianni Infantino as president of Fifa when the Swiss moves on from an anticipated third term in 2031. The South African minister for sport, Gayton McKenzie, said “I don’t know if there’s anybody that will disagree with his name” being in the hat to succeed [...]
Infantino facing IOC probe after complaint lodged over Trump’s Balogun intervention Sport Business 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 Sport Business 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 [...]
Fifa hits back at Trump and Egypt over refereeing bias claims July 9, 2026 Fifa’s referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has hit back at critics of officiating at the World Cup after President Trump and the Egypt team made allegations of bias. Trump said Raphael Claus, the Brazilian ref who sent off USA’s Folarin Balogun, “was a little bit suspect” and later claimed his pressure had resulted in Fifa suspending [...]
Trump and Infantino: The venomous relationship between sport and politics July 7, 2026 The debacle between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino proves beyond doubt sport and politics are intertwined, Matt Hardy writes. “I feel disappointed with too many people. They put politics and manipulation, talk about ethics and integrity [first]. If we talk about the history of this game, I am disappointed in a personal way.” Those were [...]
Hated World Cup hydration breaks here to stay for even hotter 2030 and 2034 July 1, 2026 Hydration breaks are expected to remain a feature of future World Cups despite attracting widespread criticism, City AM understands. The divisive three-minute pauses, taken midway through each half, have become one of the tournament’s hottest talking points. They have effectively turned football into a game of four quarters and head coaches have said they are [...]
England’s secret weapon against World Cup heat? British company’s £26 product June 17, 2026 England have turned to a British hot water bottle maker for help coping with the extreme World Cup heat ahead of their tournament opener against Croatia in Dallas tonight. High temperatures are expected to be a defining feature of this tournament – with dangerous conditions possible in 14 of the 16 host cities – and, [...]
Platini sues Fifa and president Infantino over alleged plot to topple him June 9, 2026 Former Uefa president Michel Platini is suing Fifa boss Gianni Infantino, accusing him and two others of plotting against him and ending his chances of landing football’s top job. Platini’s lawyers have announced that they are bringing legal action in Paris against Infantino and two former Fifa officials, legal director Marco Villiger and audit chair [...]
Sovereignty has replaced ownership as the real currency of power in football June 4, 2026 The City AM Football Power List illustrates the shifting sands of the sport ahead of the 2026 World Cup, writes one of its judges, Amar Singh. We are days away from a truly super-sized Fifa World Cup – 48 teams, three host nations, and a tournament that will be watched by more people than any [...]
Fifa boss Infantino pips PSG chief Al-Khelaifi in City AM Football Power List June 4, 2026 Fifa president Gianni Infantino has topped the inaugural City AM Football Power List, a week before the biggest ever men’s World Cup is due to kick off. The ranking, compiled with a 16-strong panel of expert judges drawn from across the sports industry, is designed to be a snapshot of who controls the most popular [...]