A Congolese court in Brazzaville has slapped the president of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT), Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, with a life prison term after being found guilty of money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, and misuse of FIFA funds.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, March 10, in absentia, also sentenced the president’s wife and son, as they were implicated in the charges for which they were found guilty.
Mayolas was accused of diverting around $1.3 million in funds provided by FIFA. It was alleged that he siphoned about $500,000 through a network of shell companies, which was earmarked for the country’s women’s national team.
When his woes began
Mayola’s woes started in the middle of last year, when the presidents of the clubs competing in the Congolese Women’s Championship submitted a formal complaint to the Central Intelligence and Documentation Office, claiming that the $500,000 sent by FIFA to FECOFOOT in 2021 as part of its Covid-19 relief programme, only $20,000 had reached them, meaning $30,000.
Following this, FIFA’s audit reports flagged irregularities in the use of funds allocated to FECOFOOT.
The court also handed prison terms to several senior federation officials.
FECOFOOT’s general secretary, Badji Mombo Wantete, and treasurer, Raoul Kanda, were each sentenced to five years behind bars for their involvement in the financial irregularities.
Prosecutors said the verdict followed an eight-month investigation that examined banking records, financial documents and the federation’s internal administrative and accounting procedures.
The developments come as the DR Congo national football team prepares for a crucial fixture in the race for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The side is scheduled to play its final inter-confederation playoff match on March 31, 2026, at Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, with a World Cup spot at stake.
This year’s global football tournament, FIFA World Cup, is set to be hosted in three countries, USA, Canada and Mexico.
The tournament is scheduled to start in June and the first match will be played in Mexico, at the country’s historic Estadio Azteca.
However, the recent unrest in Mexico, particularly in the capital by drug cartel members following the killing of one of their leaders, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera has raised concerns about the safety of tourists, fans and even citizens during the games scheduled to be hosted in Mexico.
At least 74 people were killed during the operation to capture him at a ranch near Guadalajara and subsequent clashes between the security forces and suspected cartel members.
Only one was a civilian, according to the government, but residents and tourists alike were left scurrying for cover as cartel gunmen blocked roads in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states and torched vehicles and businesses.
Responding to fans and stakeholders concerns, leader of the governing body of FIFA, Gianni Infantino explained that he is certain Mexico remains safe to host the game despite the chaos and unrest.
“Very reassured, everything’s good. It’s going to be spectacular,” Infantino said in the Colombian city of Barranquilla.
How many matches will be played in Mexico?
Mexico will host a total of 13 matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These games will be spread across three stadiums in three different cities. The legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will stage five matches, including the prestigious opening game on June 11, 2026, where Mexico will play.
The Estadio Akron in Guadalajara will host four matches, all of which are group stage fixtures. Similarly, the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey will also host four matches, again all in the group stage.
This means Mexico City will see matches played five times, while Guadalajara and Monterrey will each stage four games.
‘No risk’ to football fans – Authorities say, but how about citizens, others
“It feels like we’re in a war zone,” Javier Perez, a 41-year-old engineer, told AFP on Tuesday in the parking lot of a grocery store replete with burnt-out cars in the Jalisco tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta.
The images of anarchy and violence were beamed around the world less than four months before the start of the World Cup, while FIFA on Monday refused to comment.
However, Infantino’s optimism was not reflected by the Portuguese Football Federation, who cast doubt on whether their team would play a friendly on 29 March in Mexico City.
The federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation currently unfolding in Mexico.”
It added that the safety of players, coaches and supporters was a top priority and security considerations would be the deciding factor.
Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre was more upbeat, declaring: “All is going ahead as planned.”
Earlier, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum assured that there was “no risk” to World Cup fans and said the situation was “gradually returning to normal.”
Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup is set to see approximately five to ten million people in attendance, according to the president of the football governing body, Gianni Infantino.
Speaking at a joint press briefing with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on 17 November, he noted that the tournament is expected to attract millions of people across the three countries set to host the games next year.
“Millions of fans will be coming. One of the things I’ve observed in America is that the stadiums here are really built for people to have fun, to enjoy, to spend time. They don’t just watch the game and leave — they stay for hours, and I think that’s exactly what we need. We need occasions that bring people together from all over the world.”
The USA is giving priority access to fans, the Whitehouse has announced.
People from all over the World will travel to support their countries. Consequently, the Whitehouse has announced that fans set to travel for the tournament to the USA will be given the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (Pass), given that most of the matches will be played there.
The FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) is a special visa‑interview scheduling program created by the U.S. government and FIFA for the 2026 World Cup. It gives ticket holders priority access to U.S. visa appointments, ensuring fans can travel to matches in North America despite existing visa backlogs.
Speaking during a joint press briefing with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House in Washington, D.C., on 17 November, President Donald Trump mentioned that “I’ve directed my administration to do everything within their power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success.”
Detailing how the ‘World’ will gain access into the US, the Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that, ticket-holders for the tournament, set for next June and July in the US, Canada and Mexico, will not be automatically granted a tourist visa.
But foreign nationals with tickets to World Cup football matches could get an interview at an embassy or consulate within six to eight weeks of applying, Rubio said.
“Your ticket is not a visa; it doesn’t guarantee admission to the US. We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue,” the Secretary noted.
The FIFA president also noted that “With this FIFA Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, who are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa”.
The announcement of priority visa appointments has been welcomed by many, including the US Travel Association, a tourism industry trade group. “The expedited process for FIFA ticket-holders adds needed efficiency without sacrificing security. This is the kind of practical action that strengthens security, increases capacity and cuts wait times, putting the U.S. on a stronger footing to welcome millions of visitors next year,” the group’s CEO, Geoff Freeman, said in a statement.
Morocco have moved three ranks higher according to the latest FIFA rankings. This was revealed in a statement shared by the global football governing body, FIFA, on Monday, January 19.
Morocco settled for second place at the 2025/26 AFCON after losing 1–0 to Senegal in the final. They fought hard and earned a penalty, which was, however, missed by Brahim Díaz after attempting a Panenka chip that was saved by Senegal’s goalkeeper, Édouard Mendy.
Senegal took the lead in the 94th minute after Pape Gueye found the back of the net in stoppage time, securing the team’s second AFCON title in five years.
Meanwhile, even though Morocco lost the title, they have earned a place in the top ten of the FIFA Men’s World Rankings, climbing from 12th position.
The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists’ previous best ranking was 10th, achieved in April 1998.
The highest ranking achieved by an African team was Nigeria’s fifth place in April 1994, while Egypt posted the best ranking among Arab nations, reaching ninth in July 2010.
Champions Senegal, who emerged victorious for a second time in the last three editions, moved up seven spots to reach their highest-ever ranking. Their previous best was 17th, achieved in 2024.
“The recently concluded CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has made a significant impact on the January 2026 edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, with both finalists, perhaps unsurprisingly, making significant strides. Despite suffering heartbreak in the final, hosts Morocco (8th, up 3) can take comfort from returning to the top 10 for the first time since April 1998, reaching their best-ever position. AFCON winners Senegal (12th, up 7) have been rewarded for reclaiming the continental crown by scaling unprecedented heights of their own,” FIFA said in a statement.
Bronze medallists Nigeria (26th) were the team that gained the most points, collecting 79.09 points to move up 12 spots, the same as Cameroon (45th), making them the biggest climbers.
Egypt, which reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, climbed four places to 31st, three spots behind Algeria.
Gabon, who were eliminated in the group stage, lost 44.97 points to become the team that lost the most points, dropping to 86th. Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, suffered the biggest fall, sliding 10 spots to 107th.
European champions Spain kept top spot ahead of World Cup holders Argentina. France is third, followed by England, Brazil, Portugal and the Netherlands, with no change in the ranking of the top seven teams.
Chaos, drama and Sadio Mane’s intervention
The final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was nothing short of controversial, chaotic and tense; however, the side widely alleged to be at the centre of it all was Senegal.
This followed Morocco being awarded a penalty after their player, Ayoub El Kaabi, tumbled in the box following contact with Senegal defender Abdou Diallo. The referee initially waved play on, but later intervened after a VAR review.
Following the check, Morocco were awarded a penalty, which clearly upset Senegal’s players, who believed the contact was minimal and that El Kaabi had gone down too easily.
Consequently, they staged a walk-off in protest on the pitch, but the intervention of their captain, former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané, persuaded them to continue the game. Their return, many believe, wasn’t just as a result of Mane’s intervention but also due to Morocco missing the penalty.
Diaz missed the resulting penalty as he bizarrely clipped a Panenka effort down the middle and straight at Edouard Mendy.
In an interesting turn of events, Pape Gueye notched a goal in stoppage time, giving Senegal a lead in the 94th-minute securing the team their second AFCON title.
Sadio explains the motive behind his actionFollowing their victory over Morocco, Mane, during an interview with the media, explained that even though the referee’s decision might have been wrong, the most important thing is to respect the game and keep playing, hence his decision to call his teammates back o the pitch to play as football is widely love globally and it will have been unfair to the people watching to see the game called off over one disputed call.
He said, “When they decided to go out and not play, I stayed and asked some people, ‘What do you think about this? Is it a good idea or not?’ Then I decided to go and bring everyone back to the pitch. I think it is the best thing to do.
“Because this is just football, I think the referee sometimes can make mistakes. People around the world are watching. It could be a penalty or not, but that is not the most important thing. What matters is respecting the game. It is not fair to stop a match like this.”
A global statement shared by FIFA suggests that half a million requests for tickets have been made from across the world for tickets for the upcoming World Cup in June.
The statement shared on the football governing body on Wednesday, January 14, mentioned that, “more than half a billion ticket requests submitted during the Random Selection Draw ticket sales phase, which ran from Thursday, 11 December 2025 to Tuesday, 13 January 2026.
FIFA said it received approximately 15 million ticket requests daily over the about a month application window, marking a new record in the history of football.
“With each application validated by unique credit card data, fans placed an average of 15 million ticket requests per day over the 33-day application window, setting a new benchmark for demand in the history of world sport”, parts of the statement said.
Out of the over 500 million ticket requests, the majority came from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia, aside from the host countries; USA, Mexico and Canada.
It added that, “The most coveted match in this sales phase was Colombia v. Portugal on Saturday, 27 June in Miami. The top 5 was completed by Mexico v. Korea Republic in Guadalajara on Thursday, 18 June; the final in New York New Jersey on Sunday, 19 July; the tournament’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on Thursday, 11 June; and the round-of-32 match in Toronto on Thursday, 2 July – highlighting the exceptional appeal of both marquee fixtures and knockout-stage encounters across all three host nations”.
Given the outstanding requests, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his excitement and gratitude to fans all over the world for the massive response.
“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand – it’s a global statement. On behalf of FIFA, I would like to thank and congratulate football fans everywhere for this extraordinary response,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
He continued, “Knowing how much this tournament means to people around the world, our only regret is that we cannot welcome every fan inside the stadiums. That is why we are committed to creating multiple ways for fans to be part of the FIFA World Cup 2026, through a wide range of fan experiences beyond the stadiums, both in person and online, so that as many people as possible can share in what will be the biggest sporting event ever staged.”
How FIFA will handle ticketing for the 2026 World Cup Following the closure of the application period, FIFA says it will check if all requests meet requirements and if they do and the requests exceeds the tickets available, it will randomly issue the tickets to ensure fairness.
“Following the closure of the Random Selection Draw application period, FIFA Ticketing will verify that ticket requests meet the application requirements and household limits before allocating tickets. Once this process is concluded, and where demand exceeds available inventory, tickets will be allocated via a random selection process to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all applicants,” the statement noted.
For fans who qualify for the tickets, they will be emailed by February 5 noting that “fans will be notified of the outcome of their ticket applications by email no earlier than 5 February. All successful and partially successful ticket applicants will receive communications via email and subsequently will be automatically charged for their tickets. A partially successful application indicates that a fan will receive the number of tickets requested for a match, but not all matches requested.”
For those who are unable to make it in the first phase of the ticketing, FIFA said, they will “have another opportunity to purchase remaining inventory closer to the tournament, when the Last-Minute Sales phase opens. During this window, which runs until the end of the tournament, tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans are reminded that FIFA.com/tickets is the official and preferred source for purchasing tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
Given the history of fans refusing to leave their home countries after gaining entry into countries hosting tournaments over the years, FIFA issued a stern warning that, “A match ticket does not guarantee admission to a host country, and fans should visit each host country’s government website today for entry requirements for Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Given the processing times involved, FIFA recommends submitting the visa application as early as possible. FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders travelling to the United States are eligible for the recently announced FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) when it becomes available in the coming weeks.”
FIFA is asking for up to $8,680 per ticket. After criticism, FIFA said last month it would offer $60 tickets for every game to the 48 national federations in the tournament, and the federations will decide how to distribute them to their fans who attended their previous games.
US to prioritise visa appointments for 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket holders
In November last year, the White House announced that fans set to travel for the tournament to the USA will be given the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (Pass), given that most of the matches will be played there.
The FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) is a special visa‑interview scheduling program created by the U.S. government and FIFA for the 2026 World Cup. It gives ticket holders priority access to U.S. visa appointments, ensuring fans can travel to matches in North America despite existing visa backlogs.
Speaking during a joint press briefing with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House in Washington, D.C., on 17 November, President Donald Trump mentioned that “I’ve directed my administration to do everything within their power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success.”
Detailing how the ‘World’ will gain access into the US, the Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that, ticket-holders for the tournament, set for next June and July in the US, Canada and Mexico, will not be automatically granted a tourist visa.
But foreign nationals with tickets to World Cup football matches could get an interview at an embassy or consulate within six to eight weeks of applying, Rubio said.
“Your ticket is not a visa; it doesn’t guarantee admission to the US. We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue,” the Secretary noted.
At the same press briefing, FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed that about 10 million people could come to the US to watch World Cup matches.
“With this FIFA Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, who are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa,” he said.
FairSquare, a UK-based human rights and governance watchdog that monitors issues around political repression, corruption, and accountability in global institutions, has petitioned FIFA’s ethics committee to investigate the football governing body’s President, Gianni Infantino, over his breach of political neutrality regulations.
According to the FIFA Code of Ethics (Article 15 – Duty of Neutrality), FIFA officials must remain neutral in matters of politics and religion. They are prohibited from making political endorsements or using FIFA platforms to promote political figures.
This comes after Infantino awarded the President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump, the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, DC, last week, as well as subsequent comments during media appearances, which suggest his support for the president.
Consequently, after the FIFA president’s Infantino, awarded Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Prize and publicly endorsed him for the Nobel Peace Prize, he has been accused of political bias.
In a letter of complaint sighted by BBC Sport, the human rights group alleged that Infantino has “committed four clear breaches” of FIFA’s neutrality rules.
“The award of a prize of this nature to a sitting political leader is, in and of itself, a clear breach of FIFA’s duty of neutrality. The FIFA president does not have the authority to unilaterally dictate the organisation’s mission, strategic direction, policies and values.”
According to BBC Sport, it has reached out to FIFA for comments.
Nicholas McGeehan, FairSquare’s programme director, added: “This complaint is about a lot more than Infantino’s support for President Donald Trump’s political agenda.
“More broadly, this is about how FIFA’s absurd governance structure has allowed Gianni Infantino to openly flout the organisation’s rules and act in ways that are both dangerous and directly contrary to the interests of the world’s most popular sport.”
Meanwhile, The next World Cup is in 2026 and is set to be hosted in three countries, including the USA, Mexico and Canada, and the USA is giving priority access to fans, the Whitehouse has announced.
People from all over the World will travel to support their countries. Consequently, the Whitehouse has announced that fans set to travel for the tournament to the USA will be given the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (Pass), given that most of the matches will be played there.
The FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) is a special visa‑interview scheduling program created by the U.S. government and FIFA for the 2026 World Cup. It gives ticket holders priority access to U.S. visa appointments, ensuring fans can travel to matches in North America despite existing visa backlogs.
Speaking during a joint press briefing with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House in Washington, D.C., on 17 November, President Donald Trump mentioned that “I’ve directed my administration to do everything within their power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success.”
Detailing how the ‘World’ will gain access into the US, the Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that, ticket-holders for the tournament, set for next June and July in the US, Canada and Mexico, will not be automatically granted a tourist visa.
But foreign nationals with tickets to World Cup football matches could get an interview at an embassy or consulate within six to eight weeks of applying, Rubio said.
“Your ticket is not a visa; it doesn’t guarantee admission to the US. We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue,” the Secretary noted.
At the same press briefing, FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed that about 10 million people could come to the US to watch World Cup matches.
“With this FIFA Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, who are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa,” he said.
The announcement of priority visa appointments has been welcomed by many, including the US Travel Association, a tourism industry trade group. “The expedited process for FIFA ticket-holders adds needed efficiency without sacrificing security. This is the kind of practical action that strengthens security, increases capacity and cuts wait times, putting the U.S. on a stronger footing to welcome millions of visitors next year,” the group’s CEO, Geoff Freeman, said in a statement.
The announcement comes after citizens of countries that have already booked their place at the tournament have long wait times for visa appointments.
In Colombia, travellers applying for US visas are currently waiting around 11 months for an interview appointment, according to data published by the US State Department, the agency which processes visa applications.
The average wait time in Mexico City is nine and a half months, while non-Canadian citizen residents of Toronto can expect a wait of 14 months for appointments.
If those wait times hold, the World Cup will have already been played and the golden trophy already awarded by the time fans from some countries have their visas approved or denied.
However, it’s currently unclear whether the new appointment rules will cover ticket-holders from countries whose citizens are mostly or entirely banned from travelling to the US. In June, Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries from entering the US, citing an effort to manage security threats
Iran, whose football team has qualified for the World Cup, is among the countries affected by the ban. The June executive order exempts athletes and coaching staff travelling for the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, although their fans could still face a ban.
The next World Cup is in 2026 and is set to be hosted in three countries, including the USA, Mexico and Canada, and the USA is giving priority access to fans, the Whitehouse has announced.
People from all over the World will travel to support their countries. Consequently, the Whitehouse has announced that fans set to travel for the tournament to the USA will be given the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (Pass), given that most of the matches will be played there.
The FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) is a special visa‑interview scheduling program created by the U.S. government and FIFA for the 2026 World Cup. It gives ticket holders priority access to U.S. visa appointments, ensuring fans can travel to matches in North America despite existing visa backlogs.
Speaking during a joint press briefing with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House in Washington, D.C., on 17 November, President Donald Trump mentioned that “I’ve directed my administration to do everything within their power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success.”
Detailing how the ‘World’ will gain access into the US, the Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that,
ticket-holders for the tournament, set for next June and July in the US, Canada and Mexico, will not be automatically granted a tourist visa.
But foreign nationals with tickets to World Cup football matches could get an interview at an embassy or consulate within six to eight weeks of applying, Rubio said.
“Your ticket is not a visa; it doesn’t guarantee admission to the US. We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue,” the Secretary noted.
At the same press briefing, FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed that about 10 million people could come to the US to watch World Cup matches.
“With this FIFA Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, who are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa,” he said.
The announcement of priority visa appointments has been welcomed by many, including the US Travel Association, a tourism industry trade group. “The expedited process for FIFA ticket-holders adds needed efficiency without sacrificing security. This is the kind of practical action that strengthens security, increases capacity and cuts wait times, putting the U.S. on a stronger footing to welcome millions of visitors next year,” the group’s CEO, Geoff Freeman, said in a statement.
The announcement comes after citizens of countries that have already booked their place at the tournament have long wait times for visa appointments.
In Colombia, travellers applying for US visas are currently waiting around 11 months for an interview appointment, according to data published by the US State Department, the agency which processes visa applications.
The average wait time in Mexico City is nine and a half months, while non-Canadian citizen residents of Toronto can expect a wait of 14 months for appointments.
If those wait times hold, the World Cup will have already been played and the golden trophy already awarded by the time fans from some countries have their visas approved or denied.
However, it’s currently unclear whether the new appointment rules will cover ticket-holders from countries whose citizens are mostly or entirely banned from travelling to the US. In June, Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries from entering the US, citing an effort to manage security threats
Iran, whose football team has qualified for the World Cup, is among the countries affected by the ban. The June executive order exempts athletes and coaching staff travelling for the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, although their fans could still face a ban.
The BBC has contacted the US State Department for comment.
Not all travellers coming to the US next year will need a visa. Most citizens of countries under the US waiver programme can ordinarily travel visa-free for up to 90 days. That scheme covers much of Europe, including the UK, along with Japan, Australia and others.
At the two most recent World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, a ticket to a game generated a fan ID that could be used like a visa to enter the host country.
Meanwhile, German manufacturer Adidas, which has been designing World Cup balls since the 1970 tournament, has once again produced the official match ball for the upcoming FIFA 2026 World Cup.
Named Trionda, the ball was officially unveiled on Thursday, October 2, during a global launch event at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City. The presentation, hosted jointly by FIFA and Adidas, showcased the ball’s design, technology, and symbolic meaning.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, during the unveiling of the ball, said, “The Official Match Ball for the FIFA World Cup 26 is here, and it’s a beauty! “I am delighted and proud to present the Trionda.”
Trionda, originating from Spanish, is interpreted as “tri” (three) and “onda” (wave), which signifies the three host countries of the global tournament. Trionda stuns with an aesthetic design which has representations from all three host countries, Canada, Mexico, and the USA, with features including Red panels with maple leaves for Canada, green panels with eagle motifs for Mexico and blue panels with stars for the USA. It also has a central triangle formed by the panel seams, symbolising unity.
FIFA’s annual monitoring publication by its Social Media Protection Service (SPMS) on social media abuse in football has reported that it has flagged more than 30,000 abusive posts to social media platforms this year.
In commemoration of the International Day of Tolerance, the football governing body released the report’s findings on 17 November, through an official media release and accompanying press coverage.
FIFA also reported eleven(11) individuals to law enforcement authorities and forwarded one case to Interpol.
These individuals were reported for online abuse targeted at players, coaches, referees, and teams during official FIFA competitions.
These individuals FIFA said were in Argentina, Brazil, France, Poland, Spain, the UK and the US, and had been identified “following abuse during Fifa competitions”.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, on November 16, highlighted his outfit’s commitment to sanitising the sport from cyber, pitch bullying or any other place.
He said, “On the International Day for Tolerance, I want to make it abundantly clear that football must be a safe and inclusive space – on the pitch, in the stands and online. Through the Fifa social media protection service (SMPS) and by deploying advanced technology and human expertise, Fifa is taking decisive action to protect players, coaches, teams, and match officials from the serious harm that online abuse causes.”
The SMPS is a monitoring and safeguarding system created by FIFA in partnership with FIFPRO (the global players’ union) to protect football players, coaches, referees, and teams from online abuse during competitions. It was set up in 2022.
FIFA was criticised after it appeared to drop anti-racism messaging at the Club World Cup, which was held in the US this summer, but SMPS was used.
A FIFA statement read: “During the tournament SMPS monitored 2,401 active accounts across five social media platforms covering players, coaches, teams, and match officials participating at the groundbreaking tournament, with 5.9m posts analysed, 179,517 flagged for review, and 20,587 reported to the relevant platforms.”
Infantino said: “Our message is clear: abuse has no place in our game, and we will continue to work with our member associations, the confederations and law enforcement authorities to hold offenders accountable.
“This behaviour has no place in football or in society, and Fifa is taking all possible steps by reporting these incidents and also by blacklisting individuals from purchasing tickets for Fifa tournaments.”
World football’s governing body said in a report that 11 people were reported to law enforcement authorities in 2025, and one case was submitted to Interpol.
Meanwhile, racism, one of the abuses in football, has evolved, while authorities make efforts to completely nip it in the bud, some fans refuse to budge.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, who is currently on a season-long loan at Barcelona, was racially abused by a fan in the stands on September 25 during the Catalan giants’ 3-1 win over Real Oviedo. TV microphones picked that up, and later it was circulated on social media.
In reaction to this, Spanish authorities have recommended a €4,000 ($4,625) fine for the fan who abused the 27-year-old forward.
“La Liga detected the images on social media and filed a complaint with the National Police,” the statement said.
“Subsequently, analysis of footage from the stadium’s Organisational Control Unit (UCO) cameras allowed for the identification of the alleged perpetrator. The processing of this proposal will be contingent upon the final decisions made in the criminal proceedings.”
The authorities are yet to confirm when a final decision will be taken. This is not the first time Rashford has been subjected to racial abuse. His being a target on several occasions at both the club level and national level has made him an ardent advocate.
Rashford has repeatedly spoken out about racist messages and threats he’s received on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. He’s called for stronger action from tech companies to curb hate speech. Rashford has worked with campaigns like Kick It Out and has urged authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.
Meanwhile, in May last year, FIFA announced that it had put forward a five-pillar plan aimed at addressing racist abuse in football.
The global governing body stated that it had engaged in an extensive consultation process with current and former players who are committed to instigating change.
One of the plan’s key suggestions involves implementing a standard crossed-hands gesture for players to signal racist incidents during matches.
The first pillar of the proposal intends to make racism a specific offence which is included in all member associations’ disciplinary codes and has its own “specific and severe sanctions, including match forfeits”.
Fifa said it will “pause, suspend and abandon games in cases of racism”.
The crossed-hands gesture will be used by referees to signal an in-game procedure in which matches are paused twice and warnings are given, with the game to then be abandoned in the event of further racism.
In pillar three – ‘criminal charges’ – Fifa called for racism to be recognised as a criminal offence in every country, and said it would push for severe sanctions in the countries where it is already an offence.
Fifa also said it would promote education initiatives with schools and governments to “provide a future free of racism”, while an anti-racism panel made up of former players will be set up to review the progress of the proposal.
In 2023, a FIFA report found almost 20,000 abusive social media posts were aimed at players, coaches and officials during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
And in 2021, England manager Gareth Southgate called the racist abuse aimed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after the Euro 2020 final “unforgivable”.
FIFA’s annual monitoring publication by its social media protection service (SPMS) on social media abuse in football has reported that this year, it reported eleven(11) individuals to law enforcement authorities and forwarded one case to Interpol.
These individuals were reported for online abuse targeted at players, coaches, referees, and teams during official FIFA competitions.
These individuals FIFA said were in Argentina, Brazil, France, Poland, Spain, the UK and the US, and had been identified “following abuse during Fifa competitions”.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, in remarks during the celebration of the International Day for Tolerance yesterday, November 16, highlighted his outfit’s commitment to sanitising the sport from cyber, pitch bullying or any other place.
He said, “On the International Day for Tolerance, I want to make it abundantly clear that football must be a safe and inclusive space – on the pitch, in the stands and online. Through the Fifa social media protection service (SMPS) and by deploying advanced technology and human expertise, Fifa is taking decisive action to protect players, coaches, teams, and match officials from the serious harm that online abuse causes.”
The SMPS is a monitoring and safeguarding system created by FIFA in partnership with FIFPRO (the global players’ union) to protect football players, coaches, referees, and teams from online abuse during competitions. It was set up in 2022.
Fifa was criticised after it appeared to drop anti-racism messaging at the Club World Cup, which was held in the US this summer, but SMPS was used.
A Fifa statement read: “During the tournament SMPS monitored 2,401 active accounts across five social media platforms covering players, coaches, teams and match officials participating at the groundbreaking tournament, with 5.9m posts analysed, 179,517 flagged for review and 20,587 reported to the relevant platforms.”
Infantino said: “Our message is clear: abuse has no place in our game, and we will continue to work with our member associations, the confederations and law enforcement authorities to hold offenders accountable.
“This behaviour has no place in football or in society and Fifa is taking all possible steps by reporting these incidents and also by blacklisting individuals from purchasing tickets for Fifa tournaments.”
The international governing body of football mentioned that 65,000 abusive posts have been reported to social media platforms since the SMPS was created adding that it has flagged over 30,000 abusive posts to social media platforms this year.
World football’s governing body said in a report that 11 people were reported to law enforcement authorities in 2025 and one case was submitted to Interpol.
Meanwhile, racism, one of the abuses in football, has evolved, while authorities make efforts to completely nip it in the bud, some fans refuse to budge.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, who is currently on a season-long loan at Barcelona, was racially abused by a fan in the stands on September 25 during the Catalan giants’ 3-1 win over Real Oviedo. TV microphones picked that up, and later it was circulated on social media.
In reaction to this, Spanish authorities have recommended a €4,000 ($4,625) fine for the fan who abused the 27-year-old forward.
“La Liga detected the images on social media and filed a complaint with the National Police,” the statement said.
“Subsequently, analysis of footage from the stadium’s Organisational Control Unit (UCO) cameras allowed for the identification of the alleged perpetrator. The processing of this proposal will be contingent upon the final decisions made in the criminal proceedings.”
The authorities are yet to confirm when a final decision will be taken. This is not the first time Rashford has been subjected to racial abuse. His being a target on several occasions at both the club level and national level has made him an ardent advocate.
Rashford has repeatedly spoken out about racist messages and threats he’s received on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. He’s called for stronger action from tech companies to curb hate speech. Rashford has worked with campaigns like Kick It Out and has urged authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.
Meanwhile, in May last year, FIFA announced that it had put forward a five-pillar plan aimed at addressing racist abuse in football.
The global governing body stated that it had engaged in an extensive consultation process with current and former players who are committed to instigating change.
One of the plan’s key suggestions involves implementing a standard crossed-hands gesture for players to signal racist incidents during matches.
The first pillar of the proposal intends to make racism a specific offence which is included in all member associations’ disciplinary codes and has its own “specific and severe sanctions, including match forfeits”.
Fifa said it will “pause, suspend and abandon games in cases of racism”.
The crossed-hands gesture will be used by referees to signal an in-game procedure in which matches are paused twice and warnings are given, with the game to then be abandoned in the event of further racism.
In pillar three – ‘criminal charges’ – Fifa called for racism to be recognised as a criminal offence in every country, and said it would push for severe sanctions in the countries where it is already an offence.
Fifa also said it would promote education initiatives with schools and governments to “provide a future free of racism”, while an anti-racism panel made up of former players will be set up to review the progress of the proposal.
In 2023, a FIFA report found almost 20,000 abusive social media posts were aimed at players, coaches and officials during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
And in 2021, England manager Gareth Southgate called the racist abuse aimed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after the Euro 2020 final “unforgivable”.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is set to hold a match in honour of Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer and Africa’s highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history, Asamoah Gyan, who is affectionately called ‘Baby Jet’.
In a statement shared on GFA’s website on Tuesday, Nov 5, the match will be organised “to celebrate his illustrious career and immense contribution to Ghanaian football”.
The details of the match, GFA noted that they, “ …working with Gyan, will provide further details of the event in due course. The testimonial will serve as a befitting tribute to a player whose name has become synonymous with Ghana’s football history”.
Highlighting some of his contributions to Ghana football, particularly for the Black Stars, Ghana’s senior national team, GFA lauded his “enviable record as Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals in 109 appearances for the Black Stars. He is also Africa’s highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history, having scored six goals across three tournaments: Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, and Brazil 2014.”
In 2012, Gyan was appointed captain, where he succeeded John Mensah. He served in the captaincy capacity until 2019, when he handed over to Andre Dede Ayew ahead of the 2019 AFCON.
During his stint as captain, he led the Black Stars in two FIFA World Cups (2014) and three Africa Cup of Nations (2013, 2015, 2017).
He began his career with Ghana’s Liberty Professionals in 2003, where he stayed for barely a year before leaving for Italy’s Serie A club Udinese that same year. His European journey began with Udinese, where he stayed for five years. Out of the five years, he played for Modena from 2004 to 2006, displaying brilliant form. While at Modena, he notched 15 goals in 53 appearances, cementing his reputation as a solid rising striker.
He later signed with France’s Stade Rennais (Rennes) in 2008. He made a good impact during his two-season stint with the Ligue 1 side, netting 14 goals in 48 appearances.
His performances earned him a move to the English Premier League, where he signed with Sunderland in 2010. Gyan quickly became a fan favourite, scoring 10 goals in 34 appearances over two seasons. His flair, pace, and goal-scoring instincts made him one of the standout African players in the league at the time.
In 2011, Gyan made a high-profile switch to the United Arab Emirates, joining Al Ain initially on loan before making the move permanent. Between 2011 and 2015, he enjoyed a prolific spell, scoring an astonishing 95 goals in 83 games. He was the UAE Pro League top scorer multiple times and became a household name in Middle Eastern football.
After a brief return to the UAE with Al Ahli on loan during the 2016–2017 season, Gyan added 6 goals in 14 appearances to his tally. In between, he had a stint in China with Shanghai SIPG from 2015 to 2017, where he scored 7 goals in 20 appearances, despite battling injuries.
Gyan’s final major club move was to Turkey, where he joined Kayserispor in 2017. Over two seasons, he made 26 appearances and scored 5 goals, bringing his illustrious club career to a close in 2019.
In June 2023, Asamoah Gyan officially announced his retirement from active football during a panel session at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2023) held at the Accra International Conference Centre. In an emotional moment, Gyan said:
“It is time… that voice has been clear in my ears, and I have succumbed to it. It is time to hang the jersey and boots in glory as I retire officially from active football.”
After he retired from official football, Gyana has carved a reputation as one of the former players that has usually been available for the current crop of players.
He often joins the national team camp to uplift spirits, especially during major tournaments like AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, where he leads Gyama sessions and offers technical advice to some of the players, including Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus.
“Through his dazzling performances, leadership, and charisma, Asamoah Gyan has left an indelible mark on Ghanaian and African football. The upcoming testimonial promises to be a memorable occasion to honour his legendary achievements and celebrate a career that inspired millions across the continent,” GFA added.
Meanwhile, Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
Following this, several foreign-born players, including Hudson Oddoi, Eddie Nketiah, Francis Amuzu and other players, have expressed their readiness to switch their allegiance from their current countries to Ghana to represent at the global tournament in 2025.
Speaking on the issue and matters arising concerning it, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, during an interview with 3Sports, explicitly stated that Ghana will not make room for just talent but genuine commitment, respect and love for Ghana.
Referring to his son, who was born and raised in the UK, the GFA President noted that his outfit has no intention to snub any talent, but these players must demonstrate they understand their roots and are committed to making a difference in the team.
“To be honest, we treat these matters on a case-by-case basis. I often use my own son, Kurt Junior, as an example,” Okraku explained.
“He was born and schooled in England, and if he were as talented as Abedi Pele, I wouldn’t deny him the chance to play for Ghana just because he was born abroad. But if he wants to represent Ghana, he must show that he loves, respects, and is committed to Ghana. Thankfully, he visits Ghana every year, so he understands his roots.”
He also stressed that GFA will not entertain players who are suddenly showing interest in representing Ghana just because the squad made it to the tournament, adding that players who previously turned down opportunities to represent the Black Stars would not automatically be reconsidered.
“I don’t want mercenaries coming to Ghana. I don’t want players jumping on board just because we’ve qualified for the Mundial. I want players who love Ghana, who play from the heart, with passion, and are proud to represent the nation in every competition.”
“I’ve been very categorical; if you refused us in the past or showed disrespect to Ghana, I won’t open the door to you just because we’ve made it to the World Cup.
“I don’t care about what the coach wants in that regard. You must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you want to wear the national colours, that you’re proud to be Ghanaian, and that you’re fully committed to the flag,” he added.
The Black Stars are scheduled to learn their group opponents for the 2026 World Cup on December 5.
His remarks about the call-up come to affirm the Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo’s, during a media engagement days ago.
Speaking during an interview with 3Sports, which was aired on Tuesday, October 15, Otto Addo explicitly stated that players who have ignored their calls despite continuous efforts from the national team’s technical staff since 2021 should not expect any call-up now that the Black Stars have secured their ticket to the World Cup.
“We will look at each case one by one. There are players I have been chasing since 2021, who didn’t reply to our calls or want to come. It’s a different thing if we haven’t approached you and now you want to come. But if we have been approaching you all the way and you said no, and now we are at the World Cup, so you want to come, that’s a different matter,” Addo said.
His remarks follow reports that Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah are considering switching allegiance to play for Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Ghana for securing its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
In a congratulatory message shared via video on the football governing body’s Instagram, Infantino praised the four-time African champions for their achievement and expressed excitement about their return to the world stage.
“Congratulations to the Black Stars on reaching the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time in history. Your fans will bring colours, style and passion to the greatest FIFA World Cup ever in 20226 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“We expect that your team will establish more global stars to follow in the footsteps of the famous team that made the quarterfinals of the tournament in South Africa in 2010, but for now, enjoy this special moment, and we cannot wait to see who the Black Stars will face when we have the final tournament draw on the 5th of December.
“See you very soon and well. Congratulations!”
Ghana’s qualification marks their fifth appearance at the World Cup, following previous campaigns in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022.
Among African nations, only Cameroon (8), Morocco (7), Tunisia (7), and Nigeria (6) have made more appearances on the world stage.
The Black Stars accrued 25 points after their final World Cup qualifier. Initially sitting in third place after two rounds of matches, Ghana began their campaign against Madagascar on November 17, 2023, securing a 1–0 home victory on Matchday 1, before suffering a 1–0 away loss to Comoros on Matchday 2, November 21, 2023. The team bounced back strongly on March 21, delivering a convincing 4–0 win over Chad.
This set the tone for another win against Madagascar on March 24, 2025. Ghana defeated Madagascar 3–0 in Morocco, with a brace from Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus bringing the team’s points to 15. They remained atop the group until their last game yesterday
Ghanaians were in high anticipation to know whether the Black Stars would qualify for the World Cup following their heavy win against Chad on October 9, at N’Djamena, hence there was a mad rush for tickets to the Black Stars’ clash against Comoros.
To reduce congestion at the Accra Stadium, where the game happened, the National Sports Authority (NSA) announced a reduction in the number of tickets it will made available.
The Accra Sports Stadium, which has a capacity of about 40,000, the NSA boss said, “will have its attendance capped to 35,000, with extra fan parks created to reduce congestion in the stadium”.
He disclosed a media engagement on Thursday, October 9, in Accra, during a press engagement where he addressed questions and clarified misconceptions surrounding the organisation and preparations ahead of the match.
According to him, the ticket prices for Sunday include VVIP GH₵1,000, the popular Stand will cost GH₵50, and GH₵100 for centre line, GH₵25 for lower VIP and GH₵500 for upper VIP.
“The stadium can hold just under 40,000 people, but we’re not printing tickets for full capacity. A total of 35,000 tickets will be printed. Ticket samples are here, and there will be security features added”, Mr Ampofo noted.
Also, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation earlier announced the ticket prices, explaining that “the pricing structure is designed to make the game accessible to fans from all walks of life.”
Ghana’s last home match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali on September 8 was marked by chaotic ticket sales, with fans crowding the stadium gates in a last-minute rush to buy tickets on the match day.
To prevent a recurrence, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah confirmed that ticket sales for the upcoming match against Comoros will officially close at 3 pm on Sunday, even though the match starts at 7 pm.
According to him, “Please note that on match day, tickets will not be sold after 3 pm. The match is at 7 pm, and the reason for this is that we don’t want the challenges we had the last time, where fans were crowding around the stadium looking to purchase tickets. It must be very clear. We intend not to have a rush as we did in the Ghana versus Chad game, where a lot of fans came to the gates without tickets, intending to buy tickets on the day.”
“Almost everybody wants to be present to watch the Black Stars game on Sunday. That is the reason why we’ve called you, to give you an update on what we’re doing and to ensure that the right communication goes out there. I’ve read and seen so many things, and it’s a bit worrying because if we’re not careful, we may have too many people showing up, claiming they were told to come”
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has set a new record in the history of Ghanaian football. This achievement comes after he led the senior national team to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by three countries.
In 2022, the former Borussia Dortmund talent coach also guided Ghana to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, following the team’s failure to reach the 2018 edition held in Russia.
Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
Among African nations, only Cameroon (8), Morocco (7), Tunisia (7), and Nigeria (6) have made more appearances on the world stage.
The Black Stars accrued 25 points after their final World Cup qualifier. Initially sitting in third place after two rounds of matches, Ghana began their campaign against Madagascar on November 17, 2023, securing a 1–0 home victory on Matchday 1, before suffering a 1–0 away loss to Comoros on Matchday 2, November 21, 2023.
The team bounced back strongly on March 21, delivering a convincing 4–0 win over Chad.
This set the tone for another win against Madagascar on March 24, 2025. Ghana defeated Madagascar 3–0 in Morocco, with a brace from Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus bringing the team’s points to 15. They remained atop the group until their last game yesterday.
Following their win yesterday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Ghana on their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a congratulatory message shared via video, Infantino praised the four-time African champions for their achievement and expressed excitement about their return to the world stage.
“Congratulations to the Black Stars on reaching the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time in history. Your fans will bring colours, style and passion to the greatest FIFA World Cup ever in 20226 in Canada, Mexico and the United States. We expect that your team will establish more global stars to follow in the footsteps of the famous team that made the quarterfinals of the tournament in South Africa in 2010, but for now, enjoy this special moment, and we cannot wait to see who the Black Stars will face when we have the final tournament draw on the 5th of December.
“See you very soon and well. Congratulations!”
With Otto Addo at the helm, Ghana will now turn its attention to preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Ghanaians were in high anticipation to know whether the Black Stars would qualify for the World Cup following their heavy win against Chad on October 9, at N’Djamena, hence there was a mad rush for tickets to the Black Stars’ clash against Comoros.
To reduce congestion at the Accra Stadium, where the game happened, the National Sports Authority (NSA) announced a reduction in the number of tickets it will made available.
The Accra Sports Stadium, which has a capacity of about 40,000, the NSA boss said, “will have its attendance capped to 35,000, with extra fan parks created to reduce congestion in the stadium”.
He made the disclosure during a media engagement on Thursday, October 9, in Accra, during a press engagement where he addressed questions and clarified misconceptions surrounding the organisation and preparations ahead of the match.
According to him, the ticket prices for Sunday include VVIP GH₵1,000, the popular Stand will cost GH₵50, and GH₵100 for centre line, GH₵ 25 for lower VIP and GH₵500 for upper VIP.
“The stadium can hold just under 40,000 people, but we’re not printing tickets for full capacity. A total of 35,000 tickets will be printed. Ticket samples are here, and there will be security features added”, Mr Ampofo noted.
Also, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation earlier announced the ticket prices, explaining that “the pricing structure is designed to make the game accessible to fans from all walks of life.”
Ghana’s last home match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali on September 8 was marked by chaotic ticket sales, with fans crowding the stadium gates in a last-minute rush to buy tickets on the match day. To prevent a recurrence, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah confirmed that ticket sales for the upcoming match against Comoros will officially close at 3 pm on Sunday, even though the match starts at 7 pm.
According to him, “Please note that on match day, tickets will not be sold after 3 pm. The match is at 7 pm, and the reason for this is that we don’t want the challenges we had the last time, where fans were crowding around the stadium looking to purchase tickets. It must be very clear. We intend not to have a rush as we did in the Ghana versus Chad game, where a lot of fans came to the gates without tickets, intending to buy tickets on the day.”
“Almost everybody wants to be present to watch the Black Stars game on Sunday. That is the reason why we’ve called you, to give you an update on what we’re doing and to ensure that the right communication goes out there. I’ve read and seen so many things, and it’s a bit worrying because if we’re not careful, we may have too many people showing up, claiming they were told to come”
The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has announced a change in the Black Stars’ camping arrangements.
Black Stars, who were originally scheduled to assemble and camp in Accra, will now head straight to Morocco to camp for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic (CAR).
The change in plans, according to the Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, during an appearance on Woezor TV, is to allow the players more recovery time and to avoid logistical challenges.
In the interview, he explained that the decision to camp directly in Morocco was taken after consultations to ensure players had adequate rest and to avoid the logistical strain of flying from Accra just days before the match
“Various discussions have been held, and I can confirm that there is a proposal that the players will report to Morocco instead of Accra because we don’t have enough time to prepare for the game,” he said.
He explained that since most of the players will be in action for their clubs over the weekend, they are expected to report to camp on Sunday, with the last group arriving on Monday.
“These players will play for their respective clubs this weekend, so we are expecting that the players will report to camp on Sunday and then the last badge of players are expected on Monday since the game is on a Wednesday so if they reports to Accra, they will have to be flown to Morocco either on Monday or Tuesday which will be a lot of work because the players will not have enough time and space to rest in between the period and some of the players will be coming from a far disctance so the last meeting we had, we proposed that we will meet in Morocco instead of meeting in Accra before flying to Morocco and that what is being firmed up,” he added.
Also, Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, has finalised his squad for the double-header. He released the squad list yesterday, October 2, with the official list . Following the clash with CAR, the Black Stars will return to Accra to host Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, in their final qualifier.
Full Squad Overview
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati Zigi (St. Gallen), Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak), Joseph Anang (St. Patrick’s Athletic)
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villarreal CF), Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham Hotspur), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Prince Owusu (Medeama SC)
Forwards: Inaki Williams (Athletic Club), Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth), Joseph Paintsil (LA Galaxy), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al-Qadsiah)
Ghana currently lead Group I with 19 points and require a victory to confirm their fifth World Cup appearance.
The Ghana Black Stars have moved a rank higher in the latest FIFA ranking. This comes after their recent performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The team have climbed from 76th to 75th. The Black Stars, after two matches with Chad and Mali, respectively, still sit atop Group 1 with 19 points, despite drawing with Chad on September 4 at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno in N’Djamena.
However, they had a win in their clash with Mali. Black Stars led by a goal, securing for themselves three (3) extra points and a point from Chad’s draw.
Despite the global improvement, their standing in Africa remains unchanged, with the four-time African champions still ranked 14th on the continent.
In July, Ghana’s Black Stars fell about six places in FIFA’s rankings at the time.
This was after their loss to Angola and a 1-1 draw with Niger during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in September during the international break.
In the ranking released on July 10, Ghana ranked 76th in the FIFA World Rankings. This leaves the former African giant out of the top 10 national teams as they continue the push to rejoin the continent’s elite.
According to the July ranking, Argentina still held its spot as number one, followed by Spain, France, and then England, with Brazil taking the fifth spot.
In Africa, Morocco sat on top with its 12th position on the global level with 1,698.72 points. Senegal also moved a spot up from its 19th position last year. Egypt dropped to 34 on the global scale but remained 3rd in Africa despite its slight dip from the 32nd position, which was caused by a quiet international window with no matches played since March.
Meanwhile, other teams gained points through qualifiers and friendlies, allowing them to climb higher in the rankings.
Algeria (36th), Nigeria (44th) and the Ivory Coast (45th) follow closely, despite the latter’s recent AFCON success.
Tunisia (49th), Cameroon (51st), Mali (54th) and South Africa (57th) round out the African top ten, with Ghana sitting just outside the group.
Ghana played in May when they played in the Unity Cup in London, facing their long-standing rivals, Nigeria.
They lost 1–2 to the Super Eagles but ended with a resounding 4–0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place play-off.
Coach Otto Addo blamed their defeat to Nigeria on a lack of chemistry among players who he claims hadn’t played together often.
Some fans also blamed our underperformance in the cup on the absence of key players like Kudus, Semenyo, and Partey due to club commitments and minor injuries.
Meanwhile, Black Stars head coach Otto Addo admitted that Ghana’s performance was below par following the squad’s draw with Chad in yesterday’s clash at N’Djamena.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, the head coach slammed his side for their wastefulness despite dominating play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. According to him, the team wasted opportunities they got from their several dead-ball situations.
“I can’t say we played excellently, or we played well, because it was a draw. The result is everything; we had a lot of corners, we did nothing out of that…We had a lot of shots, goal attempts, we had a lot of ball possession, and normally we have to win this game. This, in the end, surely, is not good enough, and we have to improve, especially on our execution,” Otto Addo said.
UEFA delegates, led by President Aleksander Ceferin staged a walkout in protest of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s late arrival for the world governing body’s congress in Paraguay.
Mr Gianni Infantino joined President of the United States Donald Trump on his 4-day tour of the Middle East, which started on May 12, and lasted four days, concluding on May 15.
Gianni Infantino went with Trump to Saudi Arabia and Qatar on May 12 and May 14, respectively.
In Qatar, they both attended a state dinner at Lusail Palace hosted by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, where the FIFA president joined in discussions about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Consequently, he was two hours and 17 minutes late for the FIFA event which was scheduled to start at 10:30 (14:30 BST).
In reaction to this, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, in a statement, slammed Infantino for prioritising “private political interests” over what he describes as “one of the most important meetings in world football”.
“The Fifa congress is one of the most important meetings in world football, where all the 211 nations in the world’s game gather to discuss issues that affect the sport right across the world,” said European football’s governing body.
“To have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests, does the game no service and appears to put its interests second.
We are all in post to serve football, from the streets to the podium, and UEFA members of the Fifa council felt the need on this occasion to make a point that the game comes first and to leave as originally scheduled.”
Aleksander Ceferin, alongside European FIFA Council members such as Razvan Burleanu, Pascal Van Damme, Bernd Neuendorf, Debbie Hewitt, Sandor Csanyi, Dejan Savicevic, and Georgios Koumas, walked out during a break.
It meant there were empty seats at the Conmebol Convention Centre in Luque, on the outskirts of the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion, when the meeting resumed.
Uefa said in a statement the “last-minute changes” to the timings were “deeply regrettable” but “a point” had to be made.
Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness added: “The annual congress is the single most important body to ensure good governance of international football.”
“The situation is concerning. Member associations have travelled from all over the world to participate at this congress here in Paraguay, expecting professional leadership and dialogue at the highest level.”
A number of delegates from Concacaf – the North America, Central America and Caribbean confederation – also decided to leave the congress early.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom tried to defuse the tensions and said: “FIFA has an excellent relationship with UEFA and also with the European members.”
“The president explained the reasons why he was delayed. He had important matters to deal with, and we have had a great congress here.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that neither the players nor staff deserve summer bonuses following what he considers a disappointing season.
Despite still being in contention for silverware in the FA Cup and FIFA Club World Cup—where the winner takes home £97 million ($125m)—City’s overall performance has fallen short of expectations. They currently sit fifth in the Premier League with nine games remaining and failed to progress beyond the Champions League round of 16.
Guardiola maintains that even if the club secures trophies, their struggles throughout the campaign do not merit additional financial rewards.
“We don’t deserve it this season,” Guardiola told a news conference on Friday. “We don’t deserve a bonus this season. The bonus, if you win, I don’t know how much. You go there, it’s for the club. The managers, the backroom staff, the players we don’t deserve. Not even a watch.”
City return from the international break with an FA Cup quarterfinal against Bournemouth on Sunday.
There was speculation that the break for international matches could provide a window for a verdict to be delivered in the Premier League’s case against the club.
It’s now set to drag on and Guardiola raised the possibility that it could be another month before a decision is made public. “We are more than one year with that so nothing changes with one more week or two more weeks or three more weeks or four more weeks,” he said.
Guardiola’s immediate focus is securing a place in the FA Cup semifinals for the seventh consecutive time before shifting his attention to Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.
With Manchester City set to compete in the Club World Cup in the U.S., their season could extend into July. Guardiola has also hinted at the potential return of Rodri, who has been out of action since September due to a knee injury.
“I hope,” Guardiola said. “Listen, it would be nice if he could play tomorrow, but don’t do a wrong decision right now, you know and make a step back. He’s behaving really well on the pitch already, but competition is completely different. We will see.”
Premier League has introduced a two-phase transfer window this summer to accommodate Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of the Club World Cup.
The first window will be open from June 1 to June 10, followed by a five-day pause before reopening from June 16 to September 1. This adjustment ensures compliance with FIFA regulations, which limit summer transfer periods to 12 weeks.
The 2025 Club World Cup, featuring an expanded 32-team format similar to past FIFA World Cups, will be hosted in the United States. Chelsea and Manchester City are the only Premier League representatives in the tournament, which begins on June 15.
To align with FIFA’s registration rules, clubs will be allowed to register new signings for the Club World Cup from June 1-10, with another registration window available from June 27 to July 3 for teams advancing to the knockout stage.
Why is this happening?
Firstly, to bring order to the global registration system, world governing body Fifa only permits the transfer window in any individual country to be open for 16 weeks in any calendar year.
In Europe, precedent dictates four of those weeks are for the winter window, leaving 12 in the summer. In 2024, the Premier League transfer window opened on 14 June and closed on 30 August.
However, in October, Fifa approved an additional window from 1-10 June that would allow the 32 clubs competing in the Club World Cup to register new players before the tournament.
It also agreed to open a registration window mid-tournament, from 27 June and 3 July, to allow clubs to register additional players for the knockout stage.
As well as Manchester City and Chelsea, European heavyweights Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus, Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal are among others playing in the tournament.
In order to ensure Manchester City and Chelsea did not have an advantage over the other 18 top-flight clubs, the Premier League has adopted the same window.
However, 12 weeks from 1 June is 24 August. The Premier League wanted to be aligned with the rest of Europe’s big leagues around when the summer window closes. Those leagues preferred to close the window at the end of August, so that meant the window had to close and reopen.
What are the issues?
Firstly, the dates.
The Champions League final takes place in Munich on 31 May. After that, there are Nations League semi-finals and finals and World Cup qualifying double-headers. In Europe, those games take place 6-10 June.
It means players could be negotiating transfers in the build-up to important matches.
One potential impact concerns international players who may move to clubs competing in the Club World Cup.
FIFA hasset a $9.55 million participation fee for each of the four African clubs competing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (CWC), marking a significant financial boost for the continent’s representatives.
The inaugural 32-team tournament is scheduled to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. Africa will be represented by Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco).
These teams will receive the same participation fee as clubs from Asia (AFC) and North America (CONCACAF), as part of the massive $1 billion prize pool allocated for the tournament’s first expanded edition.
According to the official website of FIFA this solidarity would provide a significant boost in the efforts in making football truly global It said, “In line with the budgetary principles for the FIFA CWC and a fruitful discussions with key stakeholders, including the European Club Association, as well as the approval of the FIFA Council, FIFA has confirmed the distribution model for its new club competition that includes USD one billion prize money for the 32 participating clubs, plus a substantial and groundbreaking global solidarity model.”
“The distribution model of the FIFA CWC reflects the pinnacle of club football and represents the biggest-ever prize money for a football tournament comprising a seven-match group stage and playoff format with a potential payout of USD 125 million foreseen for the winners.”
It said, “in addition to the prize money for the participating teams, there is an unprecedented solidarity investment programme where we have a target of an additional 250 million dollars being provided to club football across the world.”
It said, “tot only that, but FIFA will neither retain any funding for this tournament, as all revenues will be distributed to club football, nor will it touch FIFA’s reserves, which are set aside for global football development through the 211 FIFA Member Associations.”
AFC Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo has reaffirmed his loyalty to the Ghana national team, stating that he will always be available for selection unless ruled out by injury.
Since making his Black Stars debut in a 3-0 win over Madagascar during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on June 1, 2022, Semenyo has become a key figure in the squad, earning 27 caps for the four-time African champions.
In an interview with SuperSport, the talented forward expressed immense pride in representing Ghana, emphasizing his unwavering dedication to the national team.
“It’s an honour; I always want to be part of the national team,” he told SuperSport. “I feel like the only thing that will ever stop me is obviously injury, of course, but I always try to make myself available.”
He further highlighted his deep connection to the Black Stars, adding: “I always want to play for the nation. It’s been a dream of mine from a young age, so anytime I get called up is an honour.”
Semenyo was among the scorers in Ghana’s recent 5-0 triumph over Chad in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Having netted his third international goal, the Bournemouth attacker will now shift his focus back to club duties, aiming to continue his fine form when the Cherries take on Manchester City in the FA Cup this weekend.
The winners of this year’s 32-team Club World Cup to be held in the United States will earn up to $125 million, FIFA said on Wednesday.
World football’s governing body had announced earlier this month a total prize pot of $1 billion for the June 14-July 13 event, significant in the current climate of financial regulation for clubs.
“FIFA will neither retain any funding for this tournament, as all revenues will be distributed to club football, nor will it touch FIFA’s reserves, which are set aside for global football development through the 211 FIFA Member Associations,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
Nearly half of the $1 billion total prize money will be shared among all 32 participating clubs.
However, the amount each club receives will depend on sporting achievements and commercial value, meaning top teams like Manchester City and Real Madrid will earn more than smaller clubs.
This payment structure was developed by FIFA in collaboration with the European Club Association.
An additional $475 million will be distributed based on performance, with teams earning more money for each victory. The team that wins the most games in the tournament could receive up to $125 million.
Meanwhile, several players and coaches, including England captain Harry Kane, have raised concerns about player welfare. They worry that the expanded Club World Cup will leave players with little time to rest between seasons.
“Of course it’s another summer where you don’t really have a break,” Kane said this week. “I think we’re getting used to it. There’s nothing really we can do about it.”
The Bayern Munich striker said he had high hopes for the event, however, telling FIFA.com that his goal was: “To win it. We’re one of the best teams in the world, without a doubt, so every tournament we go into, the idea is to win.”
FIFA is reportedly considering expanding the number of participating teams for the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64, according to The Guardian.
The proposed expansion is said to be part of the tournament’s 100th-anniversary celebrations. The idea was reportedly raised during a FIFA Council meeting on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is said to find the proposal “interesting,” with the committee expected to deliberate further before making a final decision.
“A proposal to analyze a 64-team FIFA World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a FIFA Council member under the ‘miscellaneous’ agenda item near the end of the FIFA Council meeting held on March 5, 2025.
The idea was acknowledged, as FIFA has a duty to analyze any proposal from one of its council members,” A FIFA spokesperson stated as quoted by the Daily Mail.
If approved, this would mark the second consecutive expansion of the FIFA World Cup following the increase in teams for the 2026 edition.
FIFA officially adopted the 48-team format on January 10, 2017, introducing 16 groups of three teams and a total of 80 matches, with the top two from each group advancing to a newly established round of 32.
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. However, to commemorate the tournament’s centenary, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will each host an opening match.
FIFA’s lifetime ban on former Gabonese youth coach Patrick Assoumou Eyi for sexually abusing players is a “positive first step,” but many more perpetrators remain, according to an official from global players’ union FIFPRO.
On Tuesday, FIFA ruled that Eyi, who led Gabon’s national youth teams for decades, had sexually abused multiple young boys throughout his career.
He was named in a 2023 BBC Africa Eye investigation, which exposed widespread abuse in Gabonese football. In the report, a former Gabonese international described Eyi as holding the “position of a god,” given his influence in selecting players for the youth national teams.
Despite his punishment, Eyi—widely known as Capello—is “just one man that has been sanctioned,” said FIFPRO legal counsel Loic Alves, adding that many more perpetrators remain within Gabonese football.
“It is a positive first step, but it is just the first step,” Mr Alves said.
Eyi had admitted charges of raping, grooming and exploiting young players after allegations were first reported by the UK’s Guardian newspaper in 2021.
Fifa’s independent ethics committee launched its investigation into Eyi later that year.
As well as being banned for life, Eyi has been fined one million Swiss francs (£880,000; $1.1m). He is currently being held in prison.
“The investigation into Mr Eyi concerns complaints from at least four male football players who accused him of sexual abuse between 2006 and 2021. Most of these incidents occurred while the players were minors,” Fifa’s statement said.
One of Eyi’s alleged victims, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the BBC on Wednesday he was pleased about the ban.
“But on the other hand, I’m not satisfied because I don’t want us to stop there. It’s a whole network, a system that needs to be dismantled, with many predators running free,” they said.
In 2023, BBC Africa interviewed more than 30 witnesses who detailed a decades-long network of sexual abuse affecting all levels of Gabonese football.
One victim recounted being abused as a teenager during an under-17 football camp, while another, who went on to represent Gabon’s national team for several years, revealed he had been assaulted from the age of 14.
Beyond the perpetrators, governing bodies such as FIFA and Gabon’s football federation, FEGAFOOT, have been accused of failing to protect young victims. However, both organizations have denied any wrongdoing.
General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Prosper Harrison Addo, has explained the delay in the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the Ghana Premier League.
VAR was initially expected to be implemented this season, but it now appears unlikely to be rolled out as planned.
In an interview with 3Sports, Addo reassured fans that the GFA remains committed to incorporating VAR to enhance officiating standards.
“We are on the journey to acquiring VAR, but some countries have more financial resources than others, allowing them to progress faster. VAR is not something you can simply purchase; there are several steps involved, including training for referees and VAR technicians. We have been working with FIFA on this process,” Addo explained.
He further highlighted that while FIFA initially engaged member associations on VAR adoption, the high costs became a major barrier. To tackle this, FIFA is now collaborating with another company to develop a more affordable alternative called “VAR Light.” However, this version of the technology will still take time before it is ready for use.
“Since the full VAR system is costly, we are opting for the second option, but our referees have already undergone some level of VAR training,” Addo added.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Prosper Harrison Addo, has explained the delay in the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the Ghana Premier League.
VAR was initially expected to be implemented this season, but it now appears unlikely to be rolled out as planned.
In an interview with 3Sports, Addo reassured fans that the GFA remains committed to incorporating VAR to enhance officiating standards.
“We are on the journey to acquiring VAR, but some countries have more financial resources than others, allowing them to progress faster. VAR is not something you can simply purchase; there are several steps involved, including training for referees and VAR technicians. We have been working with FIFA on this process,” Addo explained.
He further highlighted that while FIFA initially engaged member associations on VAR adoption, the high costs became a major barrier. To tackle this, FIFA is now collaborating with another company to develop a more affordable alternative called “VAR Light.” However, this version of the technology will still take time before it is ready for use.
“Since the full VAR system is costly, we are opting for the second option, but our referees have already undergone some level of VAR training,” Addo added.
The Ghana Premier League is set to resume on March 7 after a three-week suspension triggered by the tragic stabbing of a fan in Nsoatre.
In light of growing security concerns, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has implemented stricter safety measures aimed at curbing hooliganism and enhancing the safety of players and spectators.
Fans attending the2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia will not have access to alcohol, according to the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud.
Speaking on Wednesday, the ambassador emphasized that fans must respect Saudi Arabia’s cultural values, confirming that alcohol will not be available for purchase anywhere during the tournament—including hotels.
Saudi Arabia secured hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup after FIFA member associations were presented with a single voting choice.
The decision was confirmed through “acclamation,” a process where nations collectively approve by expressing their support, rather than through a formal vote.
“At the moment, we don’t allow alcohol,” the ambassador told LBC.
“Plenty of fun can be had without alcohol — it’s not 100% necessary and if you want to drink after you leave you’re welcome to, but at the moment we don’t have alcohol.”
“Rather like our weather, it’s a dry country,” he continued.
The availability of alcohol was a talking point in the lead up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, another country that has its laws and customs shaped by Muslim values.
The decision to allow the sale of alcohol in stadiums in Qatar was reversed two days before the tournament’s opening game after last-minute showdown talks.
In the end, supporters were able to purchase alcoholic drinks in hotels and designated fan parks.
Asked if a lack of alcohol was welcoming for fans travelling to Saudi Arabia, the ambassador said: “Everyone has their own culture. We’re happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture but we don’t want to change our culture for someone else.”
“I mean, really? You can’t live without a drink?” the ambassador joked.
Human rights groups have raised concerns over the prospect of aWorld Cup in Saudi Arabia, with Amnesty saying before the Middle Eastern country was awarded hosting rights that “migrant workers will face exploitation, and many will die.”
A major cause for concern has been whether LGBTQIA+ people will be discriminated against in the country, where people can be sentenced to death if it is proved that they have engaged in same-sex sexual acts.
Questioned over whether gay fans would be able to safely attend the world’s most-watched sporting event, the ambassador said: “We will welcome everyone in Saudi.”
He continued: “It is not a Saudi event, it is a world event. And to a large extent, we will welcome everyone who wants to come.”
Former president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubialesalong with three other officials,are set to appear before a judge on Tuesday over allegations related to the controversial kiss involving player Jenni Hermoso at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales faces charges of sexual assault, while ex-women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, former men’s national team sports director Albert Luque, and former marketing chief Ruben Rivera are accused of coercion.
Prosecutors allege that the three attempted to pressure Hermoso into publicly backing Rubiales’ claim that the kiss was consensual.
Hermoso, however, maintains that she did not consent, while Rubiales has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, insisting the act was mutual.
The fallout from the incident led to his resignation three weeks later amid mounting criticism, and FIFA subsequently handed him a three-year ban. Rubiales has defended himself against the accusations, calling the scandal a “witch hunt” driven by “false feminists.”
During her testimony on the first day of the trial last week, Jenni Hermoso expressed feeling “disrespected” by Luis Rubiales after Spain’s World Cup victory. She stated that the kiss had “tarnished one of the happiest days of my life.”
The incident sparked widespread outrage in Spain, reigniting discussions about sexism in sports and society at large.
Prosecutors, along with Hermoso and the Spanish players’ association, are seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales, along with a €50,000 ($51,800) fine for damages and a ban from holding any sports-related position.
Meanwhile,they are calling for the other three defendants to receive one-and-a-half-year prison terms.
Global transfers during the January window exceeded $2 billion (£1.6bn) for the first time in men’s football, with Premier League championsManchester Citycontributing 10% of the total spend, amounting to $223 million (£179m) on four new players, according to FIFA data.
Pep Guardiola’s squad at the Etihad Stadium was strengthened by the additions of Omar Marmoush, Nico González, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis during the January transfer window.
This helped solidify the Premier League’s status as the highest-spending league with a total outlay of $621.6 million (£498.7m).
Following the Premier League, the top five spenders were clubs from Germany ($295.7m), Italy ($223.8m), France ($209.7m), and Saudi Arabia ($202.1m).
On the receiving end, French clubs collected the highest amount in transfer fees at $371 million, followed by German clubs ($226.2m), English clubs ($185.2m), Portuguese clubs ($176.4m), and Italian clubs ($162m).
Brazil led the way with the highest number of incoming transfers (471), followed by Argentina (265), Portugal (207), Spain (200), and England (190).
Argentina also topped the list for outgoing transfers (255), with Brazil (212), England (211), the United States (188), and Portugal (170) completing the top five.
A total of 5,863 transfers were completed, marking a 19.1% increase from January 2024, which was the previous record, according to a report by FIFA’s Legal & Compliance Division.
The overall spending of $2.35 billion was 57.9% higher than the 2024 winter window and 47.1% above the prior record set in January 2023.
The most significant transfer of the window in men’s football was Jhon Duran’s $79.9 million (£64.1m) move from Aston Villa to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr.
In the women’s game, new records were also set, with $5.8 million (£4.66m) spent on transfer fees (+180.6%) and a total of 455 international transfers in January.
English clubs were the top spenders in women’s football as well, with $2.3 million in spending and 39 incoming transfers. January 2025 also marked the first transfer window in women’s professional football to witness transfer fees exceeding $1 million (£802.9k).
Cristiano Ronaldo has urged Real Madrid to “take care” ofKylian Mbappéand emphasized that the young forward should “chart his own path” as he strives to establish himself as a legend at the Bernabéu.
Mbappé has already netted 22 goals in his first season with Madrid, despite facing early criticism for his form.
Ronaldo, the club’s all-time top scorer with 451 goals, revealed that Mbappé had always looked up to him as a child. The two had a memorable moment when they took a photo together after Mbappé’s trial at the club as a teenager.
“Look after the lad,” Ronaldo urged, in an extract from an interview with Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, due to be broadcast in full on Monday. “The fans need to look after him. He’s very good. The club have to help to protect him, I have no doubt he’ll bring a lot of joy to Madrid fans.
Cristiano Ronaldo was Kylian Mbappé’s childhood hero growing up
“I love [Mbappé], not just because of his story as a kid, how he loved Cristiano, I was his idol,” Ronaldo said. “I think he’s a top player.”
Ronaldo revealed he now tunes in to watch Real Madrid’s games because his son, Mateo, is a fan of Mbappé.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he feels Mbappé still needs some help in adjusting to his role in the Real Madrid team.
“It’s complicated, because he doesn’t know how to play as a forward in my opinion — or rather, it’s not that he doesn’t know, but it isn’t his position,” Ronaldo said. “If I was at Madrid, I’d show him how to play as a number nine.
“I wasn’t a forward. I got used to it, but I was a winger. People forget that. I was a forward, but not a typical forward. I think [Mbappé] shouldn’t be a typical forward, he should do things his way.”
Mbappé has already won two trophies with Madrid, the UEFA Super Cup and theFIFA Intercontinental Cup, and scored as Madrid were humbled 5-2 by Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa last month.
Madrid now face a testing few weeks, playing Leganés in a Copa del Rey quarterfinal before a Madrid Derby with Atlético Madrid on Saturday and then facing Manchester City in their Champions League knockout stage playoff.
On Wednesday, January 29, FIFA launched a three-day Financial Governance workshop for its member associations, aimed at strengthening financial management within football. The workshop focuses on enhancing accountability, transparency, and the efficient use of resources in football organizations.
The opening session took place at the Accra Marriott Hotel in Accra, marking the start of this important initiative.
Christoph Suppiger, FIFA’s Head of Financial Governance, expressed confidence that by the end of the workshop, the participating member associations would be equipped to address and prevent financial challenges within their organizations.
“At the end of the training, the member associations should be entitled to learn a lot about different topics such as how to prevent conflict of interest, measures to put in place in order to select different providers…,” he said.
“We have elaborated a financial governance guide which contains a lot of materials for member associations to learn and then to implement in their relative member associations.”
The decision to hold the Financial Governance workshop in Ghana is the first of its kind with the General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Prosper Harrison Addo, lauding the idea.
“We are happy about the opportunity to host the FIFA Financial Governance workshop in Accra,” he mentioned. “That said, it shows that FIFA is in sync with us and they believe we can host because in choosing the host, they take the opportunity to look at the way you have been managing your FA.
“If we were not managing the FA well FIFAwould not have given us this opportunity. W are excited have this workshop here in Accra and to have our colleague coming over.”
The event is opened to English speaking member associations on the African continent
The Referee Manager of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Alex Kotey, has announced that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be introduced in the Ghana Premier League next season.
According to Kotey, referees will undergo a three-month training program to help them understand how to use the technology before it is officially put into use.
He added that FIFA’s plan is to roll out the VAR system at the start of the 2025/2026 Ghana Premier League season.
“We want to start next season somewhere in August or September. We have two or three months to train.
That is the plan from FIFA. We can do it in less than three months if our people can catch it fast,” he said.
Reports suggest that Alex Kotey and FIFA-certified VAR referee Daniel Laryea will be in charge of training the referees.
In addition, the league’s official broadcaster will also receive special training from FIFA experts to get ready for the introduction of VAR in the 2025/26 season.
Twenty-two referees from Ghana have received FIFA badges for the 2025football season. The badges were awarded at a short ceremony held at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) headquarters in Accra on January 21, 2025.
Each year, FIFA gives badges to top-performing referees based on their performance in the previous year and their results in the FIFA Test.
This year, the group includes 10 center referees, 10 assistant referees, one futsal referee, one beach soccer referee, and one video assistant referee (VAR).
Out of the 22 referees, 12 are men and 8 are women, showing Ghana’s growing presence in international refereeing.
GFA President Kurt Okraku congratulated them and reminded them that they represent Ghanaian football on the world stage.
“Your performances have justified the trust CAF and FIFA have in you. This recognition reflects your dedication and excellence,” he said while urging them to aim even higher.
During the ceremony, officials discussed the challenges referees face and stressed the need to maintain high standards. GFA General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, emphasized the importance of consistent performance, asFIFA reviews the badges every year.
President Kurt Okraku, General Secretary Addo, and Referees Appointment Committee Chairperson, Christine Enyonam Zigah, handed out the badges. Other committee members and officials also attended the event.
FIFA has announced that Saudi Arabia will host the2034 World Cup.This decision, made on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, means the tournament will return to the Gulf region after Qatar hosted it in 2022.
For the 2030 World Cup, FIFA has chosen Morocco, Spain, and Portugal as hosts, with some matches also being played in South America.
The decision on hosting rights was reached unanimously by football nations during a virtual FIFA Congress, without a formal voting process.
FIFA explained that it was following its policy of rotating the World Cup between continents.
For the 2034 tournament, only countries from Asia or Oceania were allowed to bid since the 2026 event, the first to include 48 teams, will take place in North America.
Saudi Arabia was the only country to submit a bid for 2034, securing its place as the host. It will be the first time a single nation hosts a 48-team World Cup under the new format.
For 2030, FIFA confirmed earlier that Morocco, Spain, and Portugal were the sole bidders after other countries withdrew.
Manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, has shared his plans for the future and discussed where he might go after leaving the club.
Guardiola recently signed a new contract with Manchester City, keeping him at the club until 2027. This deal will extend his time at the club to over a decade, during which he has already won six Premier League titles, one Champions League, four Carabao Cups, two FA Cups, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Looking ahead, Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City will be the final club he manages in his career.
He told famous Spanish chef Dani Garcia on his Desmontadito YouTube channel: “I’m not going to manage any other club after City.
I’m not talking about the long-term future, but what I’m not going to do is leave, go to another country, and do the same thing as now. Maybe a national team, but that’s different.”
Guardiola was linked with the England job in the wake of Gareth Southgate’s departure before Thomas Tuchel was appointed as the new Three Lions’ coach.
There has also been speculation previously that the 53-year-old was wanted by the Brazil national team, and there may be plenty of offers for Guardiola to consider once he does finally decide to part ways with City.
Guardiola’s City side are currently going through a sticky patch and dropped Premier League points again last time out against Crystal Palace.
The Catalan coach will aim to get his team back to winning ways on Wednesday at Juventusin the Champions League.
Independent presidential candidate Nana Kwame Bediako has urged theGhana Football Association (GFA) to adopt creative ways to fund football in the country.
The New Force leader criticised the GFA for not taking inspiration from successful organisations like FIFA, which earns huge sums from broadcasting rights.
He raised concerns about the GFA’s over-reliance on government funds, pointing out the need to explore other revenue opportunities to support the sport.
“I don’t think they [the GFA] are looking at the strategy of other football associations like FIFA. Because FIFA makes most of their money from broadcasting. That’s what makes them powerful,” Bediako said in an interview played on Asempa FM.
“So they’ve managed not just for people to play football, but they’ve built relationships with all television channels around the world.
“Ghana, our GFA, is just waiting for a budget and a match. And they carry the people; they go and play; they either win or they lose. They come back; somebody’s going to pay for it.”
Conversations about the state of Ghana football are ongoing because of Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which is the first time in 21 years that the Black Stars will not be at the tournament.
FIFA has named Jill Ellis as its new Chief Football Officer. In this role, Ellis will be part of FIFA’s leadership team, responsible for shaping and executing the global football strategy.
Ellis brings extensive experience to the position, having achieved significant success both as a coach and an executive. She is known for leading the U.S. Women’s National Team to back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019. More recently, she served as President of the San Diego Wave FC, guiding the team to an impressive NWSL Shield victory in just their second season.
As Chief Football Officer, Ellis will collaborate with Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, to focus on advancing football worldwide. Her role will involve key responsibilities related to the growth and development of the game at a global level.
The creation of this position highlights FIFA’s commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in football, ensuring that the sport remains open to everyone. It is also a step towards FIFA’s goal of making football a truly global game, offering opportunities to all players, regardless of gender.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said: “Jill’s experience, enthusiasm, and outstanding achievements make her the perfect choice for this role. She has been a true inspiration for many, and I look forward to seeing the impact of her work continue to inspire many more around the world.
FIFA is very proud to have Jill and Arsène, two of the great football leaders and thinkers, to help us make our vision for football a reality. Her appointment demonstrates FIFA’s commitment to the future of the game and to creating more opportunities for the next generation.”
“I am honoured to join FIFA in this pioneering role and to contribute to the growth of football from a global perspective,” Ellis said. “FIFA has a unique ability, through football, to unite communities and to drive the game’s development worldwide. Having experienced football, from grassroots programmes up to senior national-team level, I’ve seen first-hand its transformative power.”
Officials from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) are set to hold discussions with representatives from FIFA on implementing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in Ghana.
Scheduled for October 31 to November 1, 2024, the meeting will focus on assessing Ghana’s preparedness to introduce VAR in its football leagues, an essential step towards enhancing match officiating and aligning with global standards.
FIFA’s team, headed by VAR specialists Inokuchi Takaaki and Michael Bailey, will review the country’s capacity to implement the technology, including meeting FIFA’s Implementation Assessment Approval (IAA) requirements, which are mandatory for any FIFA Member Association seeking VAR integration.
Key GFA representatives, including Alex Kotey, head of Referees and VAR project lead, along with VAR instructor Emmanuel Aglago and head of legal affairs Marian Mensah, will be in attendance.
If FIFA’s approval is granted, it would pave the way for VAR to be introduced in the Ghana Premier League, addressing ongoing concerns about officiating quality in local matches.
FIFA has come under fire for allegedly failing to pay the final instalments owed to players across Europe whose contracts were not honoured by their clubs.
According to multiple sources from various countries familiar with the matter, although FIFA made some payments, the last instalment remains unpaid.
Many of the affected players, now either unemployed or retired, are said to rely heavily on these funds.
The payments were supposed to be disbursed from FIFA’s Fund for Players, established in 2020, with the outstanding amounts due in September 2023.
BBC Sport has obtained an email from a national football union addressed to FIFA, listing over 30 affected players and highlighting their financial struggles, urging the release of the owed amounts.
In total, 420 players are owed a combined sum of £3.09 million.
This issue arises amid an ongoing dispute between FIFA and the global players’ union, FIFPro, over changes to the international match calendar.
FIFPro, supported by the Professional Footballers’ Association, argues that elite players are being overworked, increasing their risk of injury.
A key point of contention is the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, set to be held in the USA next summer, for which FIFA has yet to negotiate television deals or announce prize money.
FIFA has beenapproached for comment but has yet to respond.
FIFA has announced the 12 stadiums set to host the revamped Club World Cup in the United States next year.
The tournament will take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025, marking the first staging of an expanded 32-team competition.
Matches will be held across various venues in the U.S., with the final scheduled for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, located just five miles from New York City.
The selected venues are as follows:
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Geodis Park, Nashville
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando
Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Lumen Field, Seattle
Audi Field, Washington, DC
Chelsea, Manchester City, and Real Madrid have automatically qualified from Europe as the most recent winners of the Champions League over the last four-year cycle. Additionally, Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, and Benfica will also participate due to their coefficient rankings.
The remainder of the tournament will consist of six South American clubs, 12 teams from Asia, Africa, and North America, along with one club from Oceania and another representing the U.S. as the host nation.
Previously, the Club World Cup was an annual mid-season tournament featuring six teams from seven worldwide confederations.
“In 2025, a new era for club football will kick off when FIFA stages the greatest, most inclusive, and merit-based global club competition right here in the United States,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
However, FIFA’s decision to expand the competition has faced criticism from clubs and players, especially after UEFA expanded the Champions League and Europa League group stages to include two additional matches.
In July, global players’ union Fifpro and the European Leagues body, which represents 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs in 33 countries, filed a joint complaint with the European Commission to protest FIFA’s “abuse of dominance” in the sport.
Two months prior, FIFA dismissed claims that Fifpro and the World Leagues Association were not consulted regarding plans to expand the Club World Cup.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who is set to miss the rest of the season due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, warned earlier this month that players are nearing a strike because of the congested fixture list.
France has dismissed claims of match-fixing after suffering a 4-1 loss to Iran, a result that inadvertently placed them in a more favourable section of the draw at the Futsal world Cup in Uzbekistan.
The match saw France struggle in the first half, ultimately leading to a relatively easy victory for Iran after France allowed a questionable first goal, sparking outrage from several other teams.
This led to complaints being lodged with FIFA by some of those teams.
“FIFA is aware of complaints filed by participating teams at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 regarding the Group F match between France and IR Iran,” a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement.
“No further comment will be made while this process is ongoing.”
The French Football Federation was not immediately available for comment.
France coach Raphael Reynaud said the way the match played out was about avoiding bookings and injuries.
“It was Iran’s responsibility to be in charge of the game,” he said. “The draw is more open for us, but our main goal was not to get booked and to avoid injuries.”
While both teams had already qualified for the round of 16, the result means France will take on Thailand before a potential quarterfinal against Paraguay, while Iran will face Morocco ahead of a possible clash against world No. 1 Brazil.
“Iran and France, coaches and players alike, have disgraced my sport. You are a disgrace to the world,” Thailand coach Miguel Rodrigo wrote on X.
Retired Brazil great Falcao was quoted by French media as saying: “It shows a lack of respect for the World Cup. The match was clearly fixed from the first minute.”
Ghana has fallen six spots in the latestFIFA rankingsfollowing a disappointing performance by the Black Stars in September.
The team now sits in 70th place globally and 14th in Africa.
Previously ranked 64th worldwide and 12th on the continent, Ghana’s standing dropped after a loss to Angola and a 1-1 draw with Niger.
These results in the September fixtures have negatively impacted the four-time African champions.
In contrast, Nigeria’s position remained stable despite securing both a win and a draw during the same period, maintaining their sixth place in Africa.
Named “Suspect and Protect: No Match is Worth the Risk,” the programme, created in collaboration with brain health specialists, seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of traumatic brain injuries and provide valuable resources for managing these risks, according to their joint announcement.
“By knowing the signs of concussion, by being aware of the risks, and by treating a concussion correctly, you can help to put player safety first,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0VCzeRwpqc
In March, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) sanctioned the use of permanent concussion substitutes following a successful trial, with the new rule making its debut in this year’s Copa América.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, emphasised the need for heightened awareness about concussions across all levels of football.
“WHO is proud to team up with FIFA… to promote ways to protect the brains of footballers,” he added.
According to an email from FIFA to JoySports’ Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, the funds were designated for the “installation of boreholes and water tanks” to enhance the condition of the playing surfaces.
A publication on FIFA’s website last week revealed that “FIFA Forward has also contributed to the maintenance of natural grass pitches at 80 venues in Ghana, benefiting Women’s Premier League and regional women’s clubs, as well as the purchase of footballs for youth and regional development.
“This initiative has supported regional women’s teams, where many of the U-20 national players began their careers.”
This revelation has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the current state of these pitches, none of which seem to be in a suitable condition to host even a Black Stars training session.
However, FIFA clarified in an email to Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, explaining, “FIFA assisted the GFA in maintaining natural grass pitches at 80 match venues across Ghana.
This included the installation of boreholes and water tanks, ensuring that the venues met the minimum club licensing requirements. The total support amounted to $267,273.”
About three years ago, the Ghana FA, in a statement on its website, announced the approval of the “Ghana Football Association Borehole Project” by FIFA.
The statement mentioned that the GFA Executive Council had decided to invest part of the FIFA Forward 1.0 programme funds to improve the quality of pitches and competitions through the installation of boreholes at game centres across the country.
“The borehole project, once completed, will be used to develop pitches for the Premier League, Division One League, Women’s Premier League, and Game Centres of Regional Football Associations, ensuring year-round use, including during the dry season,” the statement read.
At the time, the exact number of pitches and the total amount involved were not disclosed,but FIFAhas now confirmed that the funding exceeded $260,000.
Despite the investment, the current pitches in the country are that horrible.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has commended the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for its outstanding utilization of the FIFA Forward program during a meeting withGFA President Kurt Okraku in Paris on Thursday.
The FIFA Forward program offers customized support for the advancement of football within each member association and the six confederations.
From 2016 to 2022, FIFA distributed $2.79 billion to member associations and confederations for football development, with Ghana receiving significant benefits.
“I congratulated him on the Ghana Football Association making excellent use of the FIFA Forward programme, such as the recent upgrade to the Ghana Soccer Centre of Excellence,” Infantino said after the meeting.
Recent upgrades at the Ghana Soccer Centre of Excellence, the GFA’s training hub for national teams in Prampram, feature newly installed floodlights that were activated in April 2024.
A new 40-bed accommodation facility for the national teams is also nearing its final stages of construction, alongside an additional artificial playing surface.
Ghana has also become part of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) and hosted a TDS workshop in June 2024, which welcomed representatives from 10 African member associations.
Ghana has signed on to the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) and held a TDS workshop in June 2024, which included participation from 10 African member associations.
“President Okraku also explained how Ghana was benefitting from the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, giving anyone who wants to play football in Ghana a chance to shine. He also provided me with an update on the work being done to encourage greater female participation in our sport,” Infantino said.
Infantino added, “Ghana certainly is a football nation, as I saw for myself during a visit a few years ago, and the GFA is working incredibly hard to ensure more young people in the country can play our wonderful sport. I look forward to continuing our excellent collaboration and to seeing Ghana participate in FIFA tournaments in the future.”
Okraku, who has been at the helm of Ghana football since 2019, praised Gianni Infantino’s support for African football.
“FIFA, led by the President, has been at the forefront of support for the development of football, especially in Africa. It was always important for us to engage and to know how far we are going, how well we are doing, and what we have to do to make it much, much, much better,” Okraku said.
During the Paris Olympics,FIFA has been engaging with future hosts of the men’s World Cup, including Saudi Arabia.
On Monday, FIFA announced that it received formal bid books in Paris from leaders of the seven member federations that are the sole bidders for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups.
For the 2030 World Cup, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will co-host, along with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay from South America, each of which will host one of the tournament’s 104 games.
Saudi Arabia is the sole candidate for the 2034 World Cup, a decision that was fast-tracked by FIFA last year.
The two bids are expected to be confirmed during an online meeting of FIFA’s 211 member federations on December 11.
Before that, detailed World Cup project plans, spanning hundreds of pages, will be published later this week by FIFA. These plans must include proposals for stadiums, hotels, training fields, transportation, and national security.
“FIFA will thoroughly assess the bid books and publish its evaluation report” due in the last quarter of the year, the world football body said in a statement.
World Cup bidders are now required to undergo an assessment of their human rights obligations as part of their bid to host the tournament.
FIFA, invited in May to collaborate with independent experts, will oversee this evaluation of the candidates.
FIFA’s human rights policy, implemented eight years ago following the controversial awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively, was first applied to candidates for the 2026 tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams instead of 32.
This bid triumphed over Morocco in a 134-65 vote held in 2018 in Moscow.
Canada’s women’s football team has been penalized with a six-point deduction from their Olympic group and coach Bev Priestman has received a one-year ban after using a drone to spy on a rival team’s training sessions.
FIFA announced the sanctions, which also include a £175,720 fine for the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), a day after English-born Priestman was dismissed as Canada’s Olympic head coach.
Additionally, CSA officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander have been suspended by FIFA for a year.
FIFA stated that the Canadian team’s use of the drone was a “violation” of its principles.
“The officials were each found responsible for offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play in connection with the CSA’s Women’s representative team’s drones usage in the scope of the Olympic football tournament,” said a Fifa statement.
Priestman “voluntarily” withdrew from her coaching duties for Canada’s opening game against the Kiwis after the New Zealand Olympic Committee reported a drone was flown over their training session on Monday.
Fifa and the CSA launched investigations and the latter said the 38-year-old was “highly likely” to have been aware of the incident.
The CSA can appeal against the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport and in a statement reacting to the sanctions, its chief executive Kevin Blue and Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive David Shoemaker both said an appeal was under consideration.
“We are exploring options to appeal on the basis that it is excessively punitive towards our Women’s National Team players – who were not involved in any unethical behaviour,” Blue said.
“Canada Soccer took swift action to suspend the implicated staff members and is also proceeding with a broad independent review that may lead to further disciplinary action.”
Shoemaker added: “We feel terrible for the athletes on the Canadian Women’s Olympic Soccer Team who as far as we understand played no role in this matter.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Priestman accepted responsibility for her colleagues’ actions after a scouting report filed by Lombardi was sent to Mander.
On Thursday, a French court handed Lombardi an eight-month suspended jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to flying a drone in an urban area without a license.
The following day, Shoemaker remarked that there “appears to be information that could tarnish” Canada’s women’s football triumph at the Tokyo Games.
This followed Canadian media reports that drones had been used in previous tournaments.
Assistant coach Andy Spence will now lead the team for the remainder of the Games. The defending Olympic champions’ next match is against France on Sunday.
Canada had earned three points from their opening game againstNew Zealand, but FIFA’s sanction now leaves them at minus three in Group A, with upcoming matches against the host nation and Colombia.
Premier League has joined the legal battle against FIFA over alleged “abuse of dominance” concerning the international football calendar.
The European Leagues organization, representing professional divisions in England, announced that a complaint will be submitted to the European Commission in collaboration with the players’ union FIFPRO Europe, citing competition law grounds.
FIFA’s decision to expand the Club World Cup to 32 teams from 2025, scheduling it after domestic and international matches conclude, has sparked concerns about the excessive demands placed on players due to congested schedules.
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has said of taking a stance against FIFA: “The complaint will explain that FIFA’s conduct infringes EU competition law and notably constitutes an abuse of dominance: FIFA holds a dual role as both the global regulator of football and a competition organiser.
This creates a conflict of interest, which, consistent with recent case law of the EU courts, requires FIFA to exercise its regulatory functions in a way that is transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.
FIFA’s conduct in respect of the international match calendar falls well short of these requirements.
“This complaint, that will be formally filed by European Leagues, LaLiga, and FIFPRO Europe will run in parallel to separate actions initiated by individual leagues and player unions at national level.
The English, French and Italian player unions brought an action with the Brussels commercial court in June. European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe have already informed the European Commission of their decision and look forward to working closely with the Commission, relevant public institutions and football stakeholders throughout the investigation process.”
FIFA are yet to grant a mandatory 28-day break during annual off seasons, with league and player unions claiming that world football’s governing body has “consistently refused to include national leagues and player unions in its decision-making process”, while also asserting that “the international match calendar is now beyond saturation and has become unsustainable for national leagues and a risk for the health of players”.
FIFA will be fighting its corner and pointed out that current calendars have been unanimously approved by its ruling council. A statement given to Sky News reads: “The current calendar was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, which is composed of representatives from all continents, including Europe, following a comprehensive and inclusive consultation, which included FIFPRO and league bodies.
FIFA’s calendar is the only instrument ensuring that international football can continue to survive, co-exist, and prosper alongside domestic and continental club football.
Some leagues in Europe – themselves competition organisers and regulators – are acting with commercial self-interest, hypocrisy, and without consideration to everyone else in the world. Those leagues apparently prefer a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours, often involving extensive global travel.
By contrast,FIFA must protect the overall interests of world football, including the protection of players, everywhere and at all levels of the game.”
The Korean Football Association (KFA) has formally expressed “serious concerns” to FIFA following an incident in which Wolves’ forward Hwang Hee-chan was allegedly subjected to a racist remark by a Como player during a pre-season friendly.
The incident occurred during Monday’s friendly match in Marbella, Spain. Hwang reported the alleged remark, which Como acknowledged involved a reference to Hwang’s name.
While the Italian club dismissed the comment as non-racist and claimed the reaction from Wolves players exaggerated the situation, Wolves and Hwang firmly maintain that the remark was indeed racist.
Wolves are collaborating with the English Football Association to formalize their complaint, which will be submitted to both UEFA and the Italian FA. UEFA has stated it lacks jurisdiction over the matter as it was not a UEFA-sanctioned competition.
In response, the KFA has escalated the issue to FIFA.
In a statement, the KFA said: “In an official letter sent to FIFA on July 18, the Korea Football Association expressed serious concern about the racist behaviour suffered by Hwang Hee-chan from an opposing team player during a recent practice match, and issued a call to prevent racial discrimination occurring on the soccer field. In order to eradicate it, we asked FIFA to further strengthen sanctions against perpetrators.”
Wolves reported that the incident took place midway through the second half of the match, during which forward Daniel Podence was sent off for retaliating with a punch.
Wolves’ manager, Gary O’Neil, consulted Hwang about whether to abandon the game, but the 28-year-old chose to continue. Wolves eventually won the match 1-0.
Following the incident, Hwang took to Instagram to express his feelings: “Racism is intolerable in sports and in all aspects of life.
After the incident, the coaching staff and my team-mates immediately told me that they would leave the field with me if needed, and they kept checking on my wellbeing. I am very grateful to my team-mates once again.”
Ghana has climbed four spots in the latestFIFA rankings followingthe Black Stars’ consecutive victories in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
This advancement has boosted Ghana to 64th place globally and 12th in Africa, surpassing Cape Verde and Burkina Faso, who had previously ranked higher after Ghana’s 2023 AFCON performance.
Prior to the AFCON, Ghana was positioned 61st in the world and 11th in Africa, according to the September 2023 rankings.
However, the Black Stars’ failure to advance beyond the group stage at the AFCON, with two draws and one loss, impacted their standing.
The recent wins against Mali and the Central African Republic in June have helped the four-time African champions improve their position.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has slipped to fifth place in the African rankings after not securing any wins in their two matches in June.
Santos is contemplating filing a complaint withFIFA against Juventusand Cruzeiro concerning the transfer of their former player, Kaio Jorge.
Juventus officially transferred the Brazilian striker to Cruzeiro on June 11, announcing a permanent deal, while on the same day, Cruzeiro issued a statement confirming Jorge’s signing on a five-year contract.
Santos claims that when they sold Jorge to Juventus in August 2021 for €3 million, the contract included a clause giving Santos a preference in any subsequent negotiations involving the player.
A statement from Santos said: “Santos Futebol Clube, through its Legal Department, officially notified Juventus, from Italy, and Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, from Belo Horizonte, about the negotiation involving striker Kaio Jorge … Santos FC awaits the parties’ response to present a possible claim to FIFA.
“At no time were Santos informed about the transaction information or consulted about their interest in reacquiring the player. Kaio Jorge was trained in the youth divisions of Santos FC.“
FIFA has characterizedGhana’s exhilarating 4-3 triumph over the Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as ‘crazy.’
The football governing body shared its astonishment at the match’s outcome, which witnessed Otto Addo’s team clinch a hard-fought victory in Kumasi, on its official platform.
“This #FIFAWorldCup qualifying match was crazy!” FIFA wrote, accompanied by a popcorn and an exploding head emoji, reflecting the excitement and drama that unfolded on the pitch.
Ghana’s recent victory over the Central African Republic marked the team’s third triumph in Group I of the World Cup qualifiers.
Their journey began with a narrow 1-0 win over Madagascar in Kumasi, followed by a disappointing 1-0 loss to Comoros in Moroni.
However, on June 6th, Ghana bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Mali, courtesy of goals from Ernest Nuamah and Jordan Ayew.
This set the stage for a thrilling encounter against the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Monday, June 10, 2024.
In this intense match, Jordan Ayew stole the spotlight with a remarkable hat-trick, while Abdul Fatawu Issahaku netted the other goal.
Yet, the Central African Republic fought relentlessly, managing to score a late third goal, setting the stage for a tense finale.
Despite the late scare, Ghana maintained their composure and clinched a crucial three points. This victory propelled them to the top of Group I with nine points from four games.
His accomplishment comes after successfully passing the rigorous FIFA Agent Examinations.
Prior to pursuing certification as a FIFA Agent, Sharaf had been actively involved in assisting talented players with their contract negotiations.
In a social media post celebrating his achievement, the son of the National Democratic Congress flagbearer expressed his enthusiasm.
He emphasized that becoming a FIFA Agent resonates with his passion for advancing the growth of football in Ghana and beyond.
“I’m thrilled to announce that I have passed the FIFA Agent Examinationsand am now licensed as an official FIFA Agent.
I’m thrilled to announce that, I have passed the FIFA Agent Examinations and now licensed as an official FIFA Agent. This is in pursuit of my passion to contribute to the development of Football in Ghana and the world at large. ✅⚽️#FIFASharafMahamapic.twitter.com/5u1HEOPBrI
“This is in pursuit of my passion to contribute to the development of football in Ghana and the world at large,” Sharaf Mahama shared,” on May 30, 2024.
Players have issued a warningto FIFA, indicating they are prepared to strike over concerns about an overloaded playing calendar, according to Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) CEO Maheta Molango.
Global players’ union FIFPRO is spearheading a joint lawsuit with several European leagues, including LaLiga and the Premier League.
Just two days before the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in London, the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the PFA convened to discuss countermeasures against FIFA’s plan to increase the number of matches in the upcoming season, particularly with the new Club World Cup on the horizon.
PFA CEO Molango, who has been advocating for change since February, asserts that players have reached their breaking point. He argues that football’s congested schedule jeopardizes players’ health and reduces the sport’s quality.
“I can tell you a situation not 10 days ago where I went into a dressing room that was directly affected and said: ‘I’m happy to be here and bark a bit, but ultimately it’s up to you. How far do you want to go?”‘
Molango said on Thursday. “Some of them said: ‘I’m not having it, we might as well go on strike.’ Some said: ‘What’s the point? Yes, I’m a millionaire, but I don’t even have time to spend the money.’”
Demands on players have increased in recent years, as tournaments expanded and new competitions emerged, with players and managers saying that the calendar demanded too many matches.
“It was not even the union that said it, it was Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. We have reached a point where we cannot rule out any action,” Molango said.
Global players’ union FIFPRO, together with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and the World Leagues Association (WLA), are persisting in their threat of legal action if FIFA does not revise its plans.
In a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Mattias Grafstrom, they voiced their concerns regarding the expansion of the 32-team Club World Cup.
FIFA, however, rejected the claims of unilateral decision-making favoring its competitions in the international calendar and indicated it would not consider rescheduling the tournament.
“Some of the changes in England with the domestic calendar have been forced by what FIFA and UEFA have done. What has happened is further confirmation that something needs to be done,” Molango said.
“We will always try to exhaust all diplomatic avenues, we have sent a letter, we have received a reply, but unfortunately time is against us. Sometimes between grown-up people, despite trying very hard to find solutions you need a third party to decide, maybe an arbitrator or a tribunal.”
Following a heated clash with Samuel Eto’o, Marc Brys has been abruptly relieved of his duties as the Cameroon manager, a role he assumed just in April without overseeing a single match.
The decision came swiftly after the altercation between Brys and the president of the Cameroon football federation, Samuel Eto’o.
In response to this development, Martin Ndtoungou has been appointed as the interim coach of the Indomitable Lions following an emergency meeting convened by Fecafoot’s executive committee.
This episode adds to the ongoing chaos surrounding Cameroon football, marked by tensions between Eto’o and Brys, which escalated during a preparatory meeting ahead of the team’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June.
Notably, Brys’ appointment had stirred controversy within Fecafoot, as it was made without consulting the federation.
Moreover, Eto’o has faced accusations of match-fixing, incitement of violence, and making threats, allegations that were forwarded to FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
A statement from Fecafoot has confirmed the news and stated Brys has been replaced due to “inappropriate behaviour” and “disrespectful comments”.
Brys also stands accused of “an outright refusal to collaborate“.
