This is the 11th in a series by The Athletic looking back at the winners of each men’s World Cup. Previously, we’ve looked at Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934 and again in 1938, Uruguay in 1950, West Germany in 1954, before a Brazilian double in 1958 and 1962, an England success in 1966, another Brazil win in 1970, and a second West Germany triumph in…
Premier League chief Richard Masters believes domestic leagues are in a “struggle” with FIFA for fans’ attention and players’ time, with the global governing body still not listening to concerns about fixture congestion and player welfare. Speaking at the Leaders sports business conference in London, Masters contrasted the growth in the number of games and…
This is the tenth in a series by The Athletic looking back at the winners of each men’s World Cup. Previously, we’ve looked at Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934 and again in 1938, Uruguay in 1950, West Germany in 1954, before a Brazilian double in 1958 and 1962, an England success in 1966, and another Brazil win in 1970. This time,…
Real Madrid are preparing to submit a report to FIFA, football’s world governing body, to detail “what is happening in Spanish football with regard to refereeing.” An announcement on Real Madrid TV, the club’s official media channel, confirmed on Saturday — following their 2-1 victory at Real Sociedad — that the dossier would reference incidents…
FIFA has been warned it will “set a dangerous precedent” if it sanctions domestic league matches being played abroad. Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A are attempting to export regular-season matches abroad this season. La Liga is hopeful of staging December’s fixture between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami, Florida, while the Italian top-flight is…
La Liga has reported alleged racist chanting directed towards Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe during Real Madrid’s match at Real Oviedo earlier this month to Spain’s National Police. The chanting was alleged to have taken place at Oviedo’s Carlos Tartiere Stadium during the league match on August 24, with the league reporting that chants imitating…
On Friday, just hours before President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s latest joint briefing in the White House, the MGM Resorts group in Las Vegas received a courtesy correspondence. It came from FIFA. It was a short and generic email. It said, essentially: Thank you, but no thank you. The expectation of many…
With less than 10 months to go before the most important tournament in Canadian soccer history, this European season will be crucial for Jesse Marsch’s players to establish themselves as difference-makers ahead of a World Cup their homeland is co-hosting. Canada’s head coach already knows who he can start in every game of their World…
Should FIFA, football’s global governing body, allow domestic matches to be played overseas? What appears a simple question is actually fairly complex. Many football fans, particularly the so-called “legacy fans” who regularly attend matches, are naturally appalled by the idea of Villarreal and Barcelona playing their La Liga match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami,…
Inter Miami have completed the signing of midfielder Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid, the Spanish club confirmed on Friday. The 31-year-old will link up with his Argentina international teammate and close friend Lionel Messi – who is out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 season but engaged in renewal talks with the…