January 2 – The French Constitutional Council has ruled against giving a tax free status to FIFA for running their operations in Paris which has raised questions over the continuation of FIFA’s office in the French capital.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 22 — Manchester City cruised past Fluminense of Brazil 4-0 to win a maiden Club World Cup and conclude a spectacular 2023 with a fifth trophy.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 22 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is relishing the challenge of taking on Fluminense and their idiosyncratic style in the final of the Club World Cup as the European champions seek to wrap up their best year ever.
December 22 – The FIFA men’s rankings have been nudged only slightly in the latest update, as OFC nations battle it out in the Pacific Games whilst the rest of the world remains focused on domestic leagues. Argentina remain on top.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 22 – The Norwegian FA (NFF) has slammed FIFA’s bidding process for the 2034 World Cup, calling it a “foregone conclusion” and pointing at “a lack of transparency” in the decision making.
For more than two months, the world has been watching with horror and incredulity how civilians are being slaughtered in Gaza.
December 21 – Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) president Yasser Al-Misehal has said that ‘Everyone will be welcome’, including LGBTQ+ fans, at the 2034 World Cup, a tournament FIFA is set to formally award to the Arab Kingdom next year.
December 20 – FIFA’s head of global football development, Arsene Wenger, has backed plans for an expanded Club World Cup from 2025 and downplayed concerns about overload and player welfare.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 20 – European champions Manchester City rekindled some of their form with a comfortable 3-0 victory against Urawa Red Diamonds to book a place in the final of the Club World Cup.
December 19 – Manchester City’s Portuguese forward Bernardo Silva has warned that the expanded Club World Cup will take a heavy toll on elite players, saying the number of games they have to play has reached “crazy” proportions.
December 19 – FIFA have awarded hosting rights to Chile for the U-20 World Cup 2025 and Poland as the host of the U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 18 – South America is returning to the final of the Club World Cup after Fluminense edged past African champions Al Ahly of Egypt 2-0 with second-half goals from Joao Arias and John Kennedy.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 18 – FIFA confirmed that the 2025 Club World Cup will be played across 29 days in June and July that summer in the United States. Both English Premier League’s Liverpool and Manchester United miss out on the new competition while LaLiga’s Barcelona could still qualify.
December 18 – The first edition of the expanded Club World Cup will be staged from June 15 to July 13, 2025, in the United States but the world players union Fifpro has slammed FIFA’s decision.
December 16 – World champions Spain have secured the top spot in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings for the first time, knocking off ranking leaders Sweden who themselves had only had a short time at the top after displacing the USA in August. The US had held an unbroken six year run at the top.