Poor players: More than 50% of candidates fail new FIFA agents test
April 28 – Almost half of the candidates taking a new exam so they can be licensed by FIFA as player agents have failed the test.
FIFA
US and Mexico join bid race for 2027 Women’s World Cup hosting
April 20 – The US and Mexico have thrown their hat into the ring with a joint bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. They will rival bids by Brazil and South Africa as well as the European triumvirate of Belgium, Netherlands and Germany.
FIFA awards U-20 World Cup hosting to Argentina as last minute Indonesian replacement
April 18 – Argentina have been confirmed as hosts of the under-20 World Cup following the decision to strip Indonesia of the right to stage the tournament.
Visa adds 33 new players to Team Visa programme ahead of 2023 Women’s World Cup
April 12 – FIFA sponsor Visa has unveiled the names of 33 women players who it will sponsor via its Team Visa programme up to and through the Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.
CAF puts Africa’s weight behind Morocco and Iberian 2030 bid. South Americans look isolated
April 12 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has given a significant boost to the joint Morocco, Spain and Portugal bid for the 2030 World Cup.
A plague of agents? FIFA reports massing of dealmakers on football’s borders
April 12 – FIFA has reported that 6,586 candidates from 138 member associations have applied to take the new FIFA football agent exam scheduled for 19 April.
FIFA beats 100-day path to WWC kick-off with final ticket sales push
April 11 – The countdown for the Women’s World Cup is on. On Tuesday, Australia and New Zealand marked 100 days until the kick-off of the women’s flagship tournament and the Football Ferns taking on Norway in the curtain raiser.
Argentina bump Brazil off top slot in World Rankings, France take second
April 8 – World Champions Argentina, with wins over Panama and Curacao in the last international window, have returned to the top of the FIFA rankings, replacing Brazil who slipped to third behind France.
US women continue to dominate FIFA rankings ahead of World Cup 2023
April 6 – While the men’s World Ranking has seen Argentina take over at the top, the women’s ranking, with teams deep into their April international window, sees the USA still dominant in top position, one they have held since 2017.
England’s Hewitt steps into FIFA Council role with promise to be more than a silent observer
By Samindra Kunti in Lisbon
April 6 – England once again has a representative on the FIFA Council, football’s top table, after FA president Debbie Hewitt was elected as the British vice-president. Hewitt is the first female vice president in FIFA’s history.
FIFAgate: FIFA bans former Peruvian boss Burga for second time for bribery
April 4 – FIFA’s Ethics Committee has handed for Peruvian FA president Manuel Burga (pictured) a life ban from all football-related activity for a second time.
Troublesome youth. FIFA strips Peru of U-17 World Cup hosting for second time
April 4 – Peru has been stripped of the hosting of the U-17 World Cup for the second time by FIFA who said there was not enough time to “secure the required investment and complete the necessary work” with the Peruvian government.
Former Haitian referees boss Rosnick Grant loses CAS appeal over life ban for sexual abuse
March 31 – FIFA’s lifetime ban on former Haitian Football Federation vice-president and head of referees Rosnick Grant has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Infantino confirms Argentina are frontrunners to pick up U-20 World Cup hosting
March 31 – Argentina is the frontrunner to host the U-20 World Cup which FIFA stripped from Indonesia over the country’s hostility toward finalists Israel. The South American country has submitted a formal bid to host the tournament, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Thursday.
Swiss prosecutors consign FIFA museum case to the past
March 30 – Swiss authorities have announced the end of legal proceedings against former FIFA president Sepp Blatter (pictured) over the alleged mismanagement of FIFA’s Zurich museum.