Portugal and Spain finalise detail for 2030 World Cup bid
June 28 – The presidents of the Portuguese and Spanish FAs met with government officials on Monday to step up a possible joint bid for the 2030 World Cup.
FIFA
Valcke to challenge conviction for receiving kickbacks for World Cup TV rights
June 27 – Former FIFA number two Jerome Valcke is to appeal against his conviction for accepting bribes in a case involving World Cup media rights, his legal team said today.
Hosts India handed tough draw for Women’s U17 World Cup
June 27 – Hosts India will kick off the U17 Women’s World Cup against the United States as well as play both Brazil and Morocco in Group A. The tournament kicks off October 11 and runs through to October 30
Al-Khelaifi cleared, again, by Swiss appeals court over World Cup TV rights allegations
By Andrew Warshaw
June 24 – Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi, one of the most powerful figures in global football, was acquitted on appeal for a second time today by a Swiss federal court on charges of corruption in the long-running saga over the attribution of World Cup TV rights.
FIFA take 73rd Congress and Infantino’s next presidential election to his heartland in Africa
June 24 – Kigali will form the stage for next year’s FIFA presidential elections following the world governing body’s announcement that the 73rd FIFA Congress will be staged in the Rwandan capital in March.
FIFA boosts World Cup squads from 23 to 26 players
June 24 – FIFA has approved 26-man squads for the World Cup in Qatar, up from 23, in order to maintain relaxed rules that helped coaches and players during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FIFAe Nations Cup 2022 finalists qualified for July showdown in Copenhagen
June 23 – From a starting entry of 84 nations, 24 have now qualified for the finals of the FIFAe Nations Cup 2022 to be held July 24 to July 30 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Brazil stay top of men’s World rankings, France drop to fourth as Argentina advance
June 22 – Brazil, who knocked Belgium off the top of the World rankings after a more than three-year reign in March, have remained at the top in the latest ranking of FIFA men’s national teams.
FIFA keeps window open for overseas players to suspend Russian and Ukrainian contracts
June 22 – FIFA has moved to help protect foreign players and coaches affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine by allowing them to suspend existing contracts until June 2023.
Hate speech alive and kicking: 50%+ of players at Euro 2020 and AFCON abused
June 20 – Over half of the players who competed in the latter stages of Euro 2020 and the African Cup of Nations finals were abused online before, during and after the game, according to a shocking report released jointly by FIFA and FIFPRO, the international players’ union.
Frito-lay chips in with North American regional sponsorship for Qatar 2022
June 20 – Hard on the heels of the host venues announcement for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada, FIFA has unveiled US snack brand Frito-Lay as regional sponsor for the Qatar 2022 edition.
US and Europe dominate women’s ranking as nations in competition grows to 181
June 17 – With a summer of confederation women’s championship about to begin – Concacaf, CAF and UEFA are all kicking off significantly expanded competitions in July – FIFA has released its biggest Women’s World Rankings to date with 181 nations included.
Prosecutor removes jail time in Blatter/Platini trial, opens new probe into $140m FIFA Museum
June 16 – Prosecutors in the criminal trial of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-Uefa boss Michel Platini have demanded both men be handed 20-month suspended prison sentences, accusing them of defrauding FIFA.
Kattner says it wasn’t fraud and he didn’t tip off Swiss investigators to Blatter-Platini payment
June 16 – Former FIFA finance director Markus Kattner has told the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, that he didn’t flag the payment of CHF2 million from FIFA, requested by Sepp Blatter, to Michel Platini to the Swiss federal authorities and that he doesn’t believe it was an illegal payment.
Conmebol hammers FIFA’s Wenger over his European view of the world
June 16 – Conmebol has slammed FIFA’s chief of global development Arsene Wenger for suggesting Africa’s infrastructure is inadequate for developing talent and that Europe is the only continent where rising stars can reach full potential.