Real Madrid ease past Pachuca to win Intercontinental Cup in Doha
December 19 – Real Madrid defeated Mexico’s Pachuca 3-0 to clinch the Intercontinental Cup and land manager Carlo Ancelotti a record fifteenth trophy at the club.
FIFA
Not feeling the love; Vinicius Jnr uses social media to tell people he is ‘the best player in the world’
December 19 – Vinicius Junior has hit out at his critics after bouncing back from losing out at the Ballon d’Or by winning the FIFA Best trophy award, accusing his detractors of trying to “invalidate” and “diminish” him.
Euro MPs demand FIFA gives ‘binding commitments’ on ‘critical’ Saudi 2034 issues
December 18 – In an open letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, European lawmakers have expressed “grave concern” over the hosting of the 2034 World Cup by Saudi Arabia.
FIFA to open new office hub in Rabat, Morocco
December 18 – In a further decentralisation of the organisation, FIFA have announced that the world governing body will be opening an office in Rabat, Morocco.
Land of opportunity. FIFA’s cheap seats for Club World Cup final in New York start at $890
December 18 – The expanded FIFA Club World Cup has already drawn widespread criticism for cramming more fixtures into an already congested football calendar. But if the backlash over its scheduling wasn’t enough, the recently revealed ticket prices for the tournament could escalate the controversy to new heights.
FIFA apologises to Ukraine over Crimean map gaffe at World Cup qualifying draw
December 18 – FIFA has apologised to the Ukrainian FA for displaying a map during the European section of the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw that excluded Russia-occupied Crimea from the country’s territory.
Vinícius Júnior and Aitana Bonmati scoop FIFA’s ‘Best’ awards
December 18 – Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior has finally got his hands on a major global player award.
Booze ban unlikely to be lifted for Saudi Arabia 2034 World Cup
December 18 – Saudi Arabia has been dry since 1952, and we’re not talking about rain. King Ibn Saud banned alcohol that year, and the chances of football fans being allowed to drink in stadiums during World Cup 2034 are about as strong as Budweiser Zero.
BBC and ITV agree shared broadcast deals for 2026 and 2030 World Cups
December 17 – BBC Sport and ITV have renewed their deal to share live coverage of the men’s World Cup for both 2026 and 2030 editions, ensuring continued free-to-air access for football fans across the UK.
Laced: English FA boss Debbie Hewitt forced to justify support for Saudi Arabia 2034
December 16 – English FA president Debbie Hewitt has defended her organisation’s backing of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup, a decision that FIFA and its membership rubber-stamped last week.
US women stay top of the world as ranking grows to 195 nations
December 16 – The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) will close out 2024 at the summit of the FIFA world rankings, reclaiming their dominance after a turbulent year. The latest update, released on Friday, confirms their position ahead of reigning World Cup champions Spain, who remain in second place.
Pachuca beat Al Ahly on penalties to set up Real Madrid final
December 16 – Mexico’s Pachuca will play Real Madrid in the final of the Intercontinental Cup after defeating Egypt’s Al Ahly in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw.
European draw for 2026 group qualifying sees England rematched with Serbia
December 13 – Thomas Tuchel’s first official duty as England’s new head coach was to see his team drawn in a 2026 World Cup qualifying group with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra today.
Saudi Arabia will cover up its reality to west in run-up to 2034, claims rights activist
December 13 – Fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” during the tournament and will not see what really goes on behind the scenes, according to a Saudi rights activist living in the UK.
Conmebol adds Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifying tournament to calendar
December 13 – Following in the footsteps of Europe, South America will stage a standalone qualifying tournament for the Women’s World Cup, the region’s governing body Conmebol confirmed on Thursday.