NWSL rubberstamps Denver as league’s 16th franchise
January 31 – The NWSL in the US has officially named Denver, Colorado, as the league’s 16th franchise. Denver will begin play in the 2026 season.
News
Apple’s $2.5bn MLS streaming deal starts to show cracks
January 31 – The MLS’s groundbreaking 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Apple is starting to show cracks after just two seasons, with not even Lionel Messi driving the subscriber growth that was predicted for the streaming service both within the US and internationally.
We are in Kansas Dorothy. 2026 host cities follow FIFA’s yellow brick road with 500 days to go
January 31 – Excitement is building in the respective host cities for the 2026 World Cup, and with the 500-day countdown officially beginning, each local organising committee is keen to highlight their progress. In Kansas City, KC2026 is sharing ways for the region to get involved.
Condor signs exclusive travel partnership with Bulgarian FA
January 31 – The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) has signed a partnership agreement with Condor, Bulgaria’s leading travel agency.
Serie A to partner with 7-a-side Kings League in pursuit of younger demographic
January 31 – Hot on the heels of the rapidly growing six-a-side Baller League, comes the announcement that the Kings League, the innovative 7-a-side football competition founded by Gerard Piqué, will form a partnership with the Serie A, Italy’s top football league.
Norwegian FA defies clubs and fans on VAR in call to develop it
January 30 – The Norwegian FA (NFF) has launched a defence of VAR in a bid to retain it, after NFF president Lise Klaveness (pictured) and her board met on Wednesday to consider the future of the technology following opposition from fans, who threw fish cakes on to a pitch last year in protest, and clubs, who have voted to get rid of it.
Europa League set to reach exciting conclusion with 18-game slate
Off the back of a thrilling UEFA Champions League night on Wednesday, it is now the turn of the inaugural Europa League group phase to reach its climax on Thursday evening, with all 18 matches kicking off simultaneously at 20:00 GMT.
Abramovich allegedly dodged tax payments through superyacht scheme
January 30 – Former Chelsea supremo Roman Abramovich allegedly dodged paying millions in taxes to British authorities through an elaborate fictitious superyacht hiring scheme.
Man City, PSG avoid early exits from UEFA Champions League
January 30 – Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain secured vital victories on the final matchday of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League group phase to ensure qualification to the play-off round.
CAF publishes new dates for African Nations Championship
January 30 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the new dates for this year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament promoting home-based talent and featuring only players based in domestic leagues.
Municipality of Split begins €25million renovation of Poljud Stadium
January 30 – The Municipality of Split is preparing the process to reconstruct and renovate the Poljud Stadium, Croatia’s largest football venue with a capacity of 33,987 seats.
Barca in home hunt for El Clasico in May
January 30 – The El Clasico, between Real Madrid and Barcelona is widely considered to be the biggest club game in world football and is eagerly awaited every season. On May 11, the second La Liga instalment following Barca’s thrashing of Madrid 4-0 at Estadio Bernabeu, is scheduled to take place at the Camp Nou, however, the game is now in jeopardy of having no facility to play in.
EE stays connected with Home Nations and Wembley Stadium for another four years
January 30 – UK mobile network operator EE, has extended its partnerships with all four Home Nations football teams – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Leicester City helicopter crash was not pilot error. Srivaddhanaprabha family pursue £2.1bn claim
January 29 – A helicopter crash that killed the owner of Premier League club Leicester City and four others was an accident, an inquest jury has concluded.
CAF financially fuelled by Total Energies 4-year renewal
January 29 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Total Energies have renewed their partnership with a four-year deal.