Euro winner Luis de La Fuente extends Spain contract
January 28 – Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has extended his contract until 2028 after leading the team to last year’s European Championship title.
World Cup
Seattle gets 2026 World Cup bug and announces nine fan zones across Washington state
January 21 – With the 2026 World Cup only 507 days away, Local Organising Committees (LOC) are beginning to step into action, and one of the most active is in Seattle, and the state of Washington who recently announced that they will be partnering with nine locations across the state to host fan zones.
Boston 26 commits to 20 mini-pitches as part of World Cup legacy
January 21 – Becoming a host city of World Cup matches often brings additional benefits beyond the influx of tourism to the local economy.
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.
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.
Home Depot tools up for 2026 World Cup sponsorship in their backyard
December 5 – In a sign that enthusiasm is starting to build with American sponsors ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, Home Depot has announced that they have become an official tournament sponsor.
Infantino sweeps FIFA sub-committee’s recommendations and Qatar migrant worker report under the carpet
December 2 – In a new low for FIFA and president Gianni Infantino’s administration, FIFA have ignored a key recommendation by its own subcommittee on human rights and social responsibility to compensate migrant workers in Qatar.
Draw pots confirmed for UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifying groups
November 29 – The draw pots for the UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifying groups have been decided with all eight Nations League quarter finalists, plus the four best-ranked UEFA nations (England, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria) as the top seeded teams.
Climate researchers warn of ‘extreme heat’ at 10 of the 2026 World Cup stadia
November 29 – Researchers at the Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences in Poland have warned that footballers face a “very high risk of experiencing extreme heat stress” at 10 of the 16 stadiums that will host the 2026 World Cup.
A further 26 base camps added to 2026 World Cup site roster
November 22- FIFA has unveiled a second wave of potential Team Base Camps for the 2026 World Cup, offering an expanded selection of “homes away from home” for the 48 participating teams.
FIFA launches $500 World Cup deposit scheme to secure spot at front of 2026 queue
November 22 – FIFA has given fans the chance to secure priority access to FIFA World Cup 26 hospitality packages via the tournament’s first-ever hospitality deposit programme, as it looks to squeeze even more money out of the beautiful game’s premier event.
AFC 2026 qualifiers: Palestine remind the world that they are alive and kicking
November 21 – While the world continues to look on at the horrors being committed by Israeli military forces in Palestine, their football team, who were in camp outside the country when the Israelis began their invasion, continue to defy the odds.
AFC 2026 qualifying: Saudis stumble with surprise loss in Indonesia
November 21 – Indonesia stunned Saudi Arabia 2-0, a result that left Group C in the third round of Asian World Cup qualifying wide open.
AFC 2026 qualifiers: Aussies let points slip with draws against Saudi and Bahrain
November 21 – Australia’s World Cup hopes remain in doubt after a 2-2 draw with Bahrain in Group C in the third round of World Cup qualifying.
UN Human Rights Council recognises Qatar’s progress but asks for more
November 15 – Hardly a week went by in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup when Qatar wasn’t under examination for its policy on human rights.