Morocco join Iberian bid in power play for 2030 World Cup hosting
By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
March 15 – After no fewer than five failures, an unenviable record, Morocco believe they have finally found a way to stage the World Cup.
World Cup
FIFA Council agrees four team 2026 group stage, boosting total World Cup matches to 104
By Samindra Kunti in Kigali, Rwanda
March 15 – The World Cup will never be quite the same again. FIFA and its council decided that the global finals must be seemingly endless, the 48-team finals have now grown into a group stage of four teams and a tournament of 104 matches, eight to reach the final. In all the competition will last six, or seven days longer.
Concacaf says the four winners of 2021-24 CCL will qualify for 32-team 2025 Club World Cup
March 15 – The winners of the four editions of the Concacaf Champions League – from 2021 to 2024 – will be the confederation’s four qualifiers for the first of the expanded versions of the Club World Cup in 2025.
Conference call: Renewed demand for FIFA to set up compensation fund for Qatar migrant workers
March 14 – On the eve of the FIFA Congress and president Gianni Infantino’s retaking of his vows in Kigali, Amnesty and a million petition signees have demanded FIFA compensate migrant workers who suffered human rights and labour abuses in Qatar.
Analysis: Are 104 games the way forward for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
March 13 – This week in Kigali, Rwanda, in and around its Congress, FIFA will discuss proposals to change the opening group stages of the 2026 World Cup from three to four teams. Mario Guajardo and Alex Krumer, business and economics professors at universities in Norway are specialists in studying formats and schedules for sports competitions. They analyse some of the options available to FIFA.
World Cup 2026: Four-team group format to be discussed by FIFA Council in Kigali
By Paul Nicholson
March 3 – FIFA is set to discuss a change to the planned first group stages for the expanded 2026 World Cup – increasing groups from three to four nations – at its next Council meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, later this month.
Conmebol quartet formalise their bid for 2030 World Cup, Bolivia could join them
February 7 – Will Bolivia join the South American quartet of Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay in their bid for the 2030 World Cup? Argentina’s president Alberto Fernandez wants the Bolivians to be a part of the adventure.
Messi regrets disrespecting Dutch after World Cup penalty shoot-out win
January 31 – Lionel Messi says he regrets the exchanges he had with the Netherlands team during their controversial World Cup quarter-final in Qatar.
FIFA releases Qatar 2022 overview by numbers
January 19 – FIFA has released a set of numbers and significant achievements/records that were generated by their World Cup month in Qatar. Top of those numbers is the claim that 5 billion people engaged with the tournament.
Records recap: Qatar 2022 broke a number of World Cup barriers
January 17 – The 2022 World Cup was heralded as a resounding success for fans from around the globe – it thrilled and moved people to tears of happiness and sorrow.
FIFA crack down on bad World Cup behaviour; case opened against Argentina
January 16 – FIFA have opened a disciplinary case against world champions Argentina for alleged “offensive behaviour” by players and violations of fair play at the final in Qatar.
Simply the Best. Messi’s journey to World Champion from 2006 to 2022
January 13 – After Argentina won the World Cup for the second time in 1986, Diego Maradona was the king of football in Argentina. He was seen as a god in his country, given how well he delivered for the team. His successor, Lionel Messi was not born until June 24.
Saudis deny Ronaldo contract has €200m World Cup ambassador add on for 2030 bid
January 11 – Cristiano Ronaldo’s new club Al Nassr have denied reports that his contract includes a commitment to back a Saudi Arabian bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
France to stick with Deschamps through 2026 World Cup
January 9 – French coach Didier Deschamps is to stay until the 2026 World Cup after leading his country to the final of the last two editions of the tournament.
Argentina victory parade abandoned over safety issues as crowds overwhelm bus route
December 21 – Argentina’s World Cup heroes were forced to abandon an open-top bus parade in Buenos Aires on Tuesday as millions of ecstatic fans brought the city to a standstill.