FIFA to examine proposal for World Cup expansion to 64 teams
March 7 – FIFA is considering an expansion of the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams following a proposal by Uruguayan football boss Ignacio Alonso at the FIFA Council.
Spanish prosecutors call for retrial of Rubiales case
March 7 – Spanish prosecutors are seeking a retrial of the country’s disgraced former FA leader Luis Rubiales, arguing the judge incorrectly kept some evidence from the court and questioning his impartiality.
As the rich get richer DFL boss Marc Lenz says game is teetering on the edge of competitive balance
March 7 – German Football League (DFL) chief Marc Lenz says global football is at a “crossroads” when it comes to competitive balance and the international calendar.
European club revenues hit €26.8bn in 2023 but costs are rising, finds UEFA report
March 7 – European football is raking in more cash than ever, but UEFA’s latest Club Licensing Benchmarking Report warns that clubs are walking a financial tightrope. While revenue hit a record €26.8 billion in 2023—up nearly €3 billion from the previous year—so did costs, squeezing operating margins across the board.
Back in Brazil, Neymar recalled for national team
March 7 – Brazil manager Dorival Junior has recalled former captain Neymar to the national team for World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina this month after an absence of more than a year.
Mexico and US plan pre-Gold Cup warm-ups as 14 nations battle for final seven slots
March 7 – Turkey and Switzerland will be the pre-Gold Cup warm-ups for Mexico and the USA before the Concacaf tournament kicks off this summer.
SoFi Stadium tests grass pitch build for Nations League finals ahead of World Cup 2026
March 7 – The SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park is this week laying grass over the top of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams pitch in preparation for the Concacaf Nations League finals that kick off March 20.
USA hold on to Women’s World Ranking top spot despite loss to Japan
March 7 – The first FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking of 2025 has been released. With 196 teams now officially ranked, this edition showcases new entries, impressive climbs, and a few surprises that reveal the shifting dynamics of the women’s international game as it continues to rapidly develop.
Toyota aim to drive Canadian women’s game with Northern Super League sponsorship
March 7 – Toyota Canada has joined forces with the Northern Super League (NSL) as its exclusive automotive partner, taking a huge step in supporting the growth of women’s soccer in the region.
Ghana FA renews sponsorship with Decathlon to develop the game from grassroots to elite
March 7 – The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has renewed its partnership with Decathlon Ghana, reaffirming a collaboration that has been a steady pillar of support for football development in the country over the past four years.
US Soccer changes youth age group dates from calendar year to school year
March 7 – Long rumored, and now official, US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer and the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) have announced that they will be transitioning away from a mandated Birth Year age group policy, and into a more flexible policy starting with the 2026-27 season.
Dallas to host World Cup 2026 international broadcast centre
March 7 – The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas has been selected as the International Broadcast Center (IBC) for the 2026 World Cup to be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca banned for 9 months after going head-to-head with ref
March 6 – Referee abuse is on the rise in both professional and youth games, which is why it is imperative that the pros set a good example, however, that message didn’t get through to Lyon head coach, Paulo Fonseca.
Zingarevich, banned from entry to Bulgaria, delivers stinging attack on his losing players
March 7 – Botev Plovdiv owner Anton Zingarevich has published an open letter to players and staff expressing his outrage over the team’s results since the beginning of the year. Botev’s team has not yet won a single league match and was eliminated from the Bulgarian Cup by champions Ludogorets on penalties.
European Leagues confident of winning legal dispute with FIFA over match calendar
March 6 – The umbrella body covering Europe’s major leagues says it won’t back down in its legal dispute with FIFA and that it is increasingly confident of its case.
Last October, European Leagues joined forces with FIFPRO, the players’ international union, in filing a complaint to the European Commission over FIFA’s “abuse of dominant position”, specifically the international match calendar.