NEWSWORTHY
Re-elected UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin vows he won't be FIFA 'yes man'
Promising European soccer leaders that he won't be a "yes man" for FIFA's expansion plans, Aleksander Ceferin was re-elected as president of UEFA for four more years on Thursday. Ceferin's keynote speech ahead of his win by acclamation sent clear messages to FIFA President Gianni ...
Japan jumped 23 spots to No. 27 in the FIFA world rankings announced Thursday following its runner-up finish in the just-concluded Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The Samurai Blue placed in the top 30 for the first time since 2013. They ranked No. ...
Ghanian journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale who exposed soccer corruption shot dead
An investigative journalist in Ghana who helped expose a high-ranking official at world soccer body FIFA as corrupt was shot dead by gunmen on a motorbike as he drove home alone at night, police said Thursday. His employers said he was assassinated. Ahmed Hussein-Suale was killed ...
A combined global audience of 1.12 billion watched the World Cup final between France and Croatia in July, FIFA, soccer's global governing body, said on Friday. In total, FIFA said, a "combined 3.572 billion viewers — more than half of the global population aged 4 ...
Workers in Qatar World Cup final city went unpaid for months: Amnesty
Dozens of migrants working on Qatar's $45 billion World Cup final city of Lusail have gone unpaid for months, Amnesty International said Wednesday, the latest rights accusation against the 2022 tournament host. Mercury MENA "failed to pay its workers thousands of dollars in wages and ...
Lionel Messi was left off the shortlist for the FIFA's men's player of the year award on Monday as his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo was named alongside Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah. Messi has dominated the award along with Ronaldo over the past decade, but ...
Ex-Brazil soccer boss Jose Maria Marin gets four years in prison in FIFA probe
A former South American soccer official convicted on corruption charges in the sprawling FIFA bribery scandal was sentenced in federal court to four years in prison on Wednesday. Jose Maria Marin, a former president of Brazil's soccer federation, also was ordered to forfeit $3.3 million ...
Didier Deschamps, Zinedine Zidane head FIFA coaching award nominees
Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane head the 11 candidates in a likely French domination of FIFA's best men's coach award. Deschamps led France to win the World Cup, and his 1998 World Cup-winning teammate Zidane coached Real Madrid to a third straight Champions League title. Zidane, ...
FIFA condemns Diego Maradona's remarks about referee for England-Colombia match
FIFA condemned comments by Diego Maradona on Wednesday, after the Argentine legend claimed that Colombia only lost to England in the World Cup last 16 because of the appointment of referee Mark Geiger for the match. The 1986 World Cup winner said England's win was ...
Rapture in Russia after team's stunning World Cup 5-0 opener over Saudi Arabia
Russian fans and politicians joined in an outpouring of jubilation on Thursday as the host nation unexpectedly routed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening match of the World Cup. State television showed throngs of Russians outside Moscow's main stadium cheering with flags but also stunned ...
North American trio beats Morocco for hosting rights to host 2026 World Cup
North America will host the 2026 World Cup after FIFA voters overwhelmingly opted for the financial and logistical certainty of a United States-led bid over a risky Moroccan proposal for the first 48-team tournament. The soccer showpiece will return to the U.S. for the first ...
Donald Trump threatens countries who don't back U.S. World Cup bid
U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to withhold support from nations who don't back the joint bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup. Morocco also has bid to host soccer's showcase. The FIFA Congress meets June 13 in ...
