Human rights experts urge FIFA to scrutinize Saudi Arabia before 2034 World Cup vote
FIFA has been urged by international lawyers to uphold its own policy and scrutinize Saudi Arabiaโs human rights record before picking the kingdom to host the menโs 2034 World Cup.
FIFA to seek legal advice on Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from international soccer
FIFA will seek independent legal advice before holding an extraordinary council meeting by July 20 to make a decision on a Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from international soccer because of the conflict with Hamas.
FIFA wants global standard for punishing racist abuse and urges players to use crossed hands sign
FIFA will urge all 211 national federations to make racist abuse a disciplinary offense.
FIFA moves toward ending soccer tradition and letting league games be staged in other countries
FIFA has moved toward ending decades of soccer tradition by reviewing the policy that currently block domestic league games being played in other countries.
Club World Cup dates in the United States confirmed. Players' union FIFPRO not happy
FIFA says the first edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States will be staged from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
After surviving corruption crises, Olympics and soccer move to let presidents stay longer in power
When the Olympic movement and international soccer lived through very public corruption crises, both agreed to limit the terms of their presidents in an effort to protect them in the future.
1 in 5 players at Women's World Cup abused online, FIFA says
A report prepared by FIFA and the global players' association says players at the Womenโs World Cup were 29% more likely to receive online abuse than those at the menโs tournament in 2022.
2034 World Cup would bring together FIFA's president and Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed
The near certainty that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 menโs World Cup unites two of the most influential men in world sports.
Saudi Arabia likely to host 2034 World Cup after Australia decides not to bid for soccer showcase
Saudi Arabia is all but certain to host the menโs 2034 World Cup after the Australian soccer federation declined to enter the bidding contest.
Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup bid boosted by Indonesia changing sides after Australia co-host talks
Indonesian soccer federation leader Erick Thohir says it now supports Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup.
Australia in talks with Indonesia about a possible challenge to Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup
Soccer officials in Australia and Indonesia have floated the idea of teaming up in a bid to rival Saudi Arabia for the hosting rights to the menโs World Cup in 2034.
Saudi Arabia formally informs FIFA of its wish to host the 2034 World Cup as the favorite to win
Saudi Arabia has formally informed FIFA of its wish to host the menโs World Cup in 2034 in a bidding contest that increasingly looks designed for the oil-rich kingdom to win.
Saudi Arabia in lead and maybe all alone in race shaped by FIFA to host soccer's 2034 World Cup
If Saudi Arabia could have designed a process for choosing future World Cup hosts, it might look similar to what FIFA has unveiled for the 2030 and 2034 menโs soccer tournaments.
FIFA allows Russian soccer teams play in its Under-17 World Cups if they qualify
FIFA has approved the possible reintegration of Russian youth teams into its competitions and eased a total ban on the country in international soccer amid the war in Ukraine.
European soccer body UEFA's handling of Russia and Rubiales invites scrutiny on values and process
A reputation built over decades that European soccer body UEFA is the good guy compared to FIFA as a cartoon caricature villain is being tested in this tough season for off-field politics.
Spain soccer head won't resign for kissing player at World Cup. Team wonโt play until he goes
The president of Spainโs soccer federation has defiantly refused to resign for kissing a female player on the lips after the Womenโs World Cup final.
Angry reaction after Spanish soccer leader kissed a Womenโs World Cup star on the mouth
The leader of Spainโs soccer federation marred the countryโs Womenโs World Cup victory after kissing a player on the lips during the medal ceremony, drawing criticism for inappropriate conduct in a sport that has struggled to overcome sexism.
FIFA head Infantino says Women's World Cup breaks even but plays down calls for equal prize money
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Friday that the Womenโs World Cup has โbroken evenโ after generating more than $570 million in revenue but again dismissed suggestions for equal prize money with the menโs World Cup.
Bigger bonuses could change lives for tiny teams that advance in Womenโs World Cup
Players who reached the knockout round of the Womenโs World Cup got larger individual bonuses that can be life-changing to many of them.
FIFA can't guarantee federations will pay promised $30,000 per player at Women's World Cup
FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he is engaging with member federations to make sure that the $30,000 payments designated for every player at the Womenโs World Cup reach the athletes.
For first time, every player at the Women's World Cup will be paid at least $30K
At the behest of players from across the globe, FIFA has agreed that a chunk of the prize money pool at the Women's World Cup go straight to the players โ all 732 of them.
Soccer faces wave of racial and offensive abuse incidents amid FIFA pledge to stop games
A leading anti-discrimination group in soccer says there is an โurgent crisisโ in the game because of racial and offensive abuse.
Soccer players' union looks to hold FIFA accountable for player payments
The global soccer playersโ union says is working with FIFA to make sure that payments promised to all players at the Womenโs World Cup actually reach them.
Spanish acknowledge they have a racism problem after more abuse of Vinรญcius Jรบnior
Spanish soccer is again embroiled in a racism debate and the support for Vinรญcius Jรบnior is growing rapidly after yet another case of abuse against the Brazil forward this weekend.
Angry fans crash through gate at El Salvador soccer match in stampede that kills 12, injures dozens
Officials and witnesses say that fans angry at being blocked from entering a Salvadoran soccer league match knocked down an entrance gate to the stadium, leading to a crush that killed 12 people and injured dozens.
FIFA's Infantino optimistic about Women's World Cup TV deals in Europe
FIFA President Gianni Infantino seems slightly more optimistic about completing what he would see as an acceptable deal for the broadcast rights to the upcoming Womenโs World Cup in five key European countries.
Indonesia's turn as world soccer host in peril over Israel
Indonesia could lose its chance to host a global youth soccer tournament, and its chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, after refusing to welcome a team from Israel.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino re-elected by acclaim
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been re-elected by acclaim to another four-year term after suggesting the financial results under his leadership would keep an industry CEO in the job for life.
Report: Qatar spied on Swiss prosecutor, FIFA boss meeting
A Swiss newspaper says a spying operation on behalf of World Cup host Qatar bugged a 2017 hotel meeting between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Switzerlandโs then-attorney general.
FIFA mostly wins big but loses some trust at Qatar World Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was calling it โthe best World Cup everโ in Qatar even before an epic final won by Lionel Messi and Argentina against France.
Macron 'immensely proud' that France in World Cup final
French President Emmanuel Macron says he's โimmensely proudโ that France reached the World Cup final after he traveled to Qatar to watch the teamโs win over Morocco in the semifinals.
European World Cup teams to defy FIFA in armband standoff
FIFA has tried to end a standoff with European teams about wearing unauthorized captain armbands for an anti-discrimination campaign that draws attention to World Cup host Qatar.
Qatar's World Cup opener shows its reemergence after boycott
Qatar has opened the Middle Eastโs first World Cup with its ruler sitting next to the leaders of two countries that only a year and a half earlier were part of a boycott trying to bring the energy-rich nation to its knees.
FIFA head says fans 'will survive' without beer at World Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has downplayed Qatarโs last minute ban on the sale of beer at World Cup stadiums as nothing more than a brief inconvenience to spectators.
Infantino says double standard behind World Cup critics
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has delivered a one-hour tirade on the eve of the World Cupโs opening match and then spent about 45 minutes answering questions from media about the Qatari governmentโs actions and a wide-range of other topics.
At G-20, FIFA head calls for World Cup ceasefire in Ukraine
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has urged world leaders to call for a ceasefire in Russiaโs invasion of Ukraine during the World Cup that starts later this week.
FIFA urges World Cup teams to focus on soccer over politics
Soccer's top officials have urged the 32 teams preparing for the most political World Cup in the modern to focus on the game in Qatar and avoid handing out lessons in morality.
FIFA vows to improve Indonesian soccer safety after tragedy
The president of soccerโs world governing body has met with Indonesiaโs president and pledged to help improve stadium safety to prevent a repeat of a tragedy in which police fired tear gas at a match, causing a crush that killed 132 people.
Ukraine links World Cup host bid to beating horrors of war
Ukrainian soccer federation president Andriy Pavelko says hosting World Cup matches in 2030 would be โthe dream of people who survived the horrors of warโ after his country launched a joint bid with Spain and Portugal.
Indonesian leader says locked gates contributed to deaths
Indonesiaโs President Joko Widodo says locked gates had contributed to the crush at the soccer stadium that left 131 dead and over 400 injured when police fired tear gas and set off a panicked run for the exits.
US beats Canada for W Championship title, '24 Olympic berth
Alex Morgan converted on a penalty in the 78th minute and the U.S. national team won the CONCACAF W Championship 1-0 over Canada on Monday night to secure one of the regionโs spots in the 2024 Olympics.
FIFA picks 2026 World Cup cities, predicts US `No 1 sport'
Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia and Seattle and Kansas City, Missouri, were the newcomers among the 11 U.S. sites picked to host games at the 2026 World Cup, while Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver, Nashville, Tennessee, and Orlando, Florida, were left out.
Infantino on Qatar: Migrant workers get pride from hard work
FIFA President Gianni Infantino says migrant workers gain pride from hard work while he was being questioned about workers suffering in Qatar while building World Cup infrastructure.
Russians hear FIFA Congress plea from Ukraine to end the war
The appearance by video of the head of Ukrainian soccer, wearing an armored vest from the streets of Kyiv, brought the impact of Russiaโs war into the FIFA Congress.
Cone wins 4-year term as US Soccer president, beats Cordeiro
Cindy Parlow Cone was re-elected to a four-year team as U.S. Soccer Federation president, beating predecessor Carlos Cordeiro in an endorsement of the governing bodyโs settlement of a lawsuit by women players.
Women's team players, US Soccer extend labor deal 3 months
The U.S. Soccer Federation and the union for its womenโs national team agreed to a three-month extension of their labor contract through March, a move announced on the same day players filed a brief asking a federal appeals court to reinstate their equal pay claim.
Boxing among 3 Olympic sports in danger of losing 2028 spot
Boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon have been set a target of about 18 months to make changes in order to keep their status as Olympic sports for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Hamilton: F1 'duty bound' to raise awareness of human rights
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton says Formula One is โduty boundโ to raise awareness of human rights issues as the series closes its season in the Middle East.
US Soccer says it has offered men, women identical contracts
The U.S. Soccer Federation says it has offered identical contract proposals to the playersโ associations for the menโs and womenโs national teams, and the governing body said it would refuse to agree to a deal in which World Cup prize money is not equalized.
US women tell 9th Circuit trial court didn't factor success
Players on the U.S. womenโs national soccer team urged a federal appeals court to reinstate their equal pay lawsuit, saying their greater success than the American men was not taken into account by a trial court judge who dismissed their case.
UEFA president urges Super League owners to reverse decision
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has directly appealed to the owners of English clubs in the Super League project to change their minds out of respect for soccer fans.
Threats of expulsion as UEFA confronts Super League rebel 12
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says players at the 12 clubs setting up their own Super League could be banned from the European Championship and next yearโs World Cup.
FIFA unveils education program to combat player abuse
Human rights activists are denouncing FIFA President Gianni Infantino's starring turn in a promotional video for the Saudi Arabian government in which he claims the kingdom has made important changes. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)FIFA is unveiling a program to educate its member associations worldwide about how to properly handle player harassment and abuse. This is the objective of the FIFA Guardians Programme," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. The FIFA program also addresses physical abuse and other forms of harassment. Cook said the FIFA Forward program obligates member federations to participate, although the organization may introduce more strident mandates.
Amnesty critical of FIFA leader starring in Saudi PR video
Infantino overlooked FIFA's own significant issues with Saudi Arabia in the meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. That has not happened with beIN, which owns the rights to World Cup matches across the Middle East, outlawed in Saudi Arabia. FIFA did not say if Infantino challenged Prince Mohammed on human rights issues in Saudi, given the governing body's own code. Scrutiny over Infantino's links to Saudi Arabia in 2018 led to FIFA offering assurances that no nation would be allowed to fund its plans for new competitions. The takeover collapsed amid concerns about piracy and human rights complaints.
Women's team, US Soccer settle part of their lawsuit
(Piroschka van de Wouw/Pool via AP)U.S. women's national team players and the U.S. Soccer Federation settled their long-running lawsuit over inequitable working conditions compared with the men's team while leaving their dispute over unequal pay for additional litigation. โWe want the womenโs team as well as their lawyers to see that we want to move in a different direction,โ Parlow Cone said. "We remain as committed as ever to our work to achieve the equal pay that we legally deserve. Or else when Iโm president, you can go elsewhere for World Cup funding,โ referring to the 2026 menโs World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA scheduled the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada on artificial turf but the men's World Cup has been played exclusively on grass.
FIFA president Infantino tests positive for COVID-19
ZURICH โ FIFA president Gianni Infantino has tested positive for COVID-19. Infantino has traveled little during the coronavirus pandemic, but he attended a signing ceremony at the White House last month to mark normalized relations for Israel with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Infantinoโs infection comes as Switzerland reports a spike in COVID-19 cases. Switzerland has reported 127,000 cases this year, with more than 23,000 since last Friday. ___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
US Justice Department warns FIFA on international ban
WASHINGTON The U.S. Justice Department has entered into a sports dispute involving the company of a longtime friend of President Donald Trump, warning FIFA that a prohibition against staging league matches internationally could violate American antitrust laws. The letter from the Justice Department was included in a filing by Relevent on Tuesday seeking permission to amend its complaint by adding FIFA, soccer's governing body, as a defendant. Relevent alleges the stakeholders committee on Feb. 27 recommended the policy against international league matches be added to FIFA's statutes. Relevent withdrew its state court suit and filed this latest action in federal court, citing antitrust law. Delrahim wrote the department is raising the concerns to protect competition for the benefit of American consumers and soccer players."