Tani to give U17 Women’s World Cup teams a Dominican Republic welcome
July 8 – Tani, the mascot for the U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 in the Dominican Republic, has been unveiled with 100 days to go until the tournament begins.
FIFA
Palestinians submit arguments to FIFA’s legal eagles making case for banning of Israel
July 2 – In a submission to FIFA’s independent legal committee, the Palestinian FA has called for a ban of the Israeli Football Association (IFA), stepping up a previous motion brought before the FIFA Congress in May that demanded ‘appropriate sanctions’ against the Israelis.
FIFA seeks funding partners to expand its FIFA+ broadcast platform
June 28 – FIFA has enlisted UBS to raise up to $2 billion for the expansion of its streaming platform FIFA+, Bloomberg reports.
U-17 Women’s World Cup draw pitches champions Spain against US and Colombia in group stage
June 24 – Reigning U-17 World Cup champions Spain will start the defence of their title this October in Group B, drawn against USA, South Korea and Colombia, runners-up last time around.
Moroccan legend Nourredine Naybet says co-hosting 2030 will be transformational
June 21 – Moroccan legend Noureddine Naybet has added his support to the country’s joint World Cup 2030 bid with Spain and Portugal.
Argentina consolidate world ranking top spot
June 20 – Argentina have increased their grip the top of the ranking, extending their lead over second-placed France to 23 points.
PFA joins Fifpro’s legal challenge to FIFA’s ‘overloaded’ international calendar
June 14 – England’s Professional Footballers’ Association has joined the Fifpro-led legal action against FIFA over the “overloaded and unworkable” football calendar.
Spain imperious as France go second in rankings ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics
June 14 – Spain have consolidated their position as the world’s top ranked women’s team, in the latest iteration of the FIFA/Cola-Cola Women’s World Ranking, assuming the kind of imperious dominance that was previously seen by the US.
Real Madrid say they will be at Club World Cup, whether FIFA can pay for it or not
June 11 – Real Madrid have argued that their participation in the expanded 2025 Club World Cup was never in doubt, backtracking on a comment by manager Carlo Ancelotti that the Spanish giant would boycott the competition.
Portugal’s Figo says the three-country bid for 2030 is ready and able to deliver at the highest level
June 11 – Portuguese star and ambassador for the Portugal, Spain and Morocco World Cup 2030 bid Luis Figo, has said that they already have the facilities and infrastructure “to host a truly exceptional event”.
With 2-year countdown to 2026 World Cup underway, Infantino anticipates another ‘greatest’
June 11 – The two year countdown to the 2026 World Cup kick-off at the Estadio Azteca Mexico City on June 11 has begun, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino continuing his ‘greatest’ theme saying the finals would be “the greatest event, the greatest show, the greatest tournament”.
Aussies deny Palestine FA president Jibril Rajoub entry for final WC2026 group qualifier
June 11 – Palestine Football Association’s (PFA) president Jibril Rajoub has been denied entry to Australia ahead of the Palestinian team’s final group stage game against Australia.
Romanian FA is first to join FIFA Collect’s NFT platform
June 10 – The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) is the first national association to sign a partnership agreement with Modex and FIFA Collect platform.
Amnesty calls on FIFA to be robust in its human rights risk evaluation for 2030 and 2034 World Cup host awards
June 6 – Amnesty International has demanded that FIFA assess human rights risks before awarding World Cups, with the world governing body set to award the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia later this year.
FIFA rules Emilio Nsue was never eligible for Equatorial Guinea and takes away 2026 WC qualifying wins
June 4 – FIFA has ruled that Emilio Nsue, the top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations this year, was never eligible to play for Equatorial Guinea throughout his 11-year international career.