Inside World Football

Michelle Kang donates $30m to US Soccer for women’s programmes

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:30:20 +0000

November 20 – Michele Kang, owner of the Washington Spirit that plays in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has donated $30 million to the US federation’s women’s and girls’ programmes according to United States Soccer (USSF).

This incredibly generous donation will help scaling competitive opportunities for youth players, improving talent identification and fueling professional development, according to the USSF’s news release.

This windfall will allow the Federation to double the number of national team camps for its youth teams to six per year as well as handing development opportunities to an extra 70,000 female coaches and referees.

With Qatar protests behind them, Germans say they will focus on football and back Saudi 2034

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:14:41 +0000

November 20 – Germany’s national team will stick to football after a flopped World Cup in Qatar, both manager Julian Nagelsmann and captain Joshua Kimmich have said.

Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann emphasised that his players should stick to football after learning lessons from the Qatar World Cup.

“We saw in Qatar (at the 2022 World Cup) that too many political issues can harm a team,” Nagelsmann told broadcaster N-TV on Tuesday.

CNL: Mexico overcome 2-goal deficit, US and Pulisic dance their way into final four with Canada and Costa Rica

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:10:18 +0000

November 20 – Mexico overcame a two-goal deficit from the first leg to beat Honduras 4-2 on aggregate and qualify for the Nations League semi-finals and a tie against Canada at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles next March 20.

In the other semi-final the USA, who knocked out Jamaica, will meet Panama who triumphed in their quarter final over Costa Rica. The Nations League final will be played at the SoFi stadium on March 23.

Guardiola to add another year to Man City contract

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:33:32 +0000

November 20 – Bad news for Manchester City’s Premier League rivals. Pep Guardiola is to end speculation about his immediate future by agreeing to a contract extension to stay at the club for at least one more season after this.

Guardiola is reportedly set to put pen to paper over a one-year contract with the option of a further season having so far won six Premier League titles as well as the club’s first ever Champions League trophy since arriving in 2016.

Senegal FA boss says government ordered firing of Cisse was not preferred action

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:29:16 +0000

November 20 – The president of Senegal’s football federation says he didn’t want Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Aliou Cisse to leave his role last month on the instructions of the country’s sports ministry.

Cisse, who led Senegal to their first ever Afcon title in 2022, was let go after nearly a decade in charge – with the FSF and sports ministry at odds over the decision which appears to fly in the face of FIFA rules concerning government interference.

The FA launches Greener Game initiative to help grassroots clubs cut carbon footprints

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:38:33 +0000

November 20 – The English Football Association has unveiled a new sustainability initiative in partnership with energy supplier E.ON Next, aiming to support grassroots football clubs across England in reducing their carbon footprint, adopting sustainable practices, and lowering energy costs.

The programme, named ‘Greener Game’, will offer clubs access to funding for sustainable upgrades while equipping clubs with comprehensive educational resources and energy-saving guides.

Over the next five years, grassroots clubs will be invited to participate by registering online.

ECA wraps up its busiest year with review of workstreams and launch of leadership programme

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:16:49 +0000

November 20 – The European Club Association (ECA) Executive Committee held its final 2024 meeting at the Paris Saint-Germain Campus on Tuesday, focusing on key issues shaping European and international club football.

During the session, ECA Workstream Leads presented action plans developed from recent Working Group meetings in Vienna and Geneva, as well as insights from the organisation’s second Financial Sustainability Conference.

New developments include the creation of a ninth Workstream,

FIFA renews Pacific Islands climate pledge at COP29

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:00:23 +0000

November 20 – FIFA and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) have renewed their partnership to tackle climate change for an additional four years, furthering efforts to ensure climate-resilient football development and raise awareness about environmental challenges in the Pacific region.

The agreement was formalised at the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino and PIF General Secretary Baron Waqa signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The original MoU,

Chelsea condemn homophobic abuse of Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:26:03 +0000

November 20 – Chelsea have condemned homophobic abuse aimed at star striker Sam Kerr after she announced she was expecting a baby with West Ham United Women’s midfielder Kristie Mewis.

The 31-year-old Australia captain revealed the news in a post on Instagram on Monday, saying: “Mewis-Kerr baby coming 2025!”

While many were quick to congratulate them, they faced a number of homophobic messages.

“Chelsea Football Club is aware of recent unacceptable and hateful homophobic comments published across various social media platforms,” a club statement said.

Belgium’s Nations League slump renews fan fury and calls for Tedesco’s sacking

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:55:10 +0000

November 20 – Belgian fans have demanded the dismissal of manager Domenico Tedesco after a series of disappointing results.

On Sunday, Belgium slumped to a 1-0 defeat against lowly Israel in the Nations League, condemning Tedesco’s side to the playoffs in March which prompted protests from supporters at the headquarters of the Belgian FA (KBVB) and the Atomium with a ‘Tedesc’out’ banner.

“It was a difficult match in difficult circumstances, especially when you consider who we are missing,” said Tedesco after the Israel defeat.

Harry’s statue caned by critics as ‘fugly’

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 03:49:17 +0000

November 20 – England captain and all-time record goal scorer, Harry Kane is an idol to many and has been memorialized in different ways, however, even his most ardent fans will pause for thought after a statue of the Bayern Munich striker was unveiled after five years in storage.

The shiny statue, which Kane is reported to be delighted about, has drawn mixed reaction to say the least, however the goal-hungry Kane said it is “a real proud moment for me to go back to where my life in football began and unveil a statue.

Albanian FA opens tender for national stadium’s naming rights

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 03:25:29 +0000

November 20 – The Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) has opened tenders for the main sponsorship of the country’s national stadium in Tirana, currently called the Air Albania Stadium.The contract between the FSHF and the national carrier expires at the end of 2024.

“The National Stadium, currently known by the commercial name ‘Air Albania Stadium’, with a capacity of 22,500 seats, is the most important sports facility in Albania,” said the federation tender document.

US Open Cup minnows battle for a shot at taking an MLS scalp

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 03:12:18 +0000

November 20 – The US Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States having first been played in 1914.

Last weekend 21 qualifying matches took place with seven teams reaching next year’s tournament while the remaining 14 clubs advanced to all-or-nothing Fourth Rounders on December 7-8.

Following that Fourth and Final Round of Qualifying in December, the complete field of 14 teams – from an original field of 114 Qualifying Round entrants –

Dortmund fans renew calls to withdraw from Rheinmetall sponsorship

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:22:01 +0000

November 19 – Ahead of the club’s general annual meeting this weekend, Borussia Dortmund fans have called on their club to end the sponsorship deal with arms manufacturer Rheinmetall.

Fan group ‘Scharwzgelbe’ have seized the moment to publish a motion from fan Wilfried Harthan on behalf of the Heinrich Czerkus supporters’ group demanding the club terminate the deal “as soon as possible”. The fan group has called the deal “sports washing” and “incompatible with our club’s core values”.

Werder Bremen join X-odus from social media platform citing its dangerous ‘radicalisation’

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:44:49 +0000

November 19 – Following in the footsteps of St Pauli, Werder Bremen have become the second Bundesliga club to depart X for Bluesky, calling out the “recent radicalisation” of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

In a statement, Bremen explained that “with the recent radicalisation of the platform, a line has been crossed for the club” and moved to Bluesky, urging their 600,000 followers on X to do the same.

The club wrote: “Since Elon Musk took over the platform,

Bentancur ban sparks angry debate over severity of sanction

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:03:03 +0000

November 19 – The severity of the seven-game ban meted out to Tottenham Hotspur’s Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has prompted widespread dismay and bewilderment across the English game with authorities accused of inconsistency verging on victimisation.

Bentancur was banned for using a racial slur about Spurs team-mate Son Heung-min, fined £100,000 and ordered to take part in a mandatory education programme, unable to play for his club again (except in Europe) until Boxing Day.