FIFA fires back at New Jersey Gov Mikie Sherrill over demand to pay for World Cup transit tickets
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Gianni Infantino Sport News
Iran, World Cup loom over FIFA Congress
VANCOUVER, Canada: Football’s power brokers meet in Vancouver on Thursday as FIFA convenes its 76th Congress, a high-stakes gathering less than two months before the biggest World Cup ever opens across Canada, Mexico and the United States. The Iran war, World Cup logistical headaches and the unresolved question of Russia’s international ban are set to feature in discussions among roughly 1,600 delegates from more than 200 member associations. Iran’s absence is already threatening to overshadow the meeting. Officials from the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) abruptly left Canada after landing in Toronto earlier this week, abandoning their onward trip to Vancouver. Iranian media said FFIRI president Mehdi Taj — a former member of Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — and two colleagues flew home after being “insulted” by Canadian immigration officers. Canada, which designated the IRGC a terrorist organization in 2024, said Wednesday that individuals linked to the force were “inadmissible.” “While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” Canada’s immigration agency said in a statement. The episode adds fresh uncertainty to Iran’s World Cup status, already clouded since the Middle East war erupted on February 28 with a wave of attacks by the United States and Israel. Iranian football officials said last month they had suggested moving their three World Cup group games from the US to co-hosts Mexico — a plan which was swiftly nixed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Infantino told AFP that Iran will play at the World Cup “where they are supposed to be, according to the
Vancouver police deny motorcade request for FIFA's Infantino - ESPN
TORONTO — A request for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to give be given a police escort while in Vancouver, British Columbia, for FIFA meetings has been denied, the Vancouver Police Department confirmed Wednesday.
Iran absent from FIFA Vancouver meetings due to visa issues
TEHRAN: Iran’s soccer federation was absent from a meeting of soccer leaders in Vancouver on Tuesday, leaving the country’s participation in the upcoming World Cup still in question. That topic wasn’t covered at the convening of Asia’s top soccer leaders today with FIFA president Gianni Infantino presiding, and Iran’s sports minister last week announced Iran’s plans to be “proud” participants in this summer’s World Cup hosted by the United States in North American venues. Yet the Iranian team and its officials still face visa complications, a fact underscored by their absence at Tuesday’s meeting. A report by The Athletic confirmed that Iran’s Tuesday absence was due to visa issues, a problem that could prevent their presence at the overall FIFA Congress gathering this Thursday. AFC general secretary Windsor John expressed some public optimism about Iran’s potential attendance at the larger gathering, saying that awards presented to each Asian qualifying country would be presented to Iran “once they arrive.” Iranian officials had previously encountered difficulty acquiring visas to attend the World Cup Draw in Washington D.C. last December.
Afghan women’s refugee team allowed to play in FIFA tournaments
VANCOUVER: An Afghanistan women’s refugee team have been granted eligibility for international competitions, some five years after national team players fled their country’s Taliban rule. The FIFA Council, meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, agreed on Tuesday to amend its regulations to recognize the refugee team, which play under the name Afghan Women United. While it is too late for the refugee team to try to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, they could participate in qualification for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. “We are proud of the beautiful journey initiated by Afghan Women United, and with this initiative we aim to enable them, as well as other FIFA member associations that may not be able to register a national or representative team for a FIFA competition, to make the next step, in coordination with the relevant confederation,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. The first move toward recognition came last October, when the Afghan refugees played in a tournament that included Chad, Libya and Tunisia in Morocco. That event followed years of lobbying on the team’s behalf by players, former captain and activist Khalida Popal and human rights groups. “For five years, we were told the Afghanistan women’s national team could never compete again because the men who took our country would not allow it,” Popal said in a statement.
Aturan Baru di Piala Dunia: Cekcok Sambil Tutup Mulut Kena Kartu Merah
FIFA akan berlakukan aturan baru di Piala Dunia 2026. Pemain yang cekcok dengan menutup mulut, bakal kena kartu merah!
FIFA boosts cash payments for World Cup
VANCOUVER: FIFA on Tuesday announced a sharp increase in overall financial distributions for this year’s World Cup, boosting cash payments to nearly $900 million following concerns over the spiraling costs for teams taking part in the tournament. FIFA said in a statement that money shared from the tournament — being staged in Mexico, Canada and the United States — would now total $871 million, up from an initial figure of $727 million announced in December. Tuesday’s announcement followed a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council ahead of the body’s Congress in Vancouver taking place on Thursday. The hefty increase comes after several FIFA members reportedly raised concerns that the high cost of travel, tax and overall operations could result in them losing money from taking part in the tournament. FIFA has now moved to alleviate those concerns, increasing an award of $1.5 million for preparation costs to $2.5 million for each of the 48 qualified teams. A payment of $9 million for qualifying for the tournament has also been increased to $10 million. Further contributions for team delegation costs and increased team ticketing allocations are also part of the overall increase. “FIFA is proud to be in its most solid financial position ever, enabling us to help all our member associations in an unprecedented way,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “This is one more example of how FIFA’s resources are reinvested back into the game.” FIFA is projected to earn around $13 billion from the current four-year World Cup cycle, which concludes with this year’s tournament, the largest World Cup in history. FIFA’s prize money for the 2026 tournament announced last year had already shattered the cash handed out at the 2022
Afghan women on way back to official international matches after FIFA rule change
VANCOUVER, April 28 : FIFA has approved a rule change allowing Afghan women footballers to play official international matches in FIFA competitions, giving players exiled since the Taliban's return to power a route back into international football.
FIFA increases financial distribution to World Cup participants by 15%
VANCOUVER, April 29 : FIFA will increase payments to teams taking part in the 2026 World Cup to almost $900 million, world soccer's governing body said on Tuesday, citing the commercial success of its expanded flagship men's tournament.