- 4d ago
Dutch football federation withdraws support for Gianni Infantino and calls for Amsterdam FIFA summit
The Royal Dutch Football Association withdrew confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday, proposing an international reform summit in Amsterdam ahead of the March 2027 election.
- Aug 23
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin rejects FIFA presidential bid but demands Infantino resign
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has ruled out running for the FIFA presidency while warning Gianni Infantino that he will face an election challenger if he does not step down before the March 2027 vote in Rabat.
- Aug 17
FIFA dismisses COO Kevin Lamour following dispute over World Cup private investment plan
FIFA terminated the contract of chief operating officer Kevin Lamour on 17 August 2026 after he publicly opposed Gianni Infantino's commercial investment plans, prompting backlash from confederations and human rights groups.
- Aug 2
Real Madrid applauds FIFA's World Cup rights U-turn and uses it to attack LaLiga's CVC deal
Real Madrid welcomed FIFA's decision to scrap a plan to sell partial commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments, and used the moment to reignite its criticism of LaLiga's CVC investment deal.
- Jul 31
UEFA votes 55-0 to boycott all FIFA competitions over $20bn World Cup privatisation plan
All 55 European member associations voted unanimously to withdraw from every FIFA tournament until Gianni Infantino abandons a proposal to sell a minority stake in World Cup commercial rights to private investors, with the first impact possible in October.
- Jul 29
FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Argentina over Falklands banner, post-final brawl and fan misconduct at 2026 World Cup
FIFA announced on 29 July it had opened disciplinary cases against the Argentine Football Association and multiple players, citing a Falklands sovereignty banner shown after the semi-final and a violent confrontation following Spain's 1-0 extra-time final win.
- Jul 29
FIFA's plan to sell minority stake in World Cup to private investors triggers UEFA boycott threat
FIFA's proposal to create a new commercial entity and sell a minority stake to investors including Joshua Kushner has drawn a furious response from UEFA, which is convening an emergency meeting to discuss a potential boycott of future World Cups.
- Jul 29
FIFA denounces 'concerted effort' to undermine Infantino as confederations split over World Cup sale plan
FIFA has accused critics of a 'concerted and ongoing effort' to undermine President Gianni Infantino, as the body confronts its deepest crisis over a secret plan to sell World Cup rights that was revealed in media reports and abandoned after three confederations holding 136 of 211 votes opposed it.
- Jul 29
UEFA and CONCACAF reject FIFA's plan to sell stake in World Cup commercial rights, threaten boycott
All 55 UEFA members and 41 CONCACAF federations have unanimously rejected FIFA's proposal to create a $20bn commercial entity and sell a minority stake to private investors, threatening to boycott all FIFA tournaments unless the plan is scrapped.
- Jul 28
House Democrat opens investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino over Trump ties
Jamie Raskin demands documents, visitor logs, and a transcribed interview by 9 August, citing a peace prize, a Trump Tower office, and the lifting of a US striker's suspension.
- Jul 28
Tebas calls Infantino's World Cup defence 'pathetic' as FIFA president hits back at critics
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has branded a social media post by FIFA president Gianni Infantino 'pathetic', after Infantino dismissed critics of the 2026 World Cup as 'consumed by hatred'.
- Jul 27
Infantino accuses World Cup critics of spreading 'hate and false rumors' in 15-page Instagram tirade
A week after Spain's 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina, FIFA President Gianni Infantino posted a 15-page Instagram statement accusing journalists and observers of spreading 'hate and false rumors' about the tournament, while defending FIFA's handling of visa denials, the Balogun red card, and commercial breaks.
- Jul 26
IOC will not sanction Gianni Infantino over Folarin Balogun affair, citing limits of its ethics code
The International Olympic Committee said the complaint from NGO FairSquare about FIFA president Gianni Infantino's role in lifting Folarin Balogun's World Cup suspension does not fall under its ethics code.
- Jul 25
IOC rejects FairSquare complaint over Infantino's ties to Trump, citing independence of federations
The IOC Ethics Commission said it lacks jurisdiction over the human rights group's allegations that FIFA president Gianni Infantino violated political neutrality rules by supporting Donald Trump.
- Jul 23
Norway's football chief to file FIFA ethics complaint over Trump's intervention in Balogun World Cup ban
NFF president Lise Klaveness says the lifting of US forward Folarin Balogun's World Cup suspension after Donald Trump's call to Gianni Infantino was 'influenced by external forces' and will seek board backing on Aug 6 to file an ethics complaint.
- Jul 20
FIFA's first World Cup final halftime show runs 27 minutes, draws mixed reactions for Madonna, Bieber and BTS
The FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina featured the tournament's first halftime show, a Super Bowl-style production at MetLife Stadium that ran more than 27 minutes and generated over $100 million for education programmes.
- Jul 19
Spain beats Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win 2026 World Cup, Ferran Torres the hero
Ferran Torres struck in the 106th minute as Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 at MetLife Stadium, denying Lionel Messi a second straight title and securing La Roja's first World Cup since 2010.
- Jul 7
Belgium routs USA 4-1 after Trump's intervention in Balogun red card saga, EU lawmakers demand FIFA probe
Belgium dismantled the United States 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16, hours after FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun's ban following a phone call from President Trump. The result triggered a political backlash, with 30 MEPs now demanding an inquiry into potential outside interference.
- Jul 7
Belgium routs USA 4-1 in World Cup last 16 after Trump's intervention fails to save host nation
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and a goalkeeping error gifted Belgium a third goal as the Red Devils knocked the United States out of their home World Cup with a 4-1 win in Seattle.
- Jul 5
Belgium routs USA 4-1, players mock Trump with dance after red card controversy
Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16, then celebrated with a parody of Donald Trump's dance, mocking the president's intervention that allowed US striker Folarin Balogun to play despite a red card.
