Tag: FIFA

FIFA hands Canada six-point penalty amid spying scandal

The defending gold medalists could now be looking at an early exit

FIFA has announced a six-point penalty for Canada’s Olympic women’s team amid an ongoing scandal over the usage of drones to spy on opponents.

In addition, head coach Bev Priestman and assistants Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander were all hit with one-year bans.

The scandal exploded into view this week when the New Zealand Olympic committee publicly accused Canada of using a drone to spy on a training session.

In response, Canada apologized and announced that Lombardi and Mander had been sent home for their role in the spying. On Thursday, Priestman was also sent home after she was suspended by Canada Soccer.

Canada won its Olympics opener 2-1 over New Zealand on Thursday, but the defending gold medalist now faces a difficult path to advancement after the six-point penalty.

Canada now sits with minus-3 points after one game, making three points the maximum the team will be able to achieve. Wins over France and Colombia are likely required to give the team a chance.

A ‘systemic’ problem

Though the incident at the Olympics was the catalyst for the scandal, the issue of Canadian teams spying on opponents with drones is much more widespread then one tournament — or one team.

On a call with media on Friday, Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said that using drones to illegally spy on opponents has been “systemic.”

“The more I learn about this specific matter, the more concerned I get about a potential long-term, deeply embedded systemic culture of this type of thing occurring, which is obviously completely unacceptable,” Blue said.

Blue also said that Canada’s men’s team attempted to spy on opponents during the Copa América this summer, though he insisted that head coach Jesse Marsch was unaware until after the fact.

A bombshell report from TSN this week said that Canada’s women’s and men’s national teams have routinely been spying on opponents for years.

Another report from TSN said that in 2021, then-men’s national team head coach John Herdman showed his team illegally obtained footage of a Honduras training session prior to a World Cup qualifier.

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Infantino slams pay-to-play in American youth soccer: ‘We have to stop this’

Even Infantino knows pay-to-play isn’t helping kids, or the sport

Even Gianni Infantino can tell that the “pay-to-play” model in American youth soccer isn’t good for kids or the sport.

The oft-criticized FIFA boss, speaking on Monday at the 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference, called for access to come with no cost for youth players.

“One of the things which shocked me here in America is that children have to pay in order to play [soccer]. We have to stop this,” Infantino said.

Infantino cited his own experience growing up, calling on members of a given community that can afford to give back to start funding youth teams.

“I’m Italian, I grew up in a little Swiss village in the middle of the mountains,” explained Infantino. “There was a soccer team there, which played in the sixth-highest division, so it was very small, and they [still] had 23 teams.

“And this is all organized and privately funded. So, the local guy who has a restaurant gives the jerseys. The lawyer who has a little bit more money spends on shoes. Privately, you create this movement that makes sure that every kid plays.”

American soccer’s inaccessibility has been criticized for decades, with the best youth clubs often coming with fees in the thousands of dollars. While efforts have been made to subsidize or lessen those fees, top clubs and big tournaments often still come with a price tag that falls on parents.

Infantino can’t often be associated with looking out for the little guy, but on this particular topic, his position was clear.

“We need to invest in the players, because we want to show to the kids who play soccer when they are at school or when they are very young, that there is a path in soccer to glory to become one of these world stars.”

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Players union threatens to take FIFA to court over Club World Cup calendar concerns

FIFPro and an association of soccer leagues are both deeply unhappy with FIFA

FIFPro, the union for professional soccer players worldwide, and the 45-member World Leagues Association have served notice to FIFA, demanding alterations to what they assert is an overstuffed calendar.

In a joint letter viewed by the BBC and AP, FIFA was criticized for “unilateral decisions that benefit its own competitions and commercial interests,” which include adding and expanding competitions. The 2025 Club World Cup — an event currently set to be held in the U.S. in June and July 2025 — was specifically cited as an event needing to change.

The letter calls the current global calendar “beyond saturation,” adding that “players are being pushed beyond their limits, with significant injury risks and impacts on their welfare.”

Previously, the Club World Cup had involved only seven teams: the winning team from the top club tournament in each of the world’s six confederations, plus one entrant from the host nation of that year’s tournament. FIFPro blasted the Club World Cup expansion when it was announced, and has apparently not gotten a satisfactory response from FIFA.

The 2025 edition, however, has been massively expanded, with 32 places. Illustrating the letter’s point, a report from The Athletic said that the event would take place during the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, also being held in the United States.

Additionally, FIFA plans to resurrect the old Intercontinental Cup this year, which will feature a structure along very similar lines as the old Club World Cup. The letter urged FIFA to reconsider, or even abandon, plans to hold that event.

Competition calendar congestion growing

The letter comes as competitions grow or expand in seemingly every direction.

All three of UEFA’s men’s club competitions will expand next season, while the Asian Football Confederation’s rebrand of its top competition (which will be called the AFC Champions League Elite from 2024-25) will feature fewer teams, but requires each participant to play more games. Going along with those plans, the AFC is also adding a Europa League-esque competition called the AFC Champions League 2.

Concacaf has expanded the Concacaf Champions Cup starting with this year’s edition, while in the U.S. there remains a simmering conflict between MLS and U.S. Soccer over whether the top-flight league’s clubs should have to play in the U.S. Open Cup.

FIFPro and the World Leagues Association also demanded a chance to reconsider the calendar for when internationals must be released from their clubs during windows for national team play.

The AP quoted the letter as explicitly including the threat of “legal action against FIFA” should the governing body ignore requests to address the issues.

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U.S. Soccer and Mexico withdraw joint bid for 2027 Women’s World Cup

The federations said they will instead focus on securing the tournament in 2031

U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation announced that they have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

The two federations said that they would instead shift their focus to securing the 2031 World Cup, with the bid calling for equal investment to the men’s tournament.

“Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking – and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximize its impact across the globe,” U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement.

“I’m proud of our commitment to provide equitable experiences for the players, fans and all our stakeholders. Shifting our bid will enable us to host a record-breaking Women’s World Cup in 2031 that will help to grow and raise the level of the women’s game both here at home as well as across the globe.”

The USA-Mexico bid was one of three finalists for the tournament, which means the 2027 World Cup will come down to two remaining bids: a three-country proposal from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, and a bid from Brazil.

The host of the 2027 tournament will be announced after a vote at the FIFA Congress on May 17 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The United States will still have plenty of major events coming even without the World Cup in 2027. The country will host the Copa América this summer, the expanded Club World Cup in 2025, the men’s World Cup in 2026 alongside Mexico and Canada, and the 2028 Olympics will be in Los Angeles.

With such a crowded schedule, the two federations made the determination to shift their focus to 2031.

“After careful analysis we feel that moving our bid back to 2031 will allow us to promote and build up to the most successful Women’s World Cup ever,” said Mexican Football Federation president Ivar Sisniega.

“The strength and universality of our professional women’s leagues, coupled with our experience from organizing the 2026 World Cup, means that we will be able to provide the best infrastructure as well as an enthusiastic fan base that will make all the participating teams feel at home and to put together a World Cup that will contribute to the continued growth of women’s football.”

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The sports world was justifiably furious with FIFA’s nonsensical plans for the 2030 and 2034 World Cup

FIFA always finds a way to get worse.

Since its inception, FIFA has been the epitome of everything wrong with sports. It’s an organization that values financial gain (often through corrupt means) and shows no real regard for the global impact of its decisions.

But just when you think FIFA can’t get any worse than it did by holding a winter World Cup in Qatar, FIFA finds a way to sink lower.

On Wednesday, the soccer’s governing body announced an unprecedented plan for the 2030 World Cup. The first three games will be held in the South American nations of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to celebrate 100 years of the tournament. Then, those three nations and their opponents will travel across the Atlantic to play the rest of the tournament in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

So, we’re now looking at a 48-team tournament being played in six countries and three continents.

With this decision, FIFA shamelessly disregarded its environmental impact. You’re looking at stadium construction and travel at such a large scale, it continues to be irresponsible of FIFA. Spain, Portugal and Morocco have also dealt with brutally hot summers recently, and who’s to know what that would look like in 2030?

Yet, there’s a reason for this tricontinental tournament, and it’s classic FIFA corruption at work. By including three CONMEBOL nations along with UEFA and CAF in 2030, FIFA can say that South America, Europe and Africa used their turns in the hosting rotation. That brings 2034’s turn back to Asia where Saudi Arabia — and its appalling human rights record — is essentially guaranteed hosting rights as Asia’s entire confederation will unite behind a Saudi bid.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — who shared a suite with FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the 2022 final — waited no time to announce the Saudi bid, which will mean that we’re looking at another winter World Cup in a country with abysmal human rights.

Mind you, FIFA *still* hasn’t announced a host for the Women’s World Cup in 2027, and it could be another year until that decision gets made. No wonder soccer fans were furious with this latest move from FIFA.

FIFA Puskas Award: Watch every 2023 nominee

There will be some fierce competition for the award given to the year’s best goal

FIFA has released a list of 11 goals nominated for the 2023 Puskás Award.

The award was established in 2009 to honor the best goal of the year, and this year there are nominees from all over the globe.

This year, the award’s qualifying period spanned from the end of the men’s World Cup last December until the end of the women’s World Cup on August 20.

MLS is represented through FC Cincinnati’s Álvaro Barreal, whose stunning volley against Pittsburgh in the U.S. Open Cup earned him a place on the shortlist.

Three goals from the women’s World Cup were nominated, including Sam Kerr’s solo effort against England in the semifinal.

The winner will be announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony, with a date for the event yet to be announced.

Here are the 11 nominees for this year’s Puskás Award.

Infantino booed as 2026 World Cup tour stops at Dallas Cowboys game

The FIFA president is getting used to this kind of reception

As he continues inspecting venues for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino found himself in a familiar position on Sunday: getting booed.

Infantino was in attendance at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as the Dallas Cowboys easily defeated the Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets 30-10.

In addition to two Dak Prescott touchdown passes, the FIFA head witnessed former MLS first-round draft pick Brandon Aubrey go five-for-five on his field goal attempts, including a 55-yarder.

The FIFA president is touring several venues in North America as his organization ramps up preparations for the first 48-team World Cup.

The tournament will be hosted by 11 American cities, along with three from Mexico and two from Canada.

AT&T Stadium is considered one of the favorites to host the final, along with MetLife Stadium outside of New York, Los Angeles’s SoFi Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

When shown on the big screen, Infantino was given a similar reception to the one he’s used to getting at various soccer games.

Seated to Infantino’s left was Eric Shanks, the CEO of Fox Sports, which holds the broadcast rights for the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking to NBC DFW, Infantino praised the Cowboys stadium, saying that venues in America are “light years ahead” of the rest of the world.

“This stadium is absolutely fantastic, the AT&T Dallas Stadium, it’s incredible,” Infantino said.

“It is incredible we are here of course because we organize a World Cup in a couple of years time and it’s important to see all the stadiums and all the venues.

“It’s important to see what is done for the fans and I have to say in America, you are light years ahead compared to the rest of the world.

“We are here to learn, we are here to check and we are here to organize the biggest FIFA World Cup ever, with six million people coming to the U.S. and six billion watching it from TV.”

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Messi first MLS player named to Best FIFA Men’s Player shortlist

Messi made one more bit of MLS history by making FIFA’s shortlist

Lionel Messi leads a list of 12 nominees on the shortlist for the 2023 Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

Messi is the first player from an MLS club to be nominated for the award, which he has won twice previously in 2019 and 2022.

After his heroics helped Argentina bring home a third World Cup in 2022, Messi is — as is the case with this year’s Ballon d’Or — a solid favorite to win the award.

Messi’s most frequent competitor for big international awards, Cristiano Ronaldo, was left off the list, which instead features no fewer than five current Manchester City players.

Here are all 12 players on the shortlist for the 2023 Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

USWNT captain Horan named in Best FIFA Women’s Player shortlist

Horan is one of 16 players nominated

U.S. women’s national team captain Lindsey Horan was one of 16 players named to the shortlist for the 2023 Best FIFA Women’s Player award.

The prize will be given for performances from August 1, 2022 through August 20, 2023.

Just like the Ballon d’Or, Spain star Aitana Bonmatí will be favored to take home the Best FIFA Women’s Player after winning a double with Barcelona and leading Spain to the World Cup title.

Alexia Putellas, Bonmatí’s teammate for club and country, has won both awards in back-to-back years.

While Sophia Smith made the 30-player shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, the USWNT and Portland Thorns star was not selected among the 16 finalists for the FIFA award. Instead, Horan was nominated after a strong World Cup with the USWNT and helping Lyon to a league title in 2022-23.

Here are all 16 players on the shortlist for the 2023 Best FIFA Women’s Player award.

FIFA hands Spanish federation president Rubiales 90-day suspension

He might not resign, but Rubiales is still sidelined

Luis Rubiales may not want to go, but he’s going to have to sit things out for a few months.

On Saturday, FIFA announced that its Disciplinary Committee had provisionally suspended the controversial Spanish federation (RFEF) president for 90 days while working through proceedings against him.

Rubiales is suspended “from all football-related activities at national and international level,” and has additionally been ordered to make no attempts himself or through third parties to contact Jenni Hermoso or those close to her. The RFEF has also, as an organization, been given the same directive while the disciplinary proceedings take place.

Rubiales had been reportedly on the brink of resigning Friday after coming under intense criticism for, among other things, kissing Hermoso as Spain received their medals following a triumphant World Cup final. Hermoso has issued a statement saying that she did not consent to the kiss at any point.

Instead, Rubiales launched into a defiant speech in which he said he would not resign numerous times. Whatever Rubiales’ aim was, the result was that Spain’s entire World Cup-winning squad said they’re on strike until the “current leaders” are no longer in power.

RFEF situation continues to unravel

Anyone expecting the RFEF to accept that the situation requires change on its part has not been paying attention. The federation backed manager Jorge Vilda after 15 players attempted a strike in 2022, and took to social media to reiterate that stance after the World Cup final.

An RFEF statement that was released and then quickly deleted on Saturday said that “Jennifer Hermoso lies in every statement she makes against the president,” and went on to threaten to take legal action against the Pachuca attacker.

The consequences for the RFEF continued not long afterward, as 11 members of Vilda’s staff resigned from their roles over Rubiales’ conduct.

— Carrusel Deportivo (@carrusel) August 26, 2023

The RFEF later posted a more brief statement acknowledging Rubiales’ suspension, adding that the federation head “will legally defend himself in the competent bodies.”

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