'But he is someone I really appreciate, I'm happy for him.'
India will host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup football in 2017 with the world governing body awarding the right to host the prestigious tournament to the country in its executive committee meeting in Salvador da Bahia in Brazil.
FIFA are launching an 18-month campaign to ensure the world's top referees are fully prepared for the finals in Germany.
Tickets for the World Cup semi-finals and final, as well as two of England's first round matches in South Africa, have sold out, FIFA said on Friday. FIFA said there were no more tickets for England's matches against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12 and Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on June 23.
Midfielder Marco Verratti said North Macedonia's goal in added time was a "real nightmare".
The Local Organising Committee of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 (LOC) on Tuesday unveiled the official emblem for what will be the country's first international football event. The ceremony at a posh city hotel here was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Chairman of the LOC and All India Football Federation (AIFF) Praful Patel.
Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano is worried about his chances of making the Italy squad for the World Cup finals in Germany.
Diogo Jota, a Liverpool forward, and his younger brother Andre Silva were killed in a car accident in northwestern Spain on Thursday morning.
France's national soccer team returned from Qatar to the acclaim of huge crowds in Paris on Monday, after their heroic defeat to Argentina in the World Cup final.
Under the proposal, made by the FIFA Bureau, for the enlarged tournament beginning in 2026, Europe would get 16 direct places, Africa nine, Asia eight, South America six, CONCACAF six and Oceania one, totalling 46 teams.
Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal stunned Manchester City 4-3 in extra-time in Orlando on Monday to pull off one of the shocks of the Club World Cup.
Speaking to reporters in her home state of California, Rapinoe said she had known for about a year that this would be the point at which she would be ready to retire.
India's women's football team suffered a heavy 0-11 defeat against Japan in their second group match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup. Despite the loss, India still has a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat Chinese Taipei in their final group match.
Two of the most intimidating strikers in world football, Argentina's 35-year-old Lionel Messi and Poland's 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski, line up against each other on Wednesday with a last 16 place at stake in the World Cup.
Football runs through the veins of every Kolkatan. And their love for the game was on show when Germany took on Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday.
Russia is pressing ahead with preparations to host the 2018 World Cup finals following Sepp Blatter's resignation as FIFA president and does not expect any boycotts of the tournament, Russian officials said on Wednesday.
Fans were flanked by hundreds of police trucks securing the area as they let off fireworks and flares to the sound of honks and cheers.
India U20 women's team head coach Joakim Alexandersson expresses confidence in his team's progress ahead of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup in Thailand, highlighting improvements in ball movement, passing, and defensive organisation.
A delicate stoppage time winner from Wang Lisi lifted China to a 1-0 victory.
Chhetri's record against the neighbours is quite impressive, scoring four goals in eight matches including a spectacular strike from a free kick in Kolkata in 2022.
The AIFF defends its preparation for the AFC Women's Asian Cup despite India's group-stage exit, citing extensive overseas exposure and matches. An inquiry has been ordered into a kit controversy.
Sepp Blatter will not travel to Canada for Sunday's final of the women's World Cup.
Germany will retain their World Cup title in Moscow to equal Brazil's record of five wins in the tournament, according to a Reuters poll of financial specialists more used to predicting market moves.
Franz Beckenbauer who captained the team to World Cup victory in 1974 then won the tournament again as manager in 1990, has died at the age of 78, German news agency DPA reported on Monday.
The team may be able to rely on Real Madrid's young trio of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Eder Militao and Premier League rising stars Bruno Guimaraes, Antony and Gabriel Martinelli, among others.
Cameroon defeated a second-string Brazil team 1-0 in their final Group G match at the Lusail Stadium on Friday but it was not enough as the African side were knocked out of the competition.
Kylian Mbappe's meteoric rise showed no sign of stopping as the France forward sealed the holders' 2-1 win against Denmark to send them into the last 16 of the World Cup on Saturday.
Summary of the South American World Cup qualifiers played on Thursday
The collection included the shirt Messi wore during the first half of the final against France in Qatar.
France overwhelmed Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium on Sunday to lift the trophy for the second time in 20 years.
The Qatar World Cup has delivered a rich feast of soccer for the past month
Joao Neves scored twice as Paris St Germain swept aside Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium to secure their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals.
The city of Kolkata will turn into the headquarters of FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 as well as the main broadcasting centre to cater stories of the entire tournament to 209 countries, FIFA Head of Events Jaime Yarza Said on Thursday during his visit to Kolkata. After meeting the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat Nabanna, Yarza told reporters that they were happy with the venues and other infrastructure in the city to conduct the tournament successfully. Expressing satisfaction over the work done at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Yarza said that the venue would turn into a top venue of the U-17 World Cup.
All India Football Federation president Praful Patel said India must ensure that 'right steps' are taken as it targets qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
More than 50 Africa-born or African-origin players are spread across 11 teams -- excluding sides from the continent -- that are part of the tournament in Qatar.
Spain fans were dejected to see their team crash out of the tournament.
Images from the FIFA World Cup Group B match between Wales and Iran on Friday.
World Cup final referee Howard Webb has been included among the 25 who were named by FIFA on Wednesday for this year's tournament in Brazil.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, whose election promises included expanding the World Cup finals to 40 countries, on Monday proposed an even larger tournament involving 48 teams.
