The All India Football Federation's decision to field two separate teams for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup and an international friendly against Brazil has sparked controversy.
Jordan Football Association President Ali bin Hussein has publicly accused FIFA President Gianni Infantino of 'blackmail', alleging that FIFA offered to resolve the kingdom's football problems in exchange for his endorsement, a claim FIFA has been contacted about for comment.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Friday that the world soccer's governing body has abandoned its controversial plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, following widespread backlash from major confederations and internal dissent.
The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI) have signed an MoU to jointly bid for the 2029 World Abilitysport Games, aiming to host over 1,500 athletes and showcase India's growing Paralympic movement.
Despite a population of 1.45 billion, India's football team is ranked a lowly 138th in the world and failed to qualify for next year's Asian Cup, highlighting deep-rooted systemic issues and a failure to implement reforms that keep the World Cup dream distant for fans.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's ambitious plan to sell a 20% stake in a commercial entity managing the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors has been abandoned following widespread opposition, including a boycott threat from UEFA.
U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, despite a controversial FIFA decision to suspend his red card ban, struggled in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium, leading to the U.S. team's elimination. The decision, which saw U.S. President Donald Trump claim credit, sparked accusations of political pressure on FIFA, while Balogun's birthright citizenship also came under scrutiny.
The 10 takeaways from the FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed various issues ahead of the World Cup, defending the body's handling of visa challenges, stressing its inability to override government decisions, and highlighting efforts to ensure participation from all nations, including Iran. He also defended ticket pricing and expressed optimism for a competitive tournament focused on unity.
Watching the World Cup and hearing the music in the stadium may have left you wondering - how is that chosen? Is it just coincidence that "Wonderwall" plays after England matches? Are "Freed from Desire" or "Livin' on a Prayer" always played? And why?
With less than a month to go, football fans have all fingers -- and toes -- crossed, notes Kanika Datta.
If TVK MLAs and ministers are perceived as clean, or demonstrably cleaner than their predecessors, the credibility dividend will be enormous. The voter will feel rewarded, points out Ramesh Menon.
Seattle's LGBTQ community members say they hope that this Friday's World Cup "Pride Match" between Egypt and Iran, two countries where homosexuality is criminalised, can be an opportunity to change minds.
FIFA has selected India as one of 12 countries for its Women's Development Programme, aimed at building sustainable models for women's football clubs and preparing them for the upcoming AFC club licensing system.
The United States' World Cup campaign took an extraordinary turn on Sunday when FIFA made the unprecedented decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's automatic red-card ban, clearing the striker to face Belgium in Monday's last-16 clash after US President Donald Trump personally urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the case.
AIFF and ISL clubs have reached a landmark agreement that hands commercial rights to clubs while the federation retains regulatory control, paving the way for a club-led Indian Super League from the 2026-27 season.
A goal scored under soccer's experimental 'daylight' offside rule was allowed for the first time in a professional match in the Canadian Premier League.
World Cup music isn't random; FIFA's 'Stadium Entertainment Team' curates over 750 songs, mixing global classics with country-specific favourites, with each team having signature, warm-up, and goal-scoring tracks.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that India's roadmap for the 2027 World Cup, including discussions on senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, is confidential and not for public consumption. He also clarified that the BCCI adheres strictly to the Government of India's policies regarding bilateral tours, such as the potential resumption of ties with Bangladesh, without concern for the political situation in other countries.
Early data from the World Cup indicates that sportswear giant Adidas is currently gaining a significant advantage over rival Nike in brand visibility and sales. Adidas, an official sponsor, is seeing a substantial surge in apparel spending and foot traffic, particularly driven by jersey sales. While Nike's business is also growing, it is being outpaced by Adidas, which appears to have a more resonant product offering. Nike, facing declining market share and intense competition, is relying on the World Cup for a boost, though its footwear presence remains strong.
From Mexico to Canada, across 16 stadiums in wildly different climates, the continental tournament is putting turf science to its ultimate test. The goal: creating living surfaces that can withstand kicks, studs, tackles and scorching summer heat.
The visas were granted to the five Iranian players after US President Donald Trump spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following reports that the players had requested asylum.
Iran's national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the US on the days of its three FIFA World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament.
Iran's World Cup campaign has left many Iranian-Americans torn between supporting Team Melli and opposing the country's leadership, highlighting deep divisions within Los Angeles' influential Iranian diaspora.
Mexico counts more than 135,000 missing people, a figure that has surged since 2006 when then-President Felipe Calderon launched a war against the country's drug cartels.
Millions of soccer fans in the world's two most populous nations may not be able to watch the World Cup that starts next month, due to a deadlock over broadcast rights in India and no official decision in China.
Football's global players' union has renewed concerns about the potential impact of heat on the 2026 World Cup, following a scientific analysis indicating a high likelihood of dangerous temperatures for both players and fans.
Indian Super League (ISL) clubs on Friday formally proposed a fundamental restructuring of the country's top-tier professional football league, seeking perpetual operational and commercial rights for a club-owned league model while retaining the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as the sport's regulator.
Italy rejects a proposal by Trump envoy Paolo Zampolli to replace Iran at the FIFA World Cup 2026, as officials insist qualification must be earned on merit.
Indian football remained in a state of terminal decline after experiencing arguably its darkest phase in a year marked by severe administrative crisis, court hearings, financial issues, absence of domestic leagues, and a steep decline in performance of the senior men's team.
Adelaide Oval is exploring the possibility of hosting a regular-season Indian Premier League match as early as March next year.
The latest crisis emerged after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) could not find a new commercial partner for the conduct of domestic league, including the top-tier Indian Super League.
Concerned about Indian football's "decline for many years", East Bengal, one of the country's oldest clubs, on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's urgent intervention to address the "unprecedented crisis"
Protests on multiple fronts disrupted the atmosphere outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on Thursday, as demonstrators raised sharply different concerns over global politics and local issues.
Former India coach Vimal Kumar urges the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to maintain the current 21-point scoring system, arguing it represents the true essence of badminton. He also highlights the collaborative coaching approach behind Ayush Shetty's recent success.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha emphasised the importance of harnessing sports as a force for social transformation at a national 'Chintan Shivir' in Srinagar. He highlighted the need for collaboration between schools, communities, and families to create ecosystems where young athletes can discover their potential, and urged for greater support and resources for physical education teachers in schools.
Former India coach Vimal Kumar urges the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to maintain the current 21-point scoring system, arguing it represents the true essence of badminton. He highlights the sport's global appeal and the disruption caused by frequent changes.
American tennis player Learner Tien discusses the importance of financial awareness and planning for life after tennis, highlighting a growing trend among athletes to broaden their horizons beyond their primary careers.
Beyond the three host nations, the highest number of applications came from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Colombia.
Iran's football federation is in discussions with FIFA about moving their World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico due to concerns about the safety of their players, Iranian football president Mehdi Taj said.
