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FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to create a $20 billion company running the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family was announced Tuesday — and immediately attacked by European soccer body UEFA. “It is not FIFA’s to sell,” UEFA said in a statement. “None of us are the owners of football.” Infantino’s plans to form a commercial subsidiary, which would be called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), running competitions like the World Cup and Club World Cup was first reported by The Times of London. FIFA said in a statement FFE would raise up to $4.2 billion later this...

Before he packs his bags and bids farewell to the United States, the internet's favorite German World Cup fan has one more high-profile destination to check off his list and it's a big one. The fan, known as Freddy — who rocketed to stardom so fast during the World Cup that he was hanging out with country star Ella Langley and sitting in the Orion space capsule between German soccer matches — is visiting the White House Tuesday, Special Presidential Envoy and United States "Tourism Minister" Nick Adams tells OutKick. "From the rolling plains and towering skylines to the unbreakable...

The Justice Department announced Monday that it snatched over 1,000 websites used to illegally stream matches during the just-completed FIFA World Cup. The final tally of sites snared includes the nearly 400 internet domains shut down by the end of June. The seizures in the U.S. occurred through three enforcement actions, the Justice Department said in a release. American authorities also worked with their counterparts in Latin America to block additional illegal streaming sites, including 14 in Argentina, 309 in Brazil, 1,140 in Colombia, 256 in the Dominican Republic, 223 in Ecuador and 28 in Peru.

Bill Maher discovers America is a great place to live thanks to videos from European and Japanese soccer fans. But, true to form, he can't appreciate the silver lining, he has to point out the black cloud.

As the World Cup winds down ahead of Sunday’s final, NFL players are taking to social media to express their desire to play on the type of natural grass fields the tournament used throughout the summer. Players across the league this week attached the hashtag “WorthTheCost” to posts asking why grass fields were used in World Cup games played in NFL stadiums, while they aren’t afforded the same surfaces in many of those same venues. Among the players who posted the hashtag on Friday: Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Washington Commanders tackle Laremy Tunsil, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor,...

President Donald Trump declared Americans love both kinds of football now. Trump celebrated the USA’s fresh crush on soccer and traded compliments with FIFA President Gianni Infantino during a glowing reception on Friday in New York City, in honor of the 2026 World Cup coming to a close. “This guy, he came to me with this crazy idea [to host the World Cup]. I said ‘Are you crazy? We’re not a soccer country!'” Trump said after taking the microphone. “It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it’s going to remain [one]." His remark follows the World...

FIFA has no plans to move Sunday's World Cup final, even as dangerous smoke from Canadian wildfires leaves a haze over New York City, reports claim. Spain is due to face Argentina in a blockbuster final at MetLife Stadium and there have been warnings that the combination of heat and 'terrible' air quality constitutes a 'very dangerous and powerful one-two ​punch to the human body.' On Thursday, the air quality in New Jersey, site of the stadium, was rated 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' by several air-quality measurement platforms. According to Bloomberg, FIFA and Andrew Giuliani - who heads of the...

The British government on Thursday urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s team after players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the contested Falkland Islands. Argentina beat England 2-1 in a World Cup semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta. During post-match celebrations, Argentine players held a banner handed over by fans in the stands, reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine.” Argentina refers to the Falkland Islands as Islas Malvinas. They were invaded in 1982 under orders from Argentina’s then-military dictatorship, triggering a 10-week war won by Britain. U.K. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the players’ behavior was “entirely...

FIFA will take no action against Argentina after its players sang a song referencing the Falkland Islands in their dressing room following their comeback victory over Egypt. Footage shared online by the country's football association showed the group celebrating in their dressing room post-match and belting out the song Muchachos, which includes the line 'for the Malvinas', Argentina's name for the South Atlantic islands it invaded in 1982 to trigger a war which claimed the lives of 907 people. FIFA, who have banned England player Jarell Quansah for two games following a red card, states that it strictly prohibits political...

The internet is making sure the U.S. won’t exit the World Cup quietly, and Ryanair was the latest player to join the banter. The American dream of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup was crushed in a 1-4 loss to Belgium, marking the team’s heaviest defeat since 1990. As the pomp and fanfare quickly fizzled out, memes mocking the U.S. team came pouring in, with Ryanair unabashedly joining the fun. The internet is making sure the U.S. won’t exit the World Cup quietly, and Ryanair was the latest player to join the banter The Irish airline has seemingly made a...

Public unrest began in parts of London late Thursday night, and it appears Morocco’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the hands of France is the reason. France took down Morocco 2-0, forcing the African country’s elimination for the second consecutive tournament, this time in a quarterfinal match. As a result, many feared Paris would erupt into riots, especially after the chaos that followed Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League victory over Arsenal in May. Instead, images and videos from Edgware Road in northwest London showed police clashing with large crowds as smoke billowed through the streets and debris...

The USMNT (United States Men's National Team) was knocked out of the 2026 World Cup after their round-of-16 loss to Belgium this past Monday, but that didn’t stop them from earning a cool $16 million in FIFA prize money. 20 percent of that will go to U.S. Soccer, and the rest to the players. And while that might have served as a silver lining after fizzling out of the tournament, the men's team will have to accept the fact that the 80 percent ($12.8 million) will actually be split with the USWNT (United States Women's National Team). Under the U.S....

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said his team was the victim of an "injustice" in its 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 defeat against Argentina, suggesting FIFA wanted Lionel Messi to "stay in the running" at the competition. Reigning world champions Argentina fought back from down 2-0 to win the game following a stunning late intervention by Messi, who created one goal and scored another. But Egypt were furious at having a goal disallowed following a VAR review and then a subsequent failure to check on an apparent foul by Alexis Mac Allister in the immediate buildup to Enzo Fernández's stoppage-time winner. And...

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan restrained by security in Atlanta after confronting a fan with an Israeli flag, days after waving a PLO flag on the pitch. ...Egypt's national soccer team manager, Hossam Hassan, confronted a fan waving an Israeli flag in the stands in Atlanta on Tuesday, following his team's World Cup defeat to Argentina. After the final whistle, Hassan was heading down to the dressing rooms when he spotted the fan with the Israeli flag in the stands. He attempted to lunge at him but was restrained by stadium security forces on the scene. Hassan and his brother, who...

President Donald Trump reportedly pushed for FIFA to allow United States striker Folarin Balogun to play on Monday against Belgium. FIFA stunned the soccer world with its announcement Sunday that Balogun's one-match ban for his straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup Round of 32 had been suspended and he would be allowed to play in the Round of 16. Sunday afternoon, several reports emerged that Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday and asked for the World Cup governing body to review Balogun's ban. According to The Athletic, FIFA has granted Belgium the ability...

At 93, sprightly referee Frank Foster is still brandishing red and yellow cards and running the field three times a week for his local soccer association. Having taken charge of around 5,500 matches over a 46-year officiating career, SWNS reported that the great-grandfather credits his longevity and match-day stamina to a lifetime of healthy habits and a foundational diet. Foster puts his incredible fitness down to the strict wartime rations he was fed as a teenager, noting that it ensured he grew up eating “healthy food” rather than “sweets and cakes.” Decades later, his game-day preparation is still fueled by...

After the Royal Belgian Football Association released a 283-word statement saying it was “astonished” at Folarin Balogun’s reinstatement, manager Rudi Garcia compared it to April Fools’ Day at his pre-match press conference. “I didn’t know that July 5 was equal to April 1 at FIFA,” Garcia said in French, through an interpreter. “We’re not defending the national team or federation,” Garcia continued. “We’re defending in football. … It’s the first time in World Cup history that such a decision is taken. I am a head coach, I will focus on my team, on tomorrow’s game. Regardless of the 11 starting...

Uefa has strongly criticised Fifa's shock decision not to uphold Folarin Balogun's automatic ban at this World Cup, calling it "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable". United States striker Balogun, who was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina, should have served a suspension for the last-16 tie against Belgium (Tuesday 01:00 BST). But Fifa opted not to enforce an immediate sanction on the 25-year-old, meaning the co-hosts' leading goalscorer will be available to play. Uefa said that intervening to effectively cancel a suspension at a tournament "crossed a red line". On Sunday, President Trump thanked Fifa for "reversing a great injustice". The Belgian Football...

In a major boost to the USMNT, FIFA have decided to suspend the one-game ban handed to striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to be available for their World Cup round of 16 clash against Belgium on Monday night. On Sunday morning, the governing body unexpectedly intervened to suspend the mandatory one-match ban stemming from the forward's red card on July 1. The 25-year-old forward was sent off during the Americans' recent victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina following a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic. Though it initially appeared to be a fairly innocuous tackle, replays showed that the striker did appear...

Former South Korea men’s national team head coach Hong Myung-bo is said to be taking refuge in the United States upon resigning from his role after a disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. Hong and South Korea failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup after coming in third place in Group A behind Mexico and South Africa. Following a strong start to the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Czechia, South Korea lost back-to-back games and was eliminated in the group stage. Hong resigned from his role as head coach soon after, but plenty more controversy...