Fifa

Brands hit goal as Fifa-themed offerings spark a surge in consumer sales

FIFA World Cup 2026 fever is boosting sales of jerseys, TVs and fan merchandise as brands tap into rising football enthusiasm across India

FIFA says fans in concourses caused empty-seat appearance during matches

FIFA on Friday blamed the empty seats during the World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara on fans who watched from the concourses. There were many visible empty spots at the 45,664-capacity Guadalajara Stadium, with sections in the middle of the stands showing many unoccupied spaces and with other empty seats scattered around the venue. The announced attendance was 44,985 - including FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "Official attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium footprint, rather than visual assessments of seating occupancy at any given moment during the match," FIFA said, adding that it works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data. "Please note that, during last night's match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout t

Fifa World Cup's lesson for finance: Don't trust predictions too much

A London-based strategist's model has correctly predicted the last three Fifa World Cup winners and now identifies the Netherlands as a surprise contender for the 2026 title despite low odds

Best of BS Opinion: E85 policy push needs a coherent transport roadmap

From India's biofuel push and FIFA's commercial priorities to pressure on the rupee, shifts in the global arms market and Malayalam cinema's evolution, here are today's key opinion pieces

FIFA's own goals: Revenue maximisation is tarnishing sporting values

Ticket prices for the final stand at over $7,500, more than four times the price of the 2022 final

Indian markets love FIFA World Cup, shows data. Will 2026 be different?

The only exception has been 1998 (CY98) when the BSE Sensex slipped 16.5 per cent as market sentiment was dented due to Pokhran nuclear tests in May and the ensuing economic and trade sanctions.

Record eight players aged 40-plus set to feature at 2026 Fifa World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo will be the oldest outfield player at 41 and is set to feature in a record sixth World Cup

Fifa World Cup workers threaten strike before $2,000-a-ticket game

Workers are seeking higher wages and stronger protections for personal information from immigration authorities

Iran's World Cup team approved for visas to play games in the US: Officials

Members of Iran's World Cup soccer team have been granted visas to the United States, two U.S. officials said, clearing them to enter the United States from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of their first two matches near Los Angeles this month. The team's participation in the World Cup has been complicated by Iran's war with Israel and the United States. Problems with processing visas had earlier led Iran to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, on Mexico's border with California. One U.S. official said all players on the Iranian team were approved for visas and were in the process of receiving them. A second official said visas had been issued for players, coaches, trainers and some support staff. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the visas publicly. The second official could not say if any Iranian applicants had been denied. It was not immediately clear when the Iranian team's passports would

Fifa to let fans bring bottled water to World Cup, but with some caveats

Mamdani had raised concerns about reports that Fifa had banned fans from bringing bottles of water to World Cup matches, demanding answers from Fifa

Fifa's $13 bn World Cup faces backlash as high costs hit fans, host cities

Host cities are shifting World Cup costs to fans and taxpayers, for instance, in New York, a New Jersey Transit trip to MetLife Stadium that usually costs $13 is priced at $98 during the tournament

Zee's Fifa bet: Can football deliver returns in cricket-dominated India?

Football remains a niche sport in India compared to cricket; yet, Zee believes Fifa can help build Zee5, strengthen its sports channels and attract premium advertisers over the next decade

Zee partners FIFA to broadcast 39 global football events in India till 2034

Zee Entertainment secures FIFA media rights in India until 2034, covering 39 global football events, including the FIFA World Cups and Women's World Cup

Can the Fifa World Cup 2026 help US beer industry kick its slump?

Beer makers are betting on the FIFA World Cup to revive demand, but shifting consumer habits could limit the boost to sales

Goldman's model shows Spain as 26% probable winner of FIFA World Cup

The analysis combined historical match data, team rankings, scoring talent and geographic factors to forecast the tournament's outcome

Zee nears FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights deal in India: Reports

Reports suggest the proposed agreement is valued at approximately $30-35 million, a figure considerably lower than earlier expectations for the tournament's Indian media rights

Zee and Jio in the race for 2026 FIFA WC broadcast rights in India: Reports

The deal is reportedly valued between $30-35 million and would secure access to television and digital audiences across the country for the tournament

FIFA seals last-minute World Cup broadcast deal in China at just $60 mn

FIFA finally sealed a World Cup broadcast rights deal for China on Friday, just 27 days before the opening game and at a much lower reported price than the soccer body wanted. The overall agreement with China Media Group covered the next four World Cups - two each of the men's and women's - through 2031, FIFA said in a statement. It includes the 48-team, 104-game men's tournament in North America starting on June 11 that China did not qualify for. Chinese state-affiliated media reported on Friday the 2026 World Cup rights were valued at $60 million. FIFA originally sought $300 million, Chinese media reported in recent weeks as the deadline to strike a deal drew closer. A rights deal for India has not been confirmed. "It's a real pleasure that we have found an agreement with CMG," FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said in the soccer body's statement. He was in China this week, also for meetings with officials from the Chinese soccer federation. FIFA's leverage in China was

FIFA World Cup 2026: The big day for all 48 teams to unveil their squads

As the football World Cup is just a month away in the USA, Mexico and Canada, find out the different timelines for squad announcements for all 48 teams

FIFA world cup, stock market crash, economic woes: What does history say?

A FIFA-WTO study estimates the 2026 World Cup could generate $80.1 billion in global output, add $40.9 billion to global GDP, and support around 824,000 jobs