Page 12 - Fifa

Football clubs want FIFA talks over health risks of January call-ups

The group representing Europe's top soccer clubs expressed "deep concerns" about the health risks to players traveling worldwide in January for national team games.

FIFA confirms Qatar as the neutral host for the Oceania qualifiers

New Zealand's path to the World Cup in Qatar will also start there when the Oceania qualifying tournament is played in the host nation in March.

FIFA changes intercontinental playoff format for last 2 places at World Cup

FIFA changed the World Cup qualifying format for the intercontinental playoffs to be single-leg games at a neutral venue.

FIFA politics a new challenge for Jill Ellis over biennial World Cups

Since capping three decades coaching by lifting a second World Cup with the American women, Jill Ellis has taken time to reflect and embark on a different path, with new career challenges.

FIFA qualifiers: France, Belgium win to reach World Cup; Dutch slip to draw

Kylian Mbappe's four goals in an 8-0 rout of Kazakhstan ensured defending champion France reached next year's World Cup along with victorious Belgium

We must rethink the way football is structured, says FIFA chief Infantino

Football risks losing its global appeal in the face of myriad challenges posed by a technology-driven and changing world, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has warned.

IOC voices Olympic concern at FIFA's biennial World Cup plan

The IOC criticized FIFA's tactics in promoting the biennial World Cup project by noting a wider consultation across soccer has obviously not taken place

Soccer governing body FIFA to expand gaming and e-sports portfolio

World soccer's governing body FIFA said on Friday that it will widen its gaming and e-sports portfolio to ensure that controlling rights don't lie in the hands of one party

UEFA says FIFA snubs request for talks on World Cup concerns

UEFA complained that Gianni Infantino's world body has yet to respond to its request for talks to discuss the concerns of European nations

FIFA reaches out to member nations on international calendar reforms

FIFA has reached out to its member associations to hold discussions on bringing reforms to the international match calendar for women and men

FIFA intensifies push to stage men's World Cup every two years

FIFA intensified its push for hosting the men's World Cup every two years on Thursday by garnering support from soccer fans around the world to help combat resistance from Europe and South America. The latest public relations tactic came in the form on an online survey commissioned by FIFA. The Associated Press does not routinely report the claims of opinion polls conducted over the internet. The FIFA statement did not provide data, details of the polling methodology or questions asked, but claimed its findings showed "considerable differences between the so-called traditional markets and the developing football markets." European soccer body UEFA and South American counterpart CONMEBOL oppose FIFA's plan and have threatened to boycott additional World Cups. Europe and South America combine for 65 of the 211 FIFA members fewer than the one-third total likely needed to block any proposal. The governing bodies of the six continental soccer federations all stage their own championshi

Klopp, Nagelsmann decry FIFA's plans for biennial men's World Cup

Jrgen Klopp seems sure why FIFA is so determined to gain support for World Cups every two years, and he's not pleased by apparent financial motivations

FIFA unveils biennial men's World Cup plan, UEFA threatens boycott

FIFA detailed its plan for reshaping international soccer around playing the men's World Cup every two years despite European opposition that could lead to a boycott

Lionel Messi would back World Cup plans says Brazil legend Ronaldo

Former Brazil striker Ronaldo said that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would back FIFA's controversial plans to stage the World Cup every two years

Soccer leagues resist FIFA plan for men's World Cup every 2 years

The global group of national soccer leagues said Wednesday it will oppose FIFA's plans to play the men's World Cup every two years

FIFA bans its former stand-in president Issa Hayatou for 1 year

FIFA banned its former interim president Issa Hayatou on Tuesday for alleged wrongdoing in a commercial deal for African soccer.

Message in a bottle

When Cristiano Ronaldo moved the Coke bottles from the media table, he was changing the nature of the Coke-FIFA Euro 2020 sponsorship contract

FIFA confirms roster changes for Olympic soccer to include 22 players

FIFA has confirmed that Olympic soccer rosters can include 22 players, but only 18 can be available for individual matches. Traditionally, Olympic rosters are 18 players and four alternates. The alternates can only be used in case of injury, and once replaced, a player cannot return. The change means that all 22 players are available to the participating teams. It was implemented because of the challenges the coronavirus has posed to teams worldwide. "The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made official a more flexible approach towards the participation of the alternate athletes in the Olympic Football Tournaments Tokyo 2020. "As a result, the Participating Member Associations will be entitled to reconstitute their teams ahead of every match," FIFA said in a statement to The Associated Press. "The number of athletes on the start list will therefore remain at 18, but teams will now have the total of 22 players (18 Athletes + 4 Alternate Athletes) to select their team from fo

Game changers

The last thing world football needs is more games

FIFA Rankings: Belgium stay on top, India retains 105th spot on the list

While recent months have seen a raft of league championships build to a climax, it has been a quiet period for international football, something mirrored in the latest FIFA Men's World Ranking