Latest FIFA News
Young women in Rio favela hope to overcome poverty and violence to play in Women's World Cup in 2027
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A 20-minute drive separates the historic Maracana Stadium from the Complexo do Alemao, the biggest complex of favelas in Rio de Janeiro and one of the most impoverished and violent. One of its residents, 15-year-old soccer player Kaylane Alves dos Santos,...
FIFA to seek legal advice on Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from international soccer
BANGKOK (AP) — Facing a Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from international soccer because of the conflict with Hamas, FIFA bought time Friday by agreeing to seek legal advice before holding an extraordinary council meeting within two months. FIFA president Gianni Infantino...
Brazil picked by FIFA to get soccer's 2027 Women's World Cup, a first for South America
BANGKOK (AP) — Brazil will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup after a vote of FIFA’s full membership chose the South American bid over a joint proposal from Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. The FIFA Congress on Friday voted 119-78 for Brazil in the reduced field of two candidates...
FIFA wants global standard for punishing racist abuse and urges players to use crossed hands sign
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA wants all 211 national federations to make racist abuse a disciplinary offense, and designate a crossed hands gesture by victims to alert referees to abuse. Soccer's world body on Thursday detailed the tougher and more unified approach it wants to take to tackle...
FIFA members to vote on the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup
The FIFA Congress will pick from a winnowed field of two candidates to host the 2027 Women's World Cup at its meeting in Bangkok this week. A joint bid by the United States and Mexico was pulled late last month, and South Africa withdrew its candidacy in November. That left only two...
FIFA moves toward ending soccer tradition and letting league games be staged in other countries
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA moved Wednesday toward ending decades of soccer tradition by ordering a review of its policy that currently blocks domestic league games being played in other countries. Fans are likely to object to their teams' home matches potentially being moved thousands of...
FIFA sets date for first Women's Club World Cup. Tournament due to launch in January 2026
BANGKOK (AP) — FIFA finally set a date Wednesday to play the first Women’s Club World Cup tournament in January and February 2026. The first edition should involve 16 teams though FIFA’s ruling council did not specify how they would qualify or where they could play. ...
FIFA meets with women's soccer decisions, anti-racism pledge and retreat from key reforms on agenda
FIFA’s gravest crisis erupted with police raids at its annual meeting in 2015 and nine years later international soccer’s 211 member federations gather this week in Thailand with some of the resulting anti-corruption reforms now in retreat. During three days of meetings starting...
Box owners at Mexico’s iconic Azteca Stadium refuse to release their seats for the 2026 World Cup
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Roberto Ruano has a luxury box at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium where he and his family can watch soccer games and other events in privacy and comfort. He’s not planning to give that up for the 2026 World Cup. When the stadium is handed over to...
U.S. and Mexico drop bid to host 2027 World Cup, Brazil and joint German-Dutch-Belgian bids remain
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation and its Mexican counterpart dropped their joint bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup on Monday and said they will focus on trying to host the 2031 tournament. The decision left a proposal from Brazil and a joint...