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Last week, the world governing body appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess what happened after the final whistle at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with multiple Argentina players and backroom staff involved in altercations with Spain players following their 1-0 loss in July.On the recommendation of the prosecutor, Fifa will investigate Argentina players Nahuel Molina (two counts) and Leandro Paredes (three counts), and Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala (one count) for alleged assault under article 14 of Fifa's disciplinary code.Molina may also face disciplinary action for one count of alleged unsporting behaviour under article 14.Team-mate Thiago Almada and Spain midfielder Gavi are also accused of the same breach.Under Fifa's disciplinary code, players and officials face at least a one-match suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct and at least three matches for assault.The latter relates to discriminatory chants and gestures, late kick-offs, the team and spectators displaying inappropriate messages, and spectators throwing objects.Argentina's players celebrated their semi-final win over England with a banner in support of their country's claim to the Falkland Islands. It read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which translates as "The Falklands are Argentine".

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Chief football news reporterPublished29 July 20263160 CommentsFifa president Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations saying they will receive $40m (£30m) if they back his controversial plan to sell off stakes in its major competitions.Infantino has set a deadline of 19 September for football federations to accept his plans if they want to access an initial $20m (£15m).Football's world governing body has said it wants to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including the World Cup, and external investors will be able to buy stakes in it.Uefa, European football's governing body, accused Fifa of using football "to enrich themselves and their friends".The incentive to nations comes less than 24 hours after the bombshell statement rocked football's foundations, quickly leading to condemnation from Europe, Asia and North America.It is understood Infantino even left some of Fifa's eight vice-presidents in the dark about his plan, which it is claimed could raise $10bn (£7.5bn).Infantino has signed a five-page letter, seen by the BBC, outlining the merits of his proposal.The letter states that if member associations respond positively by the deadline, $20m will be "available immediately" from 1 January.In a statement on Wednesday, Uefa said: "We have learned of Fifa's deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan."But having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, Uefa knows there is significant and growing opposition to Fifa's scheme."Fifa cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly."It's time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans."In a video released by Fifa later on Wednesday, Infantino defended the plans, calling them "an offer, not an obligation"."It's part of a democratic process - a consultation process - and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation," he added."It is a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally."Is World Cup sell-off plan a step too far by Infantino?FA 'completely unaware' of proposalsFifa says the money will come from "liquidating a minority portion" of its stake on Fifa Forward Enterprise, a subsidiary company set up to maximise commercial revenue that will include private investors.Although Fifa suggested Infantino gave a broad outline of his proposal at a council meeting just before the World Cup final this month, others who were present rejected this strongly. They say Infantino merely offered an aspirational vision for the future around maximising revenue streams.They now believe they were duped, with the events of the past 24 hours leading them to conclude negotiations have all been completed and now they are being presented with a fait accompli."It is my duty and responsibility as Fifa president to present such game-changing opportunities to you, our members," said Infantino."It is equally my duty and responsibility to ensure such proposals are sufficiently complete and feasible, replete with substantiated figures and clear terms to assist you in the decision-making process."Opposition to the plan has been fierce, with many citing the lack of due process as the first point of their anger.A Football Association spokesperson said: "We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is and what conditions are attached."Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved."When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by Fifa, we will make our views clear and comment further."Former FA and Manchester City chairman David Bernstein said England must "withdraw" from the World Cup if Infantino's proposals go through."The whole thing is absolutely dreadful," Bernstein told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme."It's totally unacceptable. It feels [like] cronyism, nepotism. It sort of stinks, frankly."He said that if critics of the plans want to try and save football from this "dreadful situation", they must "have the guts to really follow it through" and refuse to play in the World Cup.It condemned the plans, saying they "crossed a line". It intends to hold an emergency meeting of all 55 members this week to work on a plan of action.Given the strength of feeling, it would be a surprise if the possibility of a boycott was not at least raised.While the confederation only accounts for a quarter of Fifa's 211-country membership, it does include most of the world's most successful teams.Six of the eight quarter-finalists - including winners Spain - at this summer's World Cup were European. In the 2022 and 2018 editions, the figures were five and six respectively.Fifa's argument that it is compelled to look at proposals that would help it grow the game globally has led to fears about expansion at a time when proposals for a 64-team World Cup in 2030, which will be hosted by six countries in three confederations, are gathering pace.That would have huge implications for the football calendar, which is already squeezed, partly because of the expansion of European club competitions.One senior source within the English game told BBC Sport that the threat posed by Fifa's plan is one of the biggest the game has faced and is on a par with the proposed European Super League, which created such controversy in 2021 and was scrapped within 48 hours.It seems unlikely that Fifa will back down in the same manner over this.This latest escalation extends a difficult relationship between Fifa and Uefa, which responded angrily to attempts to host the World Cup every two years when the idea was floated by former Arsenal manager and Fifa's current chief of global football development Arsene Wenger in 2021.Concacaf, which covers North and Central America and hosted this year's World Cup, said in a statement: "We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process."We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place."As leaders within football, we are the custodians of the game. Collectively, Fifa, the confederations and every member association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport."The French Football Federation said: "It obviously raises many questions, particularly ‌since we, the member federations, were not involved and we lack the specific information needed to weigh in on matters that are clearly fundamental to the future of football.""It doesn't seem like a reform. It seems like an electoral campaign financed with the future of football," Tebas said."Development cannot be used to buy votes or silences. The competitions and commercial rights of Fifa are not the personal patrimony of Infantino."Whoever mixes politics, discipline, money and power without transparency cannot lead anything."Infantino is not the solution to Fifa's governance. He is the problem."The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said: "While the AFC recognises the importance of exploring innovative approaches that can strengthen the future of global football, initiatives of this scale and consequence must be founded upon the principles of good governance, transparency and meaningful consultation."Hans-Joachim Watzke, vice-president of the German Football Association (DFB) and president of Borussia Dortmund, told Kicker magazine that Fifa's plans are an "absolute attack on football".He said: "A line has been crossed here. If European football stands united against these plans, that carries a great deal of weight."Infantino's predecessor Sepp Blatter said: "The close relationship between the Fifa president and the US president has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football. No-one has the right to sell our game."European Football Clubs (EFC), an organisation representing more than 850 clubs, said it would have been "appropriate" for Fifa to consult them on "a proposal of such magnitude".It added: "We urge for calm and thorough consultation on all topics affecting the football ecosystem, together with more rigorous and transparent governance processes put in place to protect the game for the long term."The Football Association of Wales (FAW) said it has "not yet received any substantial details from Fifa concerning the reported proposals" and that it "is concerned that such matters have become public prior to being shared with Fifa's member associations".However, there was support for the plan from a Uefa member in the shape of Czech Republic FA president David Trunda.He told Sky News he could "see the pragmatic benefits for Czech football"."Of course we need more details but my personal point of view is that I can see the positive impact of Fifa's intentions," he said.Global players' union Fifpro called on Fifa to "reconsider its proposal without further delay".It said it had "noted with deep concern the proposal to transform the World Cup and other Fifa competitions into investable assets for private capital".It said such a move "would fundamentally and irreversibly reshape the incentives underpinning the competitions" and that it was "particularly troubling that a project of this magnitude has been developed largely behind closed doors" when it had "potentially far-reaching implications for player welfare, the international match calendar and the future governance of the game".The Confederation of African Football said its president Dr Patrice Motsepe will host a meeting of its executive committee next week to "assess and evaluate" the proposals.Infantino's 'time is up' with Fifa - La Liga bossCould Infantino really push through a 64-team World Cup?

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Gianni Infantino is billing it as the democratisation of football.But Fifa's announcement that it aims to sell off stakes in its football competitions - including the World Cup - to private investors via associates of US President Donald Trump has been met with incredulity and rage from fans, politicians and regional governing bodies.The big selling point, according to Infantino, is $40m (£30m) in funding given to all Fifa countries to "develop the game" once the deal is finalised.The Swiss has set a deadline of 19 September for football federations to accept his plans if they want to access an initial $20m (£15m).This is the boldest move Infantino, an administrator who views himself as a world leader on par with presidents and prime ministers, has made in the decade since he became Fifa president.If Fifa pushes the plan through, he will have consolidated his power for the long-term future and made investors wealthy along the way.So why exactly does Infantino feel powerful enough to enact something so controversial, and what could the consequences be?Infantino has enough support to suggest the plan is more likely to go ahead than not.Since being elected Fifa president in 2016, Infantino has earned long-standing, widespread backing from many countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, which have gained financially from various policies he has managed.They include the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, the growth in commercial and broadcast revenue Fifa has overseen, and a programme which allocates millions in funding directly to member countries every year.That gives him a base of support which constitutes more than half of Fifa's 211 members.The proposal will appeal to many nations, particularly those lower down the football food chain, for whom a £15m windfall would be more than they would ordinarily make over several years.The level of backing Infantino enjoys appears to have emboldened his approach to the presidency. Decisions such as the introduction of hydration breaks and a musical half-time show to the World Cup were taken by his administration without a vote of members, and would have been deemed unthinkable when he took charge a decade ago.And his close relationship with Trump is key too.The investment fund Fifa is dealing with - Thrive Capital - is led by Josh Kushner, the brother-in-law of Trump's daughter Ivanka.The proposal follows years of Infantino making overt attempts to deepen his and Fifa's ties with Trump.He created a Peace Prize and awarded it to Trump. He opened a Fifa office in Trump Tower, New York. He allowed the Club World Cup trophy to be kept in the Oval Office at the White House. He laughed along during Trump's inauguration speech in which he threatened World Cup co-hosts Canada and Mexico.And last week, Infantino heavily mimicked Trump's language when he released a statement describing those who criticised aspects of the organisation of the World Cup as "so consumed by hate and criticism".Working with Trump associates on the plan allows Infantino to harness the power of the bond he has cultivated with the world's most powerful person, with the promise of a mutually beneficial outcome.But while there is a significant element of risk attached to this move, the chances of Infantino being brought down by it are slim, given how strong support is for him elsewhere.He added: "The decision whether or not to proceed with this proposal belongs entirely to you."In exchange, all that is required is your trust - everything else remains the same."The appeal is clear - vote to help make us richer and we'll make you richer too.But each World Cup makes significantly more money than the last - it will probably be worth far more in four years, and four years after that, than it is now.If Fifa sells stakes now, then the private investors will share in the rewards of that growth in the coming years, rather than Fifa and football doing so alone.And ultimately, Fifa is a non-profit organisation under Swiss law, meaning its ultimate goal is - theoretically, at least - the long-term wellbeing of football rather than making a profit.The big winners from the plan, then, would arguably be some of the smaller football nations, the private investors, and Infantino."What we know so far about how some national federations spend their money raises a lot of doubts about whether the money reaches the levels of football which Fifa promises," says Miguel Maduro, a former chairman of Fifa's governance committee.Maduro claims he quit that role after 10 months because Infantino and Fifa's wider leadership disagreed with how the committee was operating."Fifa works as a political cartel - it is fed and supported on a system of patronage, that works through the money Fifa distributes to national federations. There have been cases of corruption," he added."There is a very high likelihood that this [proposal] will be approved."It is a form of legalised bribe."BBC Sport has contacted Fifa for comment about Maduro's assessment.Private equity investment has already transformed sports in the USA.Rules have been changed in baseball, basketball, American football and ice hockey to allow for more minority investments in the past decade, causing team values to skyrocket.And La Liga and Ligue 1 have already sold portions of their operations to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners in exchange for an immediate influx of money.Infantino is hopping on a trend in sports economics rather than trying out something entirely new, but stands to further entrench his own power if he succeeds.Why are Infantino and Ceferin in conflict and where could it end?Infantino's proposal has deepened his ongoing conflict with European governing body Uefa - the most powerful and wealthy regional organiser.That followed a series of Uefa announcements making clear it would not follow Fifa policy on controversial issues including dynamic ticket pricing and hydration breaks.One of the cornerstones of the division between the two is that Fifa's revamped and expanded Club World Cup has become a clear, direct threat to Uefa's Champions League.Previously Uefa was the only organisation which ran an international club football competition featuring the best players, watched by billions around the world and generating significant profits.Last summer Fifa muscled in on that elite club football territory, adding teams from other continents to the mix.Some national federations have expressed anger that they found out about the plans only when Fifa made them public, but crucially, many of the statements released so far have not explicitly condemned the concept of the sell-off itself.That said, BBC Sport understands many Uefa members are angry about the plan and that a meeting is set to be convened for them to discuss a response.On Tuesday Uefa said Fifa's plan is "to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends".Some reports indicate a threat by European nations to boycott the World Cup could be possible. The theory is that a World Cup without European countries would severely compromise the tournament's value to Fifa.But the chances of that coming to pass are debatable.There is also a women's World Cup next year in Brazil, which could be an early target for any action, if Uefa does want to take a bold step of its own.If Ceferin and other European leaders really want to fight Infantino's plan as hard as possible, they must be willing to make a big move of some sort very quickly indeed.For now, Infantino is as emboldened as he has ever been.

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367 CommentsSpain defender Marc Cucurella has kept his promise to get a tattoo of World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente.Cucurella helped Spain win the World Cup this month as they beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.The 28-year-old, who joined Real Madrid from Chelsea for £52m in June, revealed the tattoo - a portrait of De la Fuente holding the World Cup in front of a number 26 - on social media., external"Promise kept," Cucurella wrote alongside pictures and video of him having the tattoo done.After the final De la Fuente said he expected Cucurella to stick to his word."I've already told them, 'did you make a mistake?" he joked in his post-match news conference. "They did, but they'll enjoy it."I'm not so terribly ugly that they will need to put it somewhere nobody can see it. But it makes me laugh and I am proud they keep their promises."Cucurella carried his wife's pyjama top with him as a lucky charm during the World Cup, and recently said he has his trademark long, curly hair so his child can easily keep track of him during matches.

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In a 15-slide post on his personal Instagram account - reposted to Fifa's eight million followers - Infantino addressed "those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens" to affirm his belief that, while they were "busy planting seeds of hate", Fifa was delivering the "greatest event on earth".He said the World Cup "celebrated humanity at its best", adding that the 2026 tournament had "100% safety and security, only joy and happiness".Infantino downplayed several of the tournament's high-profile controversies and hailed the involvement of Iran, who featured at the World Cup despite their ongoing conflict with co-hosts the United States, as a success.He said Fifa "worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war", with Iran entering the country "without incident or conflict".His comments are in stark contradiction to those of Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who said his team were the "most oppressed" at the World Cup.Infantino's 'time is up' with Fifa - La Liga bossThey later also encountered restrictions on their movements as they travelled between their training base and group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.Such issues were not unique to Iran, with fans from Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast impacted by travel bans imposed by the Trump administration, while Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US - despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single entry US visa - because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations".Infantino wrote: "You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was impressively demonstrated this summer."Doubling down on the tournament's safety, Infantino said there were "zero incidents, zero violence, just joy, emotions, happiness, unity, and togetherness".However, Fifa is investigating Argentina's actions after players and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain's players after losing the World Cup final. It is also investigating allegations of racist abuse towards American social media influencer IShowSpeed, while supporters were arrested at multiple matches - including following England's semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials were also controversially present at World Cup stadiums.Infantino also addressed criticism surrounding the standard of officiating at the tournament, in particular concerns about political interference after USA forward Folarin Balogun was made available for their last-16 tie when his one-match ban was suspended by Fifa - following the intervention of US President Donald Trump.Of the 191 other red cards shown at a men's World Cup, only one other player has escaped a suspension.Infantino, however, argued that such decisions are not out of the ordinary, claiming similar rulings are "routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide".He added: "It's curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising."The International Olympic Committee has said it will not investigate Infantino for any possible breaches of political neutrality, stating the complaint levelled by human rights campaign group FairSquare falls outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission.Infantino's advice to his opponents was "to show some love" and "respect" to a tournament where "people came together as families, as fans, as one"."To everyone who missed our beautiful game, the emotions, the celebrations, the laughter, the crying, the deception and the joy. To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents and parents come together for the beautiful game... sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all," Infantino wrote."While they celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate. Our world needs love, not hate; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning."To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions."Because only our beautiful game can deliver such an extraordinary show, a show where everyone becomes one and reconnects as humans."I am incredibly proud, as Fifa President, to have contributed, even a little, to this show. It's a great feeling."Sports editorIt may be that Infantino's astonishing outburst reflects a genuine grievance he feels about some of the criticism Fifa has faced over its handling of the World Cup. It appears he does not believe the governing body has received enough credit for organising a tournament that enjoyed record ticket sales, entertained many millions, and successfully delivered a huge security operation, despite the tense geopolitical landscape. It also arguably conveys a high degree of confidence in his position and chances of re-election next year, that he feels he can be so defiant.But for many, turning on his critics in such a fashion, and portraying them as negative, biased and unfair 'haters', risks reinforcing an impression that Fifa is unable or unwilling to handle legitimate scrutiny, and is out of touch.The reality is that a host of controversies made such scrutiny inevitable; the issues related to US visa policies, which undermined claims that it would be the most welcoming tournament ever. The unprecedented costs facing fans. The outcry over Fifa's suspension of Folarin Balogun's ban after lobbying by US President Trump, leading to concerns over political interference (regardless of Fifa's denials). The introduction of innovations such as hydration breaks and a 27 minute long half-time show for the final. And the environmental impact of the biggest and longest World Cup ever.Infantino held a media conference on the eve of the tournament - his first for three years - when he told his critics to "chill & relax". Maybe, if he had conducted another one after the event began or once it ended, he could have addressed some of the issues it raised sooner, and not responded in a way that many will see as further evidence of a siege mentality.When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

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Norway’s striker left his mark, as did Scotland’s fans in Boston, but Turkey’s dark horses fell at the first hurdle“I played with him on my PlayStation, and now I’ve scored against him,” Livano Comenencia said after converting Curaçao’s first World Cup goal past Manuel Neuer in their opening match against Germany. The smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup went on to lose 7-1 but that goal – their only one of the tournament – will go down in history.Should Jude Bellingham’s first goal against Norway have been ruled out? Perhaps so given the ball appeared to hit an overhead cable in the buildup. Fifa insisted there had been no such intervention; Norway’s manager, Ståle Solbakken, was sure there had been. “Many on the bench reacted immediately … the ball fell down straight in front of us,” he said, furiously.“I’d rather be us than them,” said Jesse Marsch after Canada were comprehensively beaten by Morocco in the last 16. “It takes some nerve to say that when you lose 3-0,” said Morocco’s head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, in response. Marsch also somewhat hilariously overestimated the capacity of BC Place after his side’s 6–0 win over Qatar, saying: “There’ll be 60 million people that said they were here.”Between 1978 and 2018, only the original Ronaldo had scored more than six goals at a single World Cup (eight in 2002). Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé had matched the Brazilian’s tally by the semi-finals this time around, with Mbappé winning the Golden Boot after scoring two goals against England in the third-place playoff.‘CR7’ finally ended his knockout goal drought against Croatia as Portugal squeezed into the last 16. However, joy soon turned to despair when Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the next round. Ronaldo struggled to have any impact on proceedings, managing only 19 touches in what was his final World Cup match. “I gave it all, I gave it my best,” he said afterwards.The mistaken identity rule was updated for this World Cup to cover situations where a player was booked but the offence was committed by the other team and well and truly took effect during Argentina and Switzerland’s quarter-final in Kansas City. The referee, João Pinheiro, initially issued Argentina’s Leandro Paredes a yellow card for his challenge on Switzerland’s Breel Embolo before the VAR called him to the monitor. Embolo was then ruled to have dived and was punished with a yellow card himself – it was the forward’s second of the game and he was duly sent off. “This rule destroyed the game today,” said Switzerland’s head coach, Murat Yakin, after his side’s 3-1 loss.Competing against the backdrop of their country’s conflict with the US, Iran’s players faced incredible difficulties before a ball was kicked. With their training base abruptly switched from Arizona to Mexico before the tournament, the team were then only allowed to enter the US the day before their first two matches and had to leave immediately after. Despite that, they only narrowly missed out on the knockout rounds after Austria and Algeria drew 3-3 in the final round of the group stage to send them home on goal difference. “What these players have done should be written in history because the host country treated us very unfairly,” Iran’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, said.Snapchat stories. Stuffed raccoons. Doing next to nothing against Brazil for 79 minutes and then scoring twice in 11 minutes. It’s fair to say Erling Haaland made his mark at the World Cup. “When someone asks me what my biggest fear is but I can’t say being charged at by Haaland at full speed so I just say spiders,” reads a video that has racked up millions of views on Instagram, a reference to how Haaland chased down Iraq’s goalkeeper, Jalal Hassan, for his second goal of the tournament.Turkey were tipped to go far but, in the end, didn’t even make it out of the group stage. Indeed, they were the second country eliminated from the tournament following back-to-back losses to Australia and 10-man Paraguay. “We should have won these games … everybody’s sad, everybody’s crying,” said Arda Guler, Turkey’s wonderkid after his country’s less-than-wonderful showing.“I’m going home and won’t be watching any more games from the tournament,” said Egypt’s head coach, Hossam Hassan, after his side’s loss to Argentina in the last 16. “What happened to us wasn’t fair. We should have had a penalty, a goal was disallowed and I don’t know why.” Hassan was not alone in thinking crucial decisions had favoured the world champions in what was arguably the game of the tournament in Atlanta.It started off as a standard submission for the World Cup’s official track list but was quickly adopted by England’s travelling support as the theme song of their tournament run, Oasis’s 1995 classic creating a genuinely uplifting bond between plays and fans. Harry Kane went as far as describing the post-match ritual of standing alongside his teammates, arms around each other’s shoulders, and facing a wall of happy, singing English faces as one of his “favourite ever moments in an England shirt”.Lamine Yamal had a great World Cup but not as great as his three-year-old brother, Keyne, who captured hearts worldwide with his wide-eyed, big-grinned expressions of delight whenever his older sibling shone at the tournament. A young star was born on the back of another young star and both look here to stay.Merlin the duck became a sensation after being spotted at Mexico’s post-game celebrations following their opening World Cup win over South Africa. Indeed, Merlin became so famous that he was granted a meeting with Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum. “We feel very honoured to be here with the president, it is an honour for us to stand before you and for the whole world to see the beautiful side of Mexico.” said Karla Gómez, Merlin’s owner. Sadly, Merlin was unable to watch Mexico in the flesh due to Fifa regulations.Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Harry Kane … this has been a World Cup of goalscoring superstars well and truly coming to the fore, and then there has been Mikel Merino. The Spain midfielder came off the bench to score crucial winning goals against Portugal and Belgium in back-to-back knockout games. It was some contribution from the Arsenal player to his country’s World Cup triumph.“Gordon!” shouted Javier Aguirre at England’s left-sided forward during the first-half hydration break of an epic last-16 encounter at the Azteca, followed by something indistinguishable when Anthony Gordon turned back to look. Keen-eyed internet users later deciphered it as a very cheerful “fuck you!” from Mexico’s manager, with both men subsequently laughing with delight. “I’d just run the full-back down the line,” Gordon said after England’s 3-2 win. “So I took it as a bit of a compliment from him.”After being named player of the match in Cape Verde’s opening goalless draw with Spain, Vozinha teared up. “My mum didn’t manage to be here because of the visa,” said the 40-year-old goalkeeper. Two days later the House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, announced that arrangements had been made to waive the cost of Ana Évora’s visa; she was subsequently in attendance as her son played in a 2-2 draw with Uruguay and became one of the stars of the tournament.Neil El Aynaoui struck the crossbar. Justin Kluivert’s effort ricocheted off a post. Bart Verbruggen almost saved Soufiane Rahimi’s strike but helplessly watched it squirm under him and into the back of the net. At 2-2, Quinten Timber put his shot well wide, handing Morocco the advantage only for Achraf Hakimi to do the exact same thing. Standing bolt upright, Yassine Bounou saved from Crysencio Summerville before Ismael Saibari put an end to the rollercoaster of a truly remarkable last-32 penalty shootout.“I’m begging Fifa to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem, because I could not see my team,” Thomas Tuchel said after England’s opening win against Croatia. “It was a very special moment, and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers and I could not see one single player.” It wasn’t the first time at the tournament that England’s head coach made his frustrations clear.Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa kicked off the World Cup and simultaneously almost equalled the 2022 tournament’s tally of red cards in a single match. Yaya Sithole capped off a terrible second half for South Africa by getting sent off just after the break before his teammate Themba Zwane and Mexican defender César Montes were shown red cards within eight minutes of each other.With the vast majority of the football world rooting for them, Belgium reacted to the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s ban for the USA’s last-16 encounter with the Red Devils in Seattle with a ruthlessly commanding performance. They beat the co-hosts 4-1 and marked the victory with a string of celebrations that made clear what they thought of the controversy surrounding’s Balogun’s presence on the pitch, including an imitation of Donald Trump’s dance moves in the dressing room afterwards and a gleeful tweet from the team’s official account that simply read: “Overturn this.”There was widespread delight when Paraguay eliminated Germany in the last 32 with a show of togetherness and defiance but their popularity diminished during their subsequent defeat by France on the back of a brutal display of the dark arts. Joe Hart brandished the South Americans an “absolute disgrace” while his fellow BBC pundit Micah Richards thought that the approach was wholly unnecessary, saying: “Paraguay are better than that. Defensively they were so good and they didn’t need to get into these antics.” The Uzbek referee, Ilgiz Tantashev, also faced intense criticism after inexplicably failing to book any Paraguay players.After Kylian Mbappé scored the first of his two goals against Sweden, he and his teammates ran over to Didier Deschamps and hugged their head coach. The gesture was a response to Deschamps’ return to the touchline following the death of his mother. When asked about the embrace, Mbappé said: “That’s the DNA of this group. The coach has been through certain circumstances, and we’re all with him and will continue to support him.”In a bizarre twist, the USA’s 2-0 victory over Australia in the group stages had to be stopped for, and not by, the referee, Felix Zwayer, after he collapsed with cramp in the dying minutes of the contest in Seattle. Australia’s midfielder Aiden O’Neill and the USA’s Balogun helped Zwayer stretch out the cramp amid ironic cheers from the crowd.Croatia had seemingly rescued their World Cup campaign from the jaws of defeat after Josko Gvardiol tapped in at the back post in the final stages of their last-32 encounter with Portugal in Toronto. But then VAR got involved and the goal was ruled out after Fifa’s sensor technology discovered that the cross to Gvardiol had taken the faintest touch off the head of Igor Matanovic. “It was very bad refereeing,” said Croatia’s manager, Zlatko Dalic. “I’m not saying that sometimes VAR can’t be of help, but it kills the emotions, it kills everything.”Jayden Adams, who featured in all three of South Africa’s group games, passed away just days after returning home from North America. “Today, South African football mourn the loss of a talented player whose passion, dedication, and love for the beautiful game inspired many,” read a national team tribute. A minute’s silence was observed before all quarter-final matches, alongside an outpouring of touching tributes to the 25-year-old midfielder.

World Cup News

What to watch on TV plus other ways to occupy your time now that the party is overThe 2026 World Cup is over, and the millions of people who enjoyed it now find themselves presented with a yawning chasm this weekend. In the UK alone, ITV and the BBC broadcast approximately 275 hours of live coverage over the duration of the tournament, and something that colossal will be hard to replace.But fear not. Just because the football is over, we are still brimming with things similarly designed to take our minds off the screaming hellpit that is the world around us. Here’s a guide, hope it helps.The good news is that, while the World Cup is over, the Commonwealth Games have just begun in Glasgow with a wealth of sports to watch, including swimming, netball, boxing, gymnastics and bowls. The bad news, however, is that all of this will be crammed into a single hour of joyless highlights on Channel 5 at 10.30pm, because TNT bought the rights and you need a subscription to watch it.The same goes for the Tour de France, now that ITV’s 24 years of coverage has ended.If it’s normal, old-fashioned, free-to-air televised sport you’re after, you’ll have a harder time getting your fill. There’s a rugby league match on BBC Two this afternoon, and some cricket tomorrow, but other than that your best hope is to put ITV4 on today and just let its trickle of low-level sport wash over you. Highlights of Man Utd v Nottingham Forest from December 1979 at 6.20am. World rally highlights at 7.20am. Racing at Ascot at 9.30am. Then Formula E. To top it off, Sean Bean in Sharpe this afternoon and Tom Cruise, who gave the opening speech at the World Cup final, is back again in Top Gun at 10.05pm.That’s basically the same as the World Cup, isn’t it? Isn’t it?You should really go and watch The Odyssey. Christopher Nolan’s epic film is breaking box office records left and right, with tickets in his preferred format (70mm Imax) genuinely hard to come by.And, quite honestly, it isn’t so different from the World Cup. It is loud and long and exciting. It offers no end of topics to get mock-angry about (where were the Phaeacians? What happened to all the sex? What was Nolan thinking, infusing Judeo-Christian themes of guilt into an ancient poem whose climactic solution is an orgy of violent vengeance?).Also, it is essentially the story of a man who, in the cold light of day, looks back at a period of intense tribalism with a sense of newfound regret, and if that isn’t the post-World Cup mood writ large, I don’t know what is.Perhaps you have simply grown accustomed in the UK to staying on American time, and that habit is proving hard to shift. If that’s the case, then you have some options to prolong your new nocturnal hours. If you’re a Netflix subscriber, then WWE SummerSlam starts at 11pm BST on 1 August and will run for several hours. Also, the San Diego Comic-Con starts tonight, and runs on California time, providing you with the chance to stay up all night refreshing social media in the hope that you get to see a cool new trailer in real time.Alternatively, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower is likely to peak on the night of 30 July. It isn’t guaranteed that you’ll see it from the UK, but it’s that or going to bed like a loser.Go and drink something. Urinary tract infections are no fun, especially at this time of year. And watch an advert while you’re at it, just for the full FIFA effect.Most of the fun of the World Cup is all the second-guessing and conjecture that goes with it. Luckily, British political life is especially ripe for this exact thing at the moment. We have (another) new prime minister, providing us with endless potential for amateur punditry. Is Angela Rayner being played out of position? Has Ed Miliband still got the legs for international diplomacy? How many disappointing performances will it take before the country begins demanding yet another change of manager?Even better, the Clacton byelection is coming up, which is a great opportunity to get an office sweepstake going. Which of the 34 candidates will you draw? Binface? Farage? Baron Von Thunderclap? Abi Hookway from Channel 5’s Rich House Poor House? Woke Trump Carrzee? Laurence Fox? What excitement.This is the best news of all. It was reported this week that Donald Trump wants America to host the 2038 World Cup. He would be in his fifth term as president by then, too. Joy upon joy.

World Cup News

Spain head coach hits out at ‘acts of aggression’Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, has hit out at the “intolerable, unacceptable” behaviour of Argentina players in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s World Cup final.At the forefront were Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes, who attacked Rodri and Eric García respectively at New York New Jersey Stadium as Spain’s players celebrated winning the World Cup for a second time in the country’s history. Paredes also confronted Spain’s Gavi.“At the time, I didn’t realise it. I was celebrating, hugging teammates,” De La Fuente told Spanish television. “But in any case, it is intolerable, unacceptable, it cannot be allowed. Players of that stature, whom I praised in the days leading up to the match and continue to praise, who are great players with a tremendous coach, surely they must have felt just as bad as we did seeing those reactions.”De la Fuente also praised the exemplary behaviour of his own players faced with these “acts of aggression” and “provocations” which he believes could have escalated into more serious incidents.Although the scenes were filmed and widely shared on social media, they have not yet resulted in any sanctions against the Argentina players. Fifa has opened an investigation into the incidents to determine whether there may have been violations of the world football governing body’s disciplinary code.

World Cup News

Our cartoonist looks back at the big stories and headline-generating characters at the biggest World Cup everBuy a cartoon | Some of David’s favourite worksAnd his latest book, Chaos in the Box: get it now Continue reading...

World Cup News

Norwegian federation president: Fifa on a ‘slippery slope’Trump called Infantino for review of Balogun’s redDonald Trump’s role in clearing Folarin Balogun from a mandatory one-game ban at the World Cup is set to provoke a formal complaint to Fifa ethics investigators.The Norway soccer federation said Thursday its board of directors will consider filing the complaint at its next meeting, likely on 6 August.“We need our leader in Fifa to say that this was an error,” Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness told the Times in an interview published Thursday.After Trump called Fifa president Gianni Infantino, a one-game ban for Balogun’s red-card tackle against Bosnia and Herzegovina was deferred so he could play against Belgium with a quarterfinals place at stake.Belgium beat the US 4-1 after a chaotic 36 hours at the World Cup. The Belgium players were seemingly fired up by one of the all-time controversies in tournament history.Trump called the referee’s red card for Balogun after video review a “horrible” call and took credit for getting Fifa to review what should routinely have been a one-game ban.“We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process,” Klaveness told the Times of the Fifa ruling that was unprecedented in the past 60 years at World Cups. “When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,” said the former Women’s World Cup player for Norway, who is an elected member of European soccer body Uefa’s executive committee.Klaveness is a lawyer and judge who has positioned the Norwegian federation as a conscience in world soccer since her election in 2022. “It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game,” she said Thursday about not enforcing Balogun’s ban.Norway previously joined a London-based NGO’s complaint to the Fifa ethics committee alleging Infantino breached a statutory duty of political neutrality, including by creating a peace prize to award to Trump at the World Cup draw in December.The close personal and political ties between Trump and Infantino include the US president believing the soccer official could be a good pick as next secretary general of the United Nations, the New York Post reported this week.The human rights NGO, FairSquare, also has filed an ethics complaint about the Balogun incident to the International Olympic Committee, where Infantino is an elected member, about breaching its rules on political neutrality.

World Cup News

Winning the World Cup brings many rewards for players... but receiving your own body weight in tomatoes is surely one of the more unusual.That is what Spain midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Gavi were presented with when they returned to their hometown after being part of the Spain squad that triumphed in North America.The pair come from Los Palacios y Villafranca - a town to the south of Seville that has a population lower than 40,000 - and returned there on Wednesday for an official reception at the town hall.Paris St-Germain's Ruiz, who started the final against Argentina, and Barcelona's Gavi wore their gold medals as they were greeted by Los Palacios y Villafranca officials and a large crowd.As part of the occasion to honour their achievement, they both stepped on to weighing scales to establish the quantity of tomatoes they would each be given.Ruiz is to receive 85kg and Gavi 68.5kg in a tradition that local officials say "has become a hallmark of the municipality for honouring its great athletes".Former Spain winger Jesus Navas also attended as he was the first player from Los Palacios y Villafranca to win the World Cup, when he did so in 2010.Navas, the former Manchester City forward, and Ruiz also received the gift of tomatoes after Spain won Euro 2024.The town's sports pavilion is named after Navas and Ruiz and Gavi will now have football fields renamed after them as a tribute to their achievements."In addition, the town hall will promote the construction of a monument dedicated to the three champions from Los Palacios," said a town council statement., external"In this way, the city council wants to pay permanent tribute to three athletes who represent the pride of an entire town and who, with their sporting and human trajectory, have become role models for several generations of children and young people."Paredes should not be suspended - Spain's Gavi

World Cup News

The joy, love, hope and fun provided by fans outweighed the commercialism, extortionate prices and ugly politicsThis summer has been so vibrant and full of life. I had my doubts but, as the World Cup approached and Boston got ready to host its first game, I started feeling the excitement and enthusiasm in the air. That mainly had to do with the huge numbers of Scottish fans who arrived for their match against Haiti. They were a delight, what with their shenanigans of putting cones everywhere, walking around in kilts and carrying bagpipes, jamming with the other buskers on the streets. They were such a fun bunch. I found myself getting hooked. Seeing people from so many different countries, kitted out in their jerseys, gave you the feeling that something was happening. Friends and colleagues who don’t follow the sport were as excited as me. I attended three games and my only complaint is the extremely expensive ticket prices. The fans who came only had wonderful things to say about American hospitality – but everyone agreed that the political situation in the country is terrible. It was heartening that the visiting fans were able to separate the administration from the people living here. Moon, BostonThe mood was a bit sombre before the World Cup, with store owners complaining Fifa had locked them out and people downbeat about the incredibly high ticket prices. But once it started the cognitive dissonance did not stop people from going to the many watch parties in town, which were filled with fun and joy. We were priced out of the real thing but the party still went on, preferably without Fifa. In spite of everything done by Fifa, we sent out the message that people, and not institutions, own football. As for highlights, the incredible celebrations after Colombia beat DR Congo – which extended for hours after the game, well into the night, going on for blocks and blocks – will stay with me. I don’t think the city had ever felt more Colombian. Yes, and Merlin the duck. Eme Guitron, GuadalajaraThe first week set the tone: the notoriously fickle Vancouver weather was perfect, the pedestrianisation of Granville Street was a roaring success and it seemed as if everyone bought into the experience. I attended Egypt v New Zealand and it was a real bucket-list moment. It was a flawless experience from start to finish: public transport ran like a dream, the atmosphere at the fan parks and stadium was incredible, and it was a great game. I even managed to win a correct score bet! People really welcomed the world. They say “Canadians are born all over the world” and it was wonderful to see the various diasporas bring their colour and energy to watching the games on the big screens. We saw the best of Canada at the tournament: beautiful and welcoming. I have been banging the drum for Vancouver to friends and family for years. After seeing just how fantastic this city is, hopefully the rest of the world will travel here too. I will never forget watching my son open his first ever pack of Panini football stickers on the eve of the first game. Ben Lane, VancouverI lived in South Africa when it hosted the World Cup in 2010. Fans were based in Johannesburg or Cape Town, with the World Cup central to everything for five weeks. You could feel it throughout the country. But this time the host cities were way too spread out. I was in DC, New York, Chicago and Atlanta during this tournament – two host cities and two cities that could have hosted. Unless you purposefully put yourself into a football-watching location, nothing seemed to be different than a random Tuesday. Kyle, New YorkIt seems like people had a good time. Roads and transit were a bit of a mess and we are not used to seeing people lined up at bars and pubs at 9am – there was a shortage of beer. Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics a while back and it had the same vibe. I personally am glad it is over. I want my boring city back, please. Eleanor, VancouverI attended several matches during the 1986 World Cup but it was impossible this year because of the high prices. The mood was amazing in the city, though, with people enjoying matches in restaurants, bars, public squares, fanfests and stadiums. The Mexican fans were wonderful and gave a good impression to the world. My partner is English and we have two sons who love football, so the best moment was enjoying the Mexico v England match together in Mexico City. Oliver Regueiro, Mexico CityWe went to a fanfest in Philadelphia but did not attend any games because we ain’t ballin’ like that. Not even my eldest brother – who attended the World Cup in South Korea and Olympic football matches in China – was willing to pony up for those outrageously inflated ticket prices. Despite the shenanigans of Fifa and Donald Trump, the World Cup was a surprising success. We’ve loved having all the international fans as well as seeing our own varied populace rooting for ancestral lands. People still think our elected leader is a feckless monster – they aren’t wrong – but now they remember it can be a lovely place to visit. The camaraderie and exuberance shown by fans – especially from Norway, Scotland and Japan – reminds us all of the best of humanity. W Pfeister, LouisianaThe atmosphere in the buildup to the tournament was coloured with cynicism: about high ticket prices, Fifa’s disregard for fans, and a queasiness about Gianni Infantino’s eagerness to cosy up to the Trump administration. Co-hosting with them? We felt like we needed a shower. Of course, as is always the way, when the tournament started the cynicism had to compete with genuine enthusiasm for the fantastic football, the Cinderella stories, and the sheer thrill of hosting the world. I had talked a good game about boycotting as I loathe Fifa with the heat of a thousand suns, but my friends and family persuaded me I would regret not going to some games. So I caved and attended two matches, which both had a great vibe. The atmosphere in Vancouver was superb. The buzz going into the stadium was terrific and everything was extremely well organised. The host cities and fans did a hell of a job. Respect where it’s due. Allan Castle, VancouverOn one level the World Cup was a success and on another level it was an embarrassment. A success because it brought the world’s game to a level of national attention that is refreshing – much like the Olympics. On another level, it put on display the dysfunction of the US government: referees denied visas, teams forced to train in Mexico, and ugly politics between our president and Fifa president. I hope the trilateral hosting is repeated in future minus the embarrassing egotistical displays. Wayne H Donner, New YorkThe mood was vibrant. We haven’t seen the city come alive quite like this in a number of years. Toronto did not get many matches but, given it is so multicultural, every game felt like a home game for the teams playing. Most people bought into the event. Also, having to host meant the city finally made progress around things such as transit and essential roadworks. Maybe we should host things more often. I was surprised at just how many fans came to our city, some of their marches to the stadium were genuinely impressive, especially for the Portugal v Croatia game. Canada is not just a hockey country; this World Cup has proven that definitively and I can’t wait to see how the tournament will change the game here. Prem, TorontoEveryone has been positive about our foreign guests, and we are glad they had a good time. Our guests have behaved with exquisite politeness even while partying with great enthusiasm. A friend of mine went to a game in Atlanta and said it was the greatest experience of her life. Many people who generally do not pay attention to sports (including myself) have been glued to the TV watching the matches. I believe the tournament will leave a legacy of US cities being able to host these large events in a manner that delights our guests. Hopefully, the world will see us in a more positive light. The highlights were watching our foreign guests partying in our cities, enjoying our food, and generally enjoying the American experience. Also, watching the Scots march through the streets of Boston was very exciting. I cannot get enough of those bagpipes! They are what got me interested and made me start watching. Anne Landrum, AtlantaI was lucky to go to five games and the fan excitement will stay with me for ever. Being able to see Canada play in my home town in the World Cup (and win) was something I never thought I’d be able to say. I want people who watched the games in Vancouver to have a favourable view of my city, and I think the way it was executed will do that. I want people to think of Canada as a country where everyone is welcome and celebrated. We are a country of immigrants and we are stronger because of it. Populism and xenophobia seem to be on the rise across the world, so seeing people from all over take such joy in watching their team was beautiful. There was never hate for the opposing team; there was never hate for another country or its people; and there was no bragging about how one person’s country is better than the rest. It was purely a party. Jayden, VancouverIt was great. Our country has been divided (like the rest of the world) for political reasons for a long time. During the last six weeks we have been one again: one country, one team! We regained that sense of great hospitality we had lost due to nasty violence and headlines about drug gangs. I did not hear about a single incident around the games. I will not forget singing the national anthem during the opening ceremony with my family. Rogelio Torres, Mexico CityI was surprised at the level of interest. It always peaks when US teams make runs at World Cups, but nothing like this year. Everyone I know followed intently. I was fortunate enough to attend several matches, including US games in Santa Clara, LA and Seattle. It was an absolutely electric atmosphere in the stadiums; I’ve never seen anything close to it at US matches previously. Seattle was especially jaw-dropping given the noise, the whole stadium being on their feet for the entire match, and the weirdly appropriate use of Country Roads. With the stadium adjacent to the city centre, the atmosphere spilled on to the streets in a way the suburban stadiums can’t equal. Allan Timpe, CaliforniaI left my home state of Massachusetts to follow my team, Egypt, during the tournament. Some cities did a better job than others and it was noticeable how much the vibe was different when the stadium was downtown compared with when it was outside the city. In Dallas and Boston, you couldn’t really tell there was a World Cup; in Seattle, Vancouver and Atlanta, you couldn’t escape it. Overall, considering the barrage of negativity that rightly surrounded the tournament before it started, it has exceeded my expectations. I just wish more games were played in Canada and Mexico. Omar Aly, Boston