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In an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, external, the head of the Spanish league also criticised World Cup hydration breaks, the final's lengthy half-time interval, the postponement of a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun, and the future possibility of a 64-team summer tournament.When asked if Infantino should quit, Tebas said: "In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up."However, he stated that the 56-year-old has the support of national federations, and claimed Fifa's election system is "rotten at its core"."There's no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose," Tebas said."He shouldn't stay, but the current state of affairs means he won't leave."The head of Spain's top flight was in the US to see his country win the 2026 World Cup."These past few days here in America, I've heard many people who are against Infantino, who disagree with what he's doing," Tebas said."They say it, but then they do nothing. I don't know what's worse, the silence or the complicity, because those who stay silent are perfectly aware of the damage football is suffering."Infantino is expected to be re-elected for a fourth term at Fifa's March congress, although Tebas believes Infantino could have been brought down as a consequence of his involvement in the case around Balogun.The 25-year-old US player escaped a suspension for his side's last-16 tie with Belgium following an intervention from US President Donald Trump."The suspension of the American player's ban was absolutely serious. They were lucky that Belgium eliminated the USA, because otherwise a case could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his job," Tebas said."Since Belgium won, they managed to bury the matter. But these things are just the tip of the iceberg."European football's governing body Uefa criticised Fifa's decision at the time, calling it "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable", and the decision was a factor in the organisation's president Aleksander Ceferin not attending the World Cup final.Infantino opened the door to a 64-team global tournament during this year's event, but Tebas argued that "not everything can revolve around the World Cup"."Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry isn't just the World Cup," Tebas said."It's the national competitions that sustain this sport. They are destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves a minority of players."Are the best players there? Clearly, but they are also in our leagues. We need fewer international matches and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don't realise they are making irresponsible decisions."The governing body said they were brought in as a commitment to player welfare, but critics have pointed to broadcasters using the breaks as a way to cash in with commercials.Meanwhile pop music giants Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber were among the acts to perform in the World Cup final half-time show, which extended the usual 15-minute half-time break to 27 minutes 22 seconds."Fifa arranges things as it pleases, for what it wants, for its own interests, certainly not for football," said Tebas. "So, if they need a 27-minute half-time break, they'll have it."Hydration breaks are a lie. We have them in La Liga, but only when it's genuinely hot."Here, the pitches in Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta had air conditioning; I had to put on a jumper in the stands. It was a lie, a break for advertising."It's proof that we are governed by an institution that does and decides what it wants, when it wants, following only its own interests without considering the rest of football. And in many cases, it acts to the detriment of football."BBC Sport has contacted Fifa for comment.The financial winners and losers from the World CupListen to the latest Football Daily podcast

World Cup News

Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning goalkeeper and a Brazilian icon are among those who have have called time after the 2026 tournamentFirst participated in the World Cup in 2010 before winning the trophy four years later. Germany have had little success since and their penalty shootout defeat by Paraguay marked the end of Neuer’s international career. He initially retired after Euro 2024 but reversed that decision a few weeks before this tournament. “Despite the bitter end, I don’t regret this decision,” he said after his 23rd and final World Cup appearance. The former Germany defender Robert Huth criticised the decision to bring Neuer out of retirement: “I think the big one that really unsettles the squad was the Neuer inclusion. I think [it was] really unexpected, he came late to the table.”Made his World Cup debut this summer having left an impression at Euro 2020. Schick failed to score as Czechia went winless and were eliminated in the group stage. The striker announced his international retirement hours after the final group game. “Today, my national team chapter is coming to an end,” he said. The official Czechia statement paid tribute: “Thank you for every match, every goal, and the pride with which you represented the Czech Republic.”Cemented himself as a fans’ favourite in 2014 when he kept a famous clean sheet against the World Cup hosts, Brazil. His playing time was limited this summer, but he got 12 minutes against Czechia, where he was celebrated by teammates. After full time the manager, Javier Aguirre, said: “The moment he stepped on to the pitch, it overshadowed everything else. He is a world-class legend, and I am incredibly proud of him.” Ochoa later posted: “It was the greatest privilege of my life. Thank you for believing, for always accompanying us. I love you Mexico.”Having made one appearance at the 2014 finals, Mahrez had to wait 12 years to add to his tally. He scored two goals against Austria before Algeria were eliminated in the last 32 by Switzerland in his final game. Mahrez said: “Representing Algeria has been a dream of mine ever since I was young, to play for my country. It’s been an immense honour and a great source of pride.” A Confederation of African Football’s statement said: “You gave us memories that time can never take away. Thank you, Riyad Mahrez.”The forward got six goals in as many matches across the 2014 and 2022 finals but was unable to add to that tally for an Ecuador team who lost to Mexico in the last 32. “I’ve played my last match with the national team,” he said in the tunnel after. Ecuador’s official X account showed appreciation to their record scorer: “The GOAT. Super Enner. Thank you for giving yourself to the country and representing it in the best way.”The uncompromising defender played every minute as Argentina triumphed in Qatar, having made his World Cup debut in 2010. Playing time was harder to come by in North America, though he featured in every game bar one, having revealed his intention to retire in March. “It’s my last World Cup, from there I’ll be a fan,” he said. Otamendi’s final home match became a tribute, with Lionel Messi letting him score a penalty at La Bombonera.This was the striker’s first and last World Cup. He scored twice as Austria reached the last 32, where they were defeated 3–0 by Spain. Arnautovic revealed his departure in an emotional post-match interview, saying: “Playing for Austria was the biggest highlight. It hits me that from now on I won’t see my second family any more.” In a social media post, the Austrian Football Association said: “What a career. What a character. Thank you for everything.”Participated in 2018 but injury ruled him out four years later. Following Senegal’s capitulation against Belgium, Mané released a statement regarding retirement via Senegalese outlet Le Quotidien – although there have been questions about its authenticity – saying: “Know that I sacrificed everything for this flag. I gave the very best of myself and I always fought fiercely for our homeland.” Pape Thiaw was asked about Mané’s retirement in January and replied: “We want to keep him as long as possible … when we say it’s his decision, it doesn’t just belong to him, he belongs to the people of Senegal, and they want to see him carry on.”The goalkeeper amassed 84 caps, making his debut in 2004, but did not get off the bench at his first World Cup. “I’ve never wanted it to end, but it must,” Gordon said, calling time on his club and international career. Gordon’s spell was described as “a career unlike any other” by the Scotland national team’s social media account.Made his World Cup debut in his side’s 2–0 victory over Curaçao, his 64th cap. In a social media post, the former Fulham midfielder later said: “After 11 years in the national team, and one World Cup played, I announce the end of my international career today.” Seri received a wealth of tributes below his post. “Congratulations on all that you’ve accomplished with the national team,” replied the captain, Franck Kessié. “Thank you for all these moments shared under our colors.”Announced himself on the World Cup stage with two goals on debut in 2014. Restricted by injury at the current tournament, he managed 55 minutes before Brazil’s exit against Norway and announced his international retirement shortly after full time. “It started here at MetLife Stadium,” he said, referring to his debut against the US in August 2010, “and I finished here. It is now over.” Zlatan Ibrahimovic, working as a pundit for US television, said: “An amazing player, and the skill set he had was just crazy. So, sad moment for Brazilian football.”

World Cup News

255 Comments"Thanks world, We'll take it from here."That's the message from Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min, David Beckham and dozens of Major League Soccer players in an advertising campaign urging new football fans created by the World Cup to check out MLS.The slick film showcases World Cup stars who play in the US top flight, inviting fans to join them as the regular season resumes. The league is even offering free tickets to new fans."The World Cup has now exposed millions of people to Major League Soccer," says MLS executive vice-president Dan Courtemanche, who joined the league in 1995 before a ball was kicked."We're going to continue to capitalise on that momentum."Could the lasting legacy of this World Cup be the rise of MLS into the band of elite leagues?Major League Soccer is itself a legacy product from the 1994 World Cup, when Fifa mandated the US to establish a professional league as part of its bid to host the tournament.The league started in 1996 with 10 teams and zero purpose-built stadiums. Thirty years later, MLS has 30 clubs and almost as many football-specific stadiums.Despite predictions of empty World Cup seats because of sky-high ticket prices, the stadiums were packed, and broadcast ratings were impressive as football joy spread across the United States - even after the USA were knocked out of the tournament.The US team's loss to Belgium at the last-16 stage delivered the most-watched football game on one network in US history - with more than 33 million watching on Fox.England's last-16 win over Mexico became the most-watched football game in US history with a combined 45 million viewers in English and Spanish watching across Fox and Telemundo.The ratings compare with games in the NFL - what Americans consider football - but are not up to the level of the showpiece Super Bowl.In 2025, the most-watched Super Bowl in history attracted 127.7 million viewers across English and Spanish broadcasts and streaming in the US, although many Americans tune in solely for the half-time show, which was performed by Kendrick Lamar that year.MLS, which has shown strong growth since its first season 30 years ago, aspires to become an elite league on par with Europe's top competitions."I think we're looked at as the top, one of the top leagues commercially," MLS commissioner Don Garber said at an MLS event to discuss the future of the league and the post-World Cup legacy. "We've cracked that code. Now we've got to crack the rest of it."In some ways, MLS is already up there with the big leagues across the world.There were 45 MLS players represented at the 2026 World Cup - including two in the final for Argentina, Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.MLS has a reputation for being almost a retirement home for superstars - a lucrative place to play for legends like Beckham and Messi after peak careers in Europe.But that reputation is outdated, Courtemanche says, with the average age of new international players in the league now 23.8 years. Though many of them have dreams of playing in Europe after experiencing MLS.MLS is changing its calendar in 2027 to adopt a summer-to-spring season, more aligned with Europe to make it easier for players to move between the leagues.And the competition's leaders are investing in youth development leagues.All MLS teams run youth academies. As LA Galaxy hosted a viewing party for the US victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on a big screen, dozens of children ignored the match, instead battling it out themselves on three separate pitches, occasionally running to the big screen when the sound of a goal spread through the crowd.These were rare pick-up games in a culture full of highly scheduled children - and the skill level was high. Some of the kids played for MLS youth teams.Eight-year-old Landon - named after US star Landon Donovan - was one of the more skilled, moving from goalkeeper to forward with glee. His mother Jen Wing is a coach and says her children have attended MLS camps and play on travel teams at their home in New Jersey.Landon dreams of being a professional soccer player one day in MLS."LAFC," he says, referring to his dream team.But critics say MLS will never compete with Europe until it sorts out its "pay-to-play" culture in youth development.At the top level, MLS academies train and develop youth players for free, much like their European counterparts.But to get to that level, where an MLS academy team would notice a teenage player, families typically pay thousands of dollars for private lessons and access to travel teams, a common theme in US sports.MLS officials say the development leagues are constantly evolving and improving when it comes to developing young talent, and that every team has scholarships available to talented players.Commissioner Garber says the league is always improving and is determined to get even better at developing young players so they can deliver "more and more to the men's national team and just be better, bigger, stronger, faster, all those things that give you energy to think of a better future".When it comes to attracting audiences, Messi is the league's biggest draw.But the cult of celebrity runs throughout the league. More than two dozen entertainers and athletes hold ownership stakes in MLS clubs, including Will Ferrell (LAFC), Reese Witherspoon (Nashville SC), Matthew McConaughey (Austin FC) and Magic Johnson (LAFC).Drew Carey was an original Seattle Sounders owner when the club joined MLS in 2009 for a $30m (£22m) expansion fee. The Sounders are now valued at more than $900m (£668m). David Beckham's 2007 LA Galaxy contract included the option to buy an MLS expansion team for $25m. He now owns Inter Miami CF, a club that experts have valued at more than a billion dollars.But as much as the US is experiencing a football frenzy right now, many believe US culture will always prioritise American football.Brian Udovich, whose 12-year-old son Croil plays in an MLS Next Level league in Southern California, says many talented youngsters leave the sport for American football when they become teenagers because of all the fanfare.On Friday nights, American football players get their names up in lights with marching bands and cheerleaders urging them on to glory in giant stadiums. Whereas soccer is typically played on Saturday mornings with mums and dads in folding chairs."It just means so much more to other cultures than us," Udovich says.Michael Bradley, coach of the New York Red Bulls, says American culture is just different and that the legacy of the World Cup will make association football more prominent."We don't have the long, storied football history that other countries do. I think for a long time that led to an inferiority complex that maybe football would never really survive in the United States," Bradley told the BBC, adding that now so many more fans in the US feel proud."I think we can all unequivocally say in 2026, football is not going anywhere."Best goal, best player, best fans - BBC reporters' World Cup awardsMessi says 'pain is immense' after losing World Cup final

World Cup News

People gather at cafes and outdoor screenings to support team after Spain’s backing for Palestinian rightsThe Spanish football team’s World Cup win has been celebrated in the streets of Gaza, where Spain’s support for Palestinian rights and Israel’s backing for the Argentinian team turned the competition into more than a football showdown.Gathered at cafes and outdoor screenings, Palestinians defied the risk of Israeli attacks to cheer on a team they had taken to their hearts.Many waving Spanish flags paid tribute to teenage star Lamine Yamal, who brought a Palestinian flag to celebrations for Barcelona’s La Liga win in May.“Whoever raises the Palestinian flag deserves to raise the World Cup,” the Gaza al-Irada amputee football team wrote in a pre-game video message for the Spanish team.Saadi al-Masri, 40 and captain of the amputee team in Gaza, watched the game with friends in a cafe. “I support Spain because we see it as a country that stands with the Palestinian cause and supports Palestinian rights,” he said.Spain has been among Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s war on Gaza and state-backed violence in the occupied West Bank. It is pushing for stronger European Union action over human rights violations, including suspension of a broad free trade pact.When Israel’s defence minister attacked Yamal for raising the Palestinian flag, accusing him of “inciting hatred”, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, was quick to defend the young player.“Lamine has only expressed the solidarity with Palestine that is felt by millions of us in Spain. Another reason to be proud of him,” he said in a social media post.Israeli support for Argentina was led by Netanyahu, who has cultivated close ties with far-right president Javier Milei, and posted a good luck message for the team ahead of the final.The Palestinian delegation to the United Nations responded with an image of the Spanish team, under the headline “world champions”.Even keen fans in Gaza have struggled to keep up with matches during the World Cup. Most of the 2 million Palestinians in the territory live in tent camps after Israeli attacks destroyed their homes, with little access to power or internet connections.Arkan al-Walaida, 23, went to internet cafes to seek out match highlights each morning during the tournament, looking for short videos on TikTok or Fifa’s official YouTube and Instagram pages.When she found out on Monday that Spain had won, she was overwhelmed. “Honestly, I felt like I was about to cry from happiness,” she said. “We see their support as a sign of humanity.”Al-Masri watched the match at a cafe, packed with an excited crowd. “We were very happy when the final whistle confirmed Spain’s victory,” he said, but fear of Israeli airstrikes meant there were no late-night parties.In early July, an Israeli bomb killed Mohamed al-Wahidi, a Palestinian aid worker who organised screenings of World Cup matches in Gaza.The strike, just before the game between Egypt and Argentina, also killed brothers aged eight and 10, and a second man. The Israeli military confirmed the attack but said it had not targeted al-Wahidi.

World Cup News

Counterfeit football shirts worth over £18m were seized in the UK during the course of the World Cup because of safety concerns. The tournament produced a spike in the sales of fake shirts and kits, but the Fire Service has warned that these items are far more flammable and dangerous than the genuine articles.One raid involved 1,618 fake strips being taken from a warehouse in Birmingham, including replicas of star players such as France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland.Detective Sergeant Jamie Kirk, City of London Police, who took part in the operation, told BBC Sport: "I understand why people want to buy these shirts, people love football and the incentive is the lower price - but these shirts, they're not regulated and could be highly flammable."They have dyes in them which could be harmful to skin, particularly children's skin. While the cost is lower - and that's the attractive part - potential damages to you and the people making them is just far too high."Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service tested the flammability of counterfeit shirts compared with genuine kit and found the fake kits were much more flammable."It's quite clear that the counterfeit one melted as soon as the burner went on it," said watch manager Dave Jackson, who carried out the test by hanging them two at a time on an iron bar and used blow torches to set them alight. "I really had to try to make the genuine one ignite and melt."It's extremely dangerous. It's something that can cause horrific injuries to your children. It's just not worth the savings."Kate Caffrey, head of intelligence at the Intellectual Property Office, warned that fake shirts are not regulated."Counterfeit strips are not subject to health and safety regulations, British Standards [or] EU standards," she told BBC Sport."We've got evidence that counterfeit goods are made in appalling conditions, so you just don't know what's in them, how they're being made and there's no way of providing any safety reassurances."Counterfeiting is criminal, these are manufactured and supplied by criminal networks, criminal gangs and they're very adept at targeting markets where there's demand. So the World Cup, the forthcoming Premier League season - they're going to flood the market with fake shirts."The price of a fake shirt, you don't know what you're funding with that money."Clearly the cost of genuine replica kits is a contributing factor behind the demand for cheap copies.We found several websites where counterfeit shirts were being sold for as little as £12.It can be tempting for parents to turn to an affordable alternative when it can cost up to seven times more for the real thing, with some Premier League official strips starting from £85.

World Cup News

Previous imageNext imageSlide 1 of 14, Spanish newspapers, Spain's success made the front pages as well as the back pagesEnd of image galleryPublished20 July 2026Related topicsFootballFIFA World Cup 2026More on this storyFifa opens investigation into Argentina post-final trouble - what happens next?Rodri's stock at all-time high as he adds to trophy collectionWhen the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

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Leandro Paredes was shown a red card after final whistleNahuel Molina appeared to strike Spain’s captain Rodri in the stomach as he ran on to the pitch following the final whistle, while there was also a large melee on the halfway line, where Leandro Paredes appeared to grab Eric García by the throat before throwing Gavi to the ground.Parades was subsequently shown a red card by the referee, Slavko Vincic, who had also sent off Enzo Fernández towards the end of normal time, as well as booking three other Argentina players and the head coach, Lionel Scaloni.“Following an assessment of the relevant match reports for the Fifa World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, and in line with article 36 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC), the Fifa Disciplinary Committee has appointed a Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor to investigate potential breaches of the FDC with regard to the post-match incidents,” Fifa said in a statement.

World Cup News

Almost 3,000 websites have been blocked or seized for illegally streaming World Cup matches, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has said.Enforcement agencies in America and across South America carried out the action under investigations named "operation offsides" and "operation red card".Ivan J. Arvelo, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (NIPRCC), said unauthorised broadcasting of World Cup matches violated intellectual property rights and "fuels criminal organizations".The DOJ said at the end of last month it had taken down 400 webpages over illegal World Cup streaming. Now hundreds more have been taken down or blocked."The sustained effort to seize more than a thousand domains dedicated to illegally streaming the World Cup confirms the administration's commitment to intellectual property rights and to the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup," said the DOJ's assistant attorney general A. Tysen Duva.The enforcement has been largely overseen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency that includes the NIPRCC.The illegal streaming of sports often happens through webpages or websites created specifically for the event. Companies and broadcasters have estimated, external the activity costs them billions of dollars a year.Due to its global popularity, football has been found to be pirated at an "industrial scale", according to analysts. The increasing cost of rights deals for matches has resulted in higher prices for fans at home, especially if they choose to pay for multiple services to watch their team play.It has led to some fans turning to illegal streams of big games to avoid such costs.Charles Rivkin, chairman of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), which aims to combat digital piracy and helped in the police effort, said on Monday that the World Cup was the "kind of global live event that piracy networks move quickly to exploit".The crackdown on illegal streaming was also supported by Fifa, which organises the World Cup, beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Warner Brothers.Much of Fifa's revenue comes from the sale of broadcasting rights to the various global media networks that want to televise matches.The Colombian Attorney General's Office said it had even made several arrests in connection with the operations.Four members of what was referred to as the "cybercriminal group" Los Ciberinfiltrados were arrested for allegedly gaining and distributing access to World Cup games illegally.Another 830 websites in Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and the Dominican Republic were also taken down.As well as illegal streaming, police in Colombia conducted "nationwide search-and-seizure operations" around counterfeit sports clothing.The DoJ said 11 people in the country has been arrested and convicted for the illegal manufacture and distribution of fake sporting merchandise.

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Fifa's disciplinary committee has appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess what happened after the final whistle at MetLife stadium.Any player or coach involved in the fracas could face suspension, while the Argentine Football Association (AFA) may also be fined.Following their 1-0 defeat on Sunday, members of the Argentina team and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain players as they began to celebrate their World Cup success.Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala all appeared to be involved.It was incorrectly reported on Fifa's commentator information system that Paredes had been sent off by referee Slavko Vincic for pushing Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat.Paredes' red card was deleted shortly afterwards and Fifa has confirmed to BBC Sport that no disciplinary action was taken at the time.Argentina had already had one player dismissed, with Enzo Fernandez receiving a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time.As the final whistle blew in New Jersey, a few Argentina players - including Lionel Messi - slumped to the turf.Others stood there motionless as Spain's players raced across the pitch in jubilation.Rodri, who had been substituted in extra-time, ran over from the dugout to join his team-mates.As the Manchester City midfielder went past Molina, the Argentina defender appeared to punch Rodri on the arm or stomach.This was the fuse which ignited the trouble.Rodri confronted Molina, but it was the Argentina player who thrust forward in an aggressive manner.Garcia ran over to back up his team-mate at which point Paredes got involved too, jabbing Garcia in the throat.Unused substitute Gavi tried to intervene, only to be forced to the ground by Almada.Paredes then pushed Gavi to the floor by putting his hand in the Spaniard's face.Ayala then looked to be holding Garcia around the throat. He then appeared to strike Spain midfielder Dani Olmo."Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone's face. He went for them," Alan Shearer said on BBC One's coverage. "There is no place or space for that."We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible."Joe Hart added: "The game's done, they can have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behaviour."But Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, who had attempted to calm the situation, appeared to play down the incidents in his post-match interview."We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat," he said. "Today, we are showing that we know how to lose."We lost the match, and we accept it, but that doesn't mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here."Fifa's disciplinary committee has a number of options open to it.By appointing a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor, Fifa will look in more detail at offences rather than just potential violent conduct.There is a greater chance of stronger punishment if players or the national association is charged and found guilty.Article 13 of the disciplinary code covers offensive behaviour and the principles of fair play.The actions of the players and staff could be judged as "violating the basic rules of decent conduct" and "behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or Fifa into disrepute".The disciplinary and ethics prosecutor will take into account "both aggravating and mitigating circumstances", and it has the power to enforce a ban globally.Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for three years in 2023 and lost an appeal to get it overturned.Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was suspended from all football-related activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.It meant the Liverpool player would have missed the first nine games of the Premier League season. But he was transferred to Barcelona during the summer, finally making his debut on 25 October.It is unlikely that Almada, Ayala, Molina and Paredes will face bans as long as this.The AFA, however, has had other issues with the behaviour of its players in recent years.Argentina faced charges related to "offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play" and "misconduct of players and officials" following the 2022 World Cup final.The South Americans beat France on penalties but were criticised for the way they celebrated.Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a lewd gesture with his Goalkeeper of the Tournament trophy, before being filmed in the dressing room mocking France star Kylian Mbappe.Argentina were fined £18,300 and no action was taken against any player involved.Following Argentina's 2024 Copa America win, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was forced to apologise for a video he posted which referenced the World Cup final win. The French Football Federation said the song was a "racist and discriminatory" chant.Martinez was then banned for two games in 2024 for 'offensive behaviour' in World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.Martinez had repeated his infamous celebration using a replica Copa America trophy following a 3-0 win over Chile. Four days later, he hit a camera with his gloves as a cameraman approached him on the pitch after a 2-1 defeat by Colombia.At this World Cup, the AFA is already facing a probable fine for the banner held up after the England game.Their players celebrated while holding a cloth which read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which translates as "The Falklands are Argentine".In 2014, the AFA was fined £20,000 after its players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia.It is possible that Fifa could issue bans to the players who were holding it: Tottenham's Cristian Romero, former Spurs player Giovani Lo Celso and Manchester United's Lisandro Martínez.After Spain's 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over England, their captain Alvaro Morata and team-mate Rodri were banned for one game by Uefa after they chanted "Gibraltar is Spanish" during their victory celebrations.There is no timescale for Fifa's prosecutor to complete his investigation into Argentina's conduct.On 18 February, Uefa appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to look into alleged racist abuse by Gialunca Prestianni to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during Real Madrid's 1-0 win against Benfica.It was over two months, on 24 April, before Prestianni was given a six-game ban for homophobic conduct, with three matches suspended for two years.Could Infantino really push through a 64-team World Cup?Victory for football? Spain beat Argentina to win World CupSixteen titles in five years - why Spain are a dominant forceHow to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

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While the Slovenian did travel to Mexico City for the opening game between the co-hosts and South Africa, he snubbed the trip to New Jersey on Sunday after a series of decisions taken by world football's governing body.This was a key factor in Ceferin's decision not to go to the final."When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," Uefa said in a statement.Ceferin is also firmly against many other changes driven by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, including half-time shows. They will not be introduced to the Champions League or the European Championship.Pop giants Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber were among the acts to perform in the event, which extended the usual 15-minute half-time break to 27 minutes 22 seconds.After referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US before the tournament started, Uefa invited the Somali to officiate the Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August.The high ticket prices have also proved controversial within Uefa.BBC Sport reported on Friday how Uefa has instructed its VARs not to consider diving under the new mistaken identity protocol, as Fifa has during the World Cup. This led to Switzerland striker Breel Embolo being sent off in the quarter-final defeat to Argentina.Players who cover their mouths in confrontations with opponents will not be shown red cards in Uefa competitions either.The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game.The Argentina international was accused of racist abuse and provisionally banned for one match. Following a Uefa investigation, Prestianni was found guilty of homophobic conduct and banned for six matches - three of which were suspended.The law change for a red card was the brainchild of Fifa president Infantino, who wanted something which would have "a deterrent effect" at the World Cup.Paraguay's Miguel Almiron was the first player to be sent off in his side's World Cup group game against Turkey. Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie then saw red in Ecuador's last-16 exit to co-hosts Mexico.Could Infantino really push through a 64-team World Cup?Best goal, best player, best fans - BBC reporters' World Cup awardsLamine Yamal 'completes football' at 19 as Argentina betray Messi

World Cup News

363 CommentsAs Spain captain Rodri lifted the World Cup trophy high into the New Jersey sky, he added another trophy to his already glittering record.A Ballon d'Or, one European title, one Nations League, four Premier League trophies, one Champions League and numerous other domestic triumphs. And now the greatest prize of them all.The Manchester City playmaker has long been revered for his club exploits, but now his stock is at an all-time high as he added world champion to his list of accolades when Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final on Sunday in New Jersey.Not only did the Spain captain steer his side to a first triumph since 2010 and stitch a second star on the national shirt, but he was also crowned player of the tournament.The 30-year-old becomes only the fourth men's player to win the World Cup, Euros, Champions League and Ballon d'Or, joining legends Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer and Zinedine Zidane.But until recently, this level of success perhaps seemed out of reach for Rodri.After rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in 2024, questions were asked about whether he could ever really return to the heights that saw him clinch the Treble with City in 2023 and claim the Euros with Spain a year later.Such a major injury takes time to recover from and it is only in glimpses during last season that we saw the Rodri of old.Now it seems the Spaniard was simply biding his time, patiently waiting for a full return to fitness in order to peak at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Rodri's future in Manchester remains uncertain with only one year left on his contract and Real Madrid reportedly coming knocking.It begs the question what next for Spain's conductor?If 19-year-old Lamine Yamal is the flair and creativity of the Spanish team, Rodri is the puppet master.His role in the middle of the park may often go under the radar, but he is the one stringing it all together.Throughout Spain's World Cup campaign he completed 756 passes, the most in a single edition on record since 1966.He featured in all eight of La Roja's matches en route to glory, topping the metrics for touches (910), passes in the opposition half (428), line-breaking passes (122) - including in the final third (76).There are only three instances on record (since 1966) of a player completing 100+ passes in a World Cup final. Brazil's Dunga in 1994 (130), defender Pau Cubarsi (121) and Rodri (101) - both in this year's edition."Rodri was absolutely outstanding," said Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague."He is not only the guy who ran the longest in the whole tournament and average per game, the amount of passes he gives to beat defenders, he is at his sharpest, he is at Ballon d'or level. This is Rodri's team."A second Ballon d'Or does not seem out of reach, although he has perhaps not played enough club football to make him the favourite for the individual accolade in a stacked field.Rodri is currently being linked with a move to Real Madrid, where returning manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly very keen on the composure, defensive ability and ball control of the former Atletico and Villarreal midfielder.New City boss Enzo Maresca is unlikely to be interested in letting Rodri go but, with only one year left on his contract, there is naturally a degree of uncertainty about the situation.One thing is for sure, his performance at this World Cup has placed him as a hot property - one that City would surely not want to part with but would also fetch a premium price if they did.Returning from an ACL injury is a notoriously difficult task.Having suffered the injury in September 2024, mere months after Spain's Euros triumph, Rodri missed the rest of that season then featured sporadically last campaign.He made 33 appearances across all competitions for City but suffered a number of injury setbacks and, at times, looked a shadow of the player he was before the injury.Former City boss Pep Guardiola predicted in October last year that we would not see the best of Rodri until the World Cup.And, as has so often been the case, the Catalan was right."I've gone through a logical process that every football player has to go through after an injury like this," Rodri said after Spain's triumph."It takes a year to get back to your best fitness level and then one more on top of that to feel like yourself again as the player you were."You need to be patient, and you need to believe and be confident in yourself."It was a frank conversation with Guardiola, where Rodri told him he needed to stop to get his body right for the World Cup, that changed the trajectory of his recovery and ensured he was back to his best for the summer tournament."To get where I am today in my current form, I had to be clever," Rodri added."I had to know when to stop playing and when to carry on when I needed to, and that's part of what you need to do to recover properly."It's been a very tough time. I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity."When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life."Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness."Best goal, best player, best fans - BBC reporters' World Cup awardsVictory for football? Spain beat Argentina to win World Cup

World Cup News

A blow-by-blow account of how players from both sides fought in the aftermath of Sunday’s showpieceThe World Cup final took an ugly turn at the end of extra time as Spain were crowned champions. Here’s what happened, frame by frame.As the referee, Slavko Vincic, blows the full-time whistle, Spain’s substitutes run onto the pitch to celebrate World Cup glory with their teammates.Rodri is struck by Nahuel Molina neat the halfway line, the Argentinian right-back aggressively throwing his arm out at Spain’s captain.Rodri turns back and confronts Molina, and the two players square up as the rest of their respective teams remain unaware of what’s unfolding.Garcia sees what is happening and runs over to Rodri and Molina in an attempt to prevent the confrontation from escalating.Now it’s Leandro Paredes’ turn to enter the fray. He sprints across and attacks Garcia, sending him flying. The linesman attempts to get between the two players, but to no avail.Garcia gets up only to be attacked by Paredes once again, the Argentina midfielder grabbing his Spanish counterpart by the throat as the linesman continues to try and break up the pair. Argentina’s coaching staff, including head coach Lionel Scaloni, surround Garcia and protect him from their own player.Paredes turns his attention to Gavi. The 21-year-old midfielder finds himself pushed and pulled in different directions by Paredes, and also Argentinian substitute Thiago Almada, who rip the Spainard’s training bib.Gavi falls to the floor and attempts to get back up before Paredes throws him down again,.Leandro Paredes is sent off after the final whistle, with Argentina facing disciplinary proceedings: Fifa is to investigate the post-match scenes before deciding whether to take action.Spain meanwhile celebrate winning the World Cup for a second time in the country’s history.