FIFA has been in the news recently due to various controversies and developments in the world of international football. The organization faced demands from global players' union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Forum to reconsider the scheduling of a major competition in 2025. Additionally, there were reports of the Asian Football Confederation supporting Palestine's proposal to suspend Israel from international soccer, a move that was not backed by FIFA. Furthermore, the United States and Mexico decided to focus on hosting the 2031 World Cup, leaving Brazil to compete against a joint bid from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands for the 2026 event.
FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer worldwide. Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA is responsible for organizing and promoting major international tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup. With 211 member associations, FIFA aims to develop and regulate the sport globally, setting the rules of the game and ensuring fair play. Despite facing criticism and controversies over the years, FIFA plays a central role in shaping the landscape of international football and remains a significant influence in the world of sports.
-
Maradona’s family say the trophy was robbed by local gangsters in 1989, when he played in the Italian league
-
Brazil beat a joint bid by Belgium, Netherlands and Germany to become first South American nation to host the event.
-
FIFA said it would solicit legal advice before taking up a motion from the Palestinian Football Association to suspend Israel over its actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
-
The World Leagues Association and FIFPRO wrote to FIFA earlier this month.
-
Global players' union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Forum have written to the FIFA president demanding the competition is not played as planned in June and July 2025.
-
The United States and Mexico will instead focus on hosting the 2031 event, leaving Brazil to rival a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and Netherlands
-
Demand to punish Israel in the arena of international soccer will not be supported by FIFA, and Israel can expect backing from the 55-member European soccer body UEFA
-
The settlement could open the door for some European leagues to play matches in the United States
-
Saudi Arabia will chair a United Nations commission on women, bringing condemnation from human rights groups, which said the kingdom still has an “abysmal” record on women’s rights.
-
Japan World Cup qualifier will not go ahead after surprise development
-
Even with the top continental ranking and players of vast international experience Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan squad faces a journey into the unknown in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against North Korea
-
Details of the sin bin trial were close to being published last month.
-
The 2026 World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, with the tournament expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches.
-
Luis Rubiales lost his appeal against a three-year ban for misconduct at the Women's World Cup final, including forcibly kissing star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips.
-
Luiz Antônio da Silva Braga, the leader of the largest militia group in the state of Rio de Janeiro, surrendered to federal police and was placed in isolation at a maximum security prison.
-
The European Court of Justice ruled that UEFA and FIFA acted contrary to EU competition law by blocking plans for a breakaway Super League.
-
The European Court of Justice ruled that FIFA and UEFA breached competition law by attempting to block the breakaway Super League.
-
FIFA defends the expansion of the Club World Cup, pointing to improved player welfare due to technological advances.
-
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is making significant investments in global sports, including acquiring golf leagues, signing top athletes, and aiming to host the 2034 World Cup.
-
Roma coach Jose Mourinho escaped a touchline ban after cooperating with the Italian soccer federation’s disciplinary prosecutor and was instead only fined 20,000 euros ($22,000) for labeling a referee unstable.