FIFA have warned Donald Trump his travel ban on mainly-Muslim nations could ruin the USA’s bid to hold the 2026 World Cup. Gianni Infantino, president of football’s ruling body, stressed that host nations must allow in all 48 teams who qualify, plus their fans. US president Trump‘s second executive order imposed bans on 33rd-ranked football […]
IN 1970, in the build-up to England’s defence of the World Cup, skipper Bobby Moore was accused of stealing a necklace in Bogota, Colombia. Moore was arrested and then released and then travelled with the Alf Ramsey’s team to play another a match against Ecuador. But when the team plane stopped back in Colombia on the […]
AN expanded World Cup was always going to be approved by the FIFA Council – but it is still a bad idea. Club tournaments like the Champions League have been tweaked to the benefit of the greedy, major clubs while international football tournaments are being expanded to keep the small guys happy. Unsurprisingly, it is […]
ENGLAND could benefit greatly from a 48-team World Cup, it has been claimed. Fifa members have voted to expand football’s greatest competition despite fierce protests from major nations. It means there will now be 16 groups of three teams and a whopping 80 matches played in total, instead of the 64 played now. It’s been […]
FIFA have unanimously voted to increase the World Cup to 48 teams. It is the first expansion of the tournament since France 98 and represents a huge change in structure. President Gianni Infantino – who replaced Sepp Blatter In February 2016 – has championed the move which will net the governing body an extra £521million in profit. Here we […]