African football boss Patrice Motsepe offered an emphatic defence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, portraying him as a devoted steward of the game and friend of the continent. Infantino has faced growing criticism over FIFA’s decision to delay a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun at the recently concluded World Cup, as […]
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FIFA chief forced to defend Balogun World Cup reprieve
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino on Monday defended the decision to reprieve US World Cup star Folarin Balogun after Donald Trump said he had appealed directly to the head of world football’s governing body over the issue. Balogun, the US team’s outstanding player at the World Cup, had been set to miss the last-16 game against […]
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FIFA draws criticism as Infantino clocks up air miles at World Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been a busy man at this World Cup but his unquenchable thirst to pack in as many matches as possible is causing unrest among environmentalists who are questioning his indifference to climate change. Mexico City, Guadalajara, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Seattle, Kansas City, Houston: the Italo-Swiss boss has already […]
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World Cup in US ‘impossible without Trump’: Infantino
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday it would have been “impossible” to organise the World Cup in the United States without US President Donald Trump. Infantino has established a firm friendship with Trump, even awarding the president a newly created FIFA Peace Prize in December, before US military operations in Venezuela and Iran. “I […]
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World Cup nears kickoff after pre-tournament turbulence
The World Cup kicks off on Thursday with FIFA betting that the enduring appeal of the greatest footballing show on earth can rise above anger at soaring ticket prices, an uneasy political climate in Donald Trump’s America and the shadow of conflict in the Middle East.
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Norwegian football federation ask FIFA to probe Trump peace prize
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) said on Tuesday it had asked FIFA’s ethics committee to look into the world football governing body’s award of a peace prize to US President Donald Trump. FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarded Trump its inaugural peace prize during the December 6 draw for the 2026 World Cup. Later that month, […]
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FIFA chief Infantino confirms Iran playing in US at World Cup
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled on Thursday as he kicked off the global football body’s summit in Vancouver. Iran’s participation at this year’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States has been shrouded in uncertainty since the eruption of war […]
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Iran prepares for ‘proud and successful participation’
Iran appears to be looking forward to heading to the United States to compete the World Cup, where it will play New Zealand June 15 and Belgium June 21 in Inglewood and Egypt June 26 in Seattle. An Iranian government spokesperson told AP that Team Melli is preparing for “proud and successful participation,” suggesting it values the […]
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‘Iran will be at World Cup’ and play in USA, FIFA’s Infantino says
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told AFP Tuesday that Iran “will be at the World Cup” and will play their group matches in the United States as scheduled, despite the Middle East war. “Iran will be at the World Cup,” Infantino said at half-time of Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey. “That’s why we’re here. […]
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Iran War tests Trump-Infantino ‘bromance’
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran represents a serious challenge to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s relationship with President Donald Trump less than three months before the World Cup