In our previous article, we presented the statistics from this World Cup in comparative terms and made an objective assessment. The conclusion was that the referees implemented what FIFA had asked for. What were these objectives? • Fewer fouls and fewer cards, while controlling the game through personality and appropriate body language. • Quick VAR […]
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World Cup 2026 refereeing (Part 1): Officiating how FIFA wanted it
A total of 104 matches were played. An average of 23 fouls were called per match—including matches that went to overtime—and this figure was lower than at recent World Cups.
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Gianni Infantino slams World Cup critics for ‘spreading hate’
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hit back at World Cup critics, claiming they were “spreading hate and false rumors” and arguing the tournament delivered “only joy and happiness.”
In a long open letter published on Monday, Infantino urged detractors to “take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray” after a tournament marked by controversies ranging from ticket pricing to visa issues.
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World Cup 2026 postscript: The full picture
It was the best of World Cups, it was the worst of World Cups. Yeah, so cliché, sorry, but Dickens nailed this one: The biggest, bestest, mostest, worstest World Cup we’ve ever seen, a parade of magic and light, and — Clockwork Roja aside — a parody of achievement. A collision of great performance and […]
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Norway set to make formal complaint to FIFA over Balogun red card saga
The Norges Fotballforbund (NFF) has already formally complained over FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarding soccer’s governing body’s inaugural Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, which was widely ridiculed. • Trump’s involvement in the Balogun affair sparked the controversy. • “When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,” said NFF president Lise Klaveness.
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Argentine soccer federation says the U.S. did not detain its president
Argentina’s top soccer officials firmly denied reports that their federation’s president and treasurer were detained and questioned upon leaving the USA after the World Cup final. The Federación Argentina de Fútbol (AFA) did acknowledge a U.S. investigation into a third party with links to the association. The AFA, headed by soccer heavyweight Tapia since 2017, is the subject of several investigations in Argentina.
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‘Beautiful game’ provides Venezuelans with welcome distraction in wake of tragedy
“Today more than ever, we remain united” reads the banner brandished by the players of Venezuelan club UCV prior to the first major sporting event hosted by the country since the twin earthquakes that killed over 5,000 last month. Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) played a South American Cup match against Brazilian legend Pele’s former […]
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CAF chief Motsepe backs Infantino despite criticism
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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On building a culture of winning …
What comes next for the USMNT program? “I want everyone who cares to focus on the U-17 and U-20 World Cups and the Olympics, where our stars of tomorrow compete against the best and build a culture of winning,” said U.S. Soccer secretary general and CEO JT Batson in an interview with Puck’s John Ourand released on Tuesday (🔒). A new […]
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World Cup final draws 66.4 million viewers
Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina shattered all U.S. viewing records for a soccer game after they had been shattered earlier in the tournament. The combined audience (Match window) on Fox and Telemundo platforms was 66.4 million viewers, the most for a non-NFL sportscast since the 1994 Winter Olympics. Fox reported it averaged […]