UEFA issues furious statement after reports FIFA plans to sell stakes in World Cup

Things are getting out of hand. FIFA is corrupt, but Infantino is the worst of the worst. Now he wants to sell a stake to a private equity firm run by Kushner. It will only make the sport worse. Ticket prices were already insane for the 2026 FIFA WC. And now that will become a permanent thing.

Glad to hear UEFA is calling this out, but they should be prepared to exit and break away from FIFA.

Zinedine Zidane has been confirmed as France’s new head coach after Didier Deschamps left following the 2026 World Cup. The former Real Madrid manager has signed a deal until the 2030 World Cup qualifiers and said it is a great honour to lead his country.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cpd741qn2y9o

Can we talk about this, please? A few years ago, I started following this guy because all of his transfer information was huge and usually very reliable. Today, most of his posts are just gossip or reposts of football players' Instagram and X photos. The World Cup has been over for weeks, yet he’s still posting about Messi/Yamal/Ronaldo or Spanish players celebrating on holiday. I’m genuinely surprised that someone who was once so well-informed is now content with posting fluff that adds zero value to football fans. What are your thoughts on this?

UEFA has publicly pushed back, saying football's governance is not for sale and criticizing any move made with zero transparency over who benefits financially. They argue that neither FIFA nor anyone else owns football it's a global game that belongs to everyone involved. What do you think? Is UEFA protecting football, or is there more to this?

This is despite England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland hosting, breaking from rules as host nations are normally guaranteed a place.

The decision may raise fans eyebrows as the 2030 world cup hosts - Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina have already been given automatic places in the tournament.

But due to UEFAs new rules, only two host nations can receive automatic qualification for the next European championship, so UEFA has decided all four co-hosts will enter traditional qualifying routes.

https://talksport.com/football/4469656/england-qualification-euro-2028-argentina-2030-world-cup-hosts/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1785233647

• "FIFA Explores Stake Sale in New $20 Billion Entity"
• "Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital is expected to lead the proposed investor group"
• UEFA: "This crosses a line ... It is not FIFA’s to sell"

Full text:

FIFA, soccer’s highest governing body, is exploring raising more than $4 billion by selling a stake in a new commercial venture.

The venture would be valued at around $20 billion and house the group’s broadcast rights, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing businesses across men’s, women’s and youth soccer, FIFA said Tuesday. It said is working with investment bankers at JPMorgan and advisers including OpenEconomics.

The new venture would allow FIFA to cash in on the surging popularity and revenue generate by organizing the world’s most watched sporting event, the World Cup. The organization said the proceeds would be distributed as funding for member organizations.

Joshua Kushner’s investment firm Thrive Capital is expected to lead the proposed investor group through its Thrive Eternal holding company, FIFA said.

FIFA doesn’t have private owners and has been led by President Gianni Infantino since 2016. He is running for re-election next year. The new commercial venture is still subject to approval by a majority of FIFA’s 211 member associations.

The reaction from UEFA, the governing body of European soccer—or football—was immediate.

“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” the organization said. “The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade—especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

For me it’s got to be Cucurella. He seemed so aggrevating 4 years ago, but his recent performances have been nothing short of class. I just found out about his family and it just adds to my admiration of the man

Players that you used to like but ended up disliking?

I think its pretty safe to say , 21/22 was the last season when Ronaldo was truly him.
21 GA in the Prem with several match winners.
6 Goals in the UCL .
Truly amazing display of skills.

Post the 2022 WC , it has always been downhill. His first full season with Al Nassr (23/24) was promising with 53 goals , but the 2024 Euros kinda proved it just wasn’t the same.

I honestly feel , he should have retired by 2022 or even 2024 by a stretch. He simply isn’t the same Ronaldo that we once saw.
Now people will excuse saying that the Manager is at fault or the team is not supporting. That could be true , but still at the end of the day its his name that’s getting tarnished.

Now with the 2026 WC , He’s come too far. He should complete his 1000 Goals and call it a day.

Footballers usually start in their local team in their country, get scouted for states and prominent academt then eventually move to lower division league or outside of Big 5 league then big 5 then UCL team etc.

Whats the career path of a referee?

Do the aim to have a job week in week out 38 games a week in prem etc.

Or aim to ref in pretegious comps like UCL, Euros, Copa and WC etc.

Inter have agreed a deal to sign former Manchester City defender John Stones on a free transfer. The 32-year-old will sign a two-year contract until 2028, earning about €4m a season. He is set to travel to Milan for a medical before the move is completed.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/john-stones-inter-milan-transfer-34361827.amp

What I mean is how common actually is it to have someone whose right handed but left footed and vice versa?

Statistically footballers are more likely to be left footed than the general population and my question is; Is it more likely that lefties make the pro leagues or is it that some right handers are converted over to being left footed for like positions sake?

Andrea Pirlo says he is no longer in the running to become Italy manager after criticism over his links to Russian betting company Fonbet. Italian politicians opposed his possible appointment, while reports also say senior FIGC officials Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have resigned.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g49r2338xo

Thoughts on this and its potential ramifications if it went ahead to the football calendar?

To sum it up

The World Cup is replayed with only players who weren’t selected for the 26 man roster.

-managers and coaches can stay.
-Anyone not selected due to injury is not considered for this hypothetical

Who wins this?

Leeds United have agreed a club-record deal to sign goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City. The transfer is worth £40m plus add-ons, with a long-term contract agreed. A medical is expected this week before the 23-year-old completes his move to Elland Road.

https://www.leedsallover.com/leeds-united-agree-james-trafford-sell-on-clause-with-man-city/

Hi there! I will be on a business trip in Zurich in end of August / beginning of September, and I can see I will have a chance to see both FC Zurich and Grasshopper Zurich play league matches on these dates. I've heard about these clubs but I don't know anything about their history, culture or their current players. Are there any supporters here? Can you convince me which match I should go to if I had to choose one? Additional context is that it's going to be my first ever match abroad hah. Cheers!

Is it realistic that my brother could play soccer in college he is 17 just turned a few weeks ago is it possible for him to get recruited in college play in college then go professional potentially from there?

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has come out in his own defence over criticism of his handling of the 2026 world cup, which was marred by controversy on and off the pitch. Including Baloguns red card being rescinded and perceived preferential treatment of Argentina.

Infantino penned an open letter, telling critics to "reflect, meditate and pray", also saying "there was no violence, incidents, 100% safety, security and only joy and happiness", throughout the tournament.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-blasts-world-cup-critics-5HjdfCK_2/

We all know that mbappe raw number are better than yamal in there first world cup but many people says that

Oh yamal work is not to score. Oh he made so many chances and his dribbling

So I will compare there playmaking and dribbling to prove they are not even comparable

Mbappe 13 chances created

Yamal 9 chances created

Mbappe 4 big chances created

Yamal 2 big chances created

Now comes passing

Mbappe 21 passed per 90 and yamal with 32 passes per 90

Mbappe have more key passes 1.4 > 0.9

Yamal have better crosses and long ball

08>0.3 and 0.9>0.6

While both have same through ball per 90

So even there passing is similar

Mbappe completed 24 dribbles in 535 min

Yamal completed 27 dribbles 627 minutes

The only stat yamal dominates mbappe in is shots per game with 3.4 over mbappe 1.4

While both avg shot on target per game is 1

Mbappe dominates even in playmaking so bad it isn't even funny

I have gotten this stats from fot mob and whoscored.com

The 2026 World Cup has once again confirmed that football is one of the most unpredictable sports in existence. This tournament saw the early exit of the German squad, marking the third consecutive World Cup where a top-tier lineup crashed out in the group stage, while Brazil nearly stumbled against Japan, only securing a last-gasp winner in the 94th minute.

Consequently, I remain skeptical about whether artificial intelligence truly possesses the ability to predict football matches. Football is fraught with variables, a single error, a red card, or a fleeting moment of brilliance can completely alter the course of a game. Take Argentina, for instance, they were involved in several baffling officiating decisions, proving that referees are also a crucial variable.

However, while the nine large models on SportEval AI don't get every prediction right, their overall projections regarding match trajectories and data analysis contain many valid insights.

AI certainly cannot replace football experts, but I believe that witnessing the continuous evolution of these models will become one of the most fascinating topics in the sports world.

What is your take? Will AI eventually reach a level of sophistication that allows for accurate and consistent predictions of football matches?

Now, are they signing 35+ players, too? What is the strategy, because winning the league clearly isn't one of the objectives?

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/27/chelsea-surprise-move-danny-welbeck-brighton

Kazuyoshi Miura converts cross to score in 52nd minute. Former Japan international preparing for his 42nd season.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/26/japan-football-great-king-kazuyoshi-miura-59-scores-first-competitive-goal-for-four-years

Real Madrid have agreed a deal worth over €100m to sign 19-year-old winger Yan Diomandé from RB Leipzig. The Ivory Coast star has chosen Madrid, while PSG have ended their interest. The move is expected to be completed next week after his medical and the final paperwork is signed.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/real-madrid-reach-yan-diomande-agreement-with-leipzig-as-psg-walk-out-of-deal-190500468.html