Gazprom, an official partner of FIFA and the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, has announced the opening of the fifth season of the Football for Friendship (F4F) international children's social project, which will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, from 26 June to 3 July. The project, which is aimed at developing youth football and fostering respect towards different cultures and ethnicities from across the world, has expanded considerably in 2017, with the number of participating countries doubling from 32 to 64. This year, Mexico and USA will make their F4F debut, meaning the latest edition will bring together young footballers from the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. The ... FIFA.com - News
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Q&A with FIFA Deputy Secretary General Zvonimir Boban
One year on from the Extraordinary FIFA Congress 2016, FIFA Deputy Secretary General Zvonimir Boban spoke about the practical side of the reforms implemented and the new structure at the organisation. As part of the restructuring of FIFA into two distinct parts, you are responsible for the development of football and the execution of football operations. What is your assessment of the work done so far?FIFA’s new operating structure, devised by the FIFA President and approved by the Council, has brought about greater clarity and coherence on everybody’s roles and responsibilities. This has guaranteed that all the different departments are aligned in c... FIFA.com - News
FIFA extends ban of Timor-Leste FA General Secretary
FIFA can today confirm the worldwide extension of the ban imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary Committee on the General Secretary of the Timor-Leste Football Association, who was found guilty of using falsified documents in connection with the fielding of ineligible players by Timor-Leste. In accordance with art. 136ff of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the three-year ban imposed on Amândio de Araújo Sarmento from taking part in any kind of football-related activity to have worldwide effect. The relevant parties have been duly notified of the chairman’s decision. Members o... FIFA.com - News
FIFA To Expand World Cup, Radically Change Format Starting In 2026
The world’s biggest sporting event will grow even larger in the future. FIFA announced on its website Tuesday it has voted to expand the FIFA World Cup finals from 32 teams to 48 starting in 2026. The FIFA Council decided to expand the World Cup by unanimous decision. In the new format, the 48 teams will split into 16 groups of three. The top two teams in each group will then advance to a 32-team knockout phase. FIFA will continue to stage the tournament over 32 days, and no team will play more than seven games, as is the current practice. The news comes as no surprise to most, as World Cup expansion was one
Cristiano Ronaldo crowned Best FIFA Men’s Player
Cristiano Ronaldo has completed a clean sweep of major individual awards this season after being voted The Best FIFA Men's Player 2016 at a ceremony in Zurich.A month ago Ronaldo, 31, reclaimed the Ballon d'Or from Lionel Messi and in August was handed the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for a second time. Cristiano Ronaldo: My Portugal storyThose accolades were recognition for a memorable year in which Ronaldo lifted the UEFA Champions League before captaining his country to a first international... UEFA.com - News
Stewart sparks US pile-up
“Tainted” is how Eric Wynalda now describes USA’s 2-1 win over Colombia at the 1994 FIFA World Cup™. What should have been a joyful celebration of football taking root in the States has, as the US stalwart’s description acknowledges, become synonymous instead with the fateful own goal and subsequent murder of Andres Escobar. “As a team, we were very hesitant to talk about that game for that reason,” admitted Wynalda. “We didn’t want to dishonour him.”However, while the Escobar tragedy put football firmly in perspective, it should still be reflected that this match was a momentous milestone on the road to America embracing the beautiful game. Wynalda... FIFA.com - News
Sepp Blatter Loses FIFA Ban Appeal At CAS, Remains Outside Soccer Looking In
Share this: The punishment FIFA levied against Sepp Blatter appears to be final. The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Blatter’s six-year ban from soccer Monday after delivering a verdict against the former FIFA president, according to The Associated Press. World soccer’s governing body banned Blatter, its longtime head, for six years because it deemed a $2 million payment he made to former protoge Michel Platini in 2011 to be a violation of its code of ethics. “… Mr Blatter breached the FIFA code of ethics since the payment amounted to an undue gift as it had no contractual basis,” CAS said in a statement, per talkSport. “The panel further found that Mr Blatter unlawfully awarded contributions to Mr Platini under the FIFA Executive Committee