fifa | DD News

October 17, 2025 11:05 PM

Swiss gambling watchdog files criminal complaint against FIFA platform

The Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority on Friday filed a criminal complaint against football's world governing body, Switzerland-based FIFA, over an online platform for trading digital football collectibles. The platform encourages users to collect and trade blockchain-based non-fungible tokens, or NFT, in return for special access to buy FIFA World Cup tickets. "During the investigation, suspicions were confirmed that collect.fifa.com offers gambling services that are not licensed in Switze...

October 14, 2025 5:23 PM

FIFA to help Gaza rebuild football infrastructure, says Infantino

IFA President Gianni Infantino pledged the governing body’s support to rebuild football infrastructure in Gaza as part of wider post-war reconstruction efforts following Monday's peace summit in Egypt. Infantino was among more than 20 world leaders who attended the gathering in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. "It’s something that is really important for FIFA to be here to support, to help, to assist, to make sure that this peace process comes to fruition," Infantino said after th...

September 24, 2025 10:48 PM

Afghan women’s refugee team to make tournament debut in UAE

The Afghan women's refugee team will take the field for the first time in an international tournament when they compete in a four-team friendly competition in the United Arab Emirates next month, world governing body FIFA said on Wednesday. The team's creation stems from the Taliban's ban on women's sports following their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, prompting players to flee the country fearing persecution. The "FIFA Unites: Women's Series" tournament will run from October 23-29 in Dubai ...

September 19, 2025 10:32 AM

Spain return to top of FIFA rankings, Germany drop outside top 10

Euro 2024 champions Spain have climbed to the top of the FIFA rankings for the first time in 11 years while Germany dropped out of the top 10, world soccer's governing body said. France moved up to second in the latest rankings published on Thursday with reigning World Cup champions Argentina slipping to third after their 1-0 loss to Ecuador in 2026 qualifying. Nations League winners Portugal climbed one spot to fifth. Germany dropped outside the top 10 for the first time in almost a year aft...

September 17, 2025 12:55 PM

FIFA to distribute record $355 million to clubs for 2026 World Cup

FIFA is set to distribute a record $355 million to clubs around the world as part of an expanded Club Benefits Programme (CBP) tied to the 2026 World Cup, soccer's world governing body announced on Tuesday. The initiative marks an increase of close to 70% from the $209 million paid out after the 2022 tournament in Qatar. For the first time, clubs that release players for World Cup qualifiers -- not just the finals -- will be compensated. The initiative is part of a renewed memorandum of under...

September 16, 2025 9:28 AM

France World Cup winner Umtiti retires at 31

Former Barcelona centre back Samuel Umtiti, a key figure in France's triumphant 2018 World Cup campaign, has announced his retirement at the age of 31. A product of Olympique Lyonnais' academy, Umtiti joined Barcelona in 2016 and made 133 appearances for the club, helping them to two LaLiga titles. Umtiti, whose career was hampered by chronic cartilage problems in his knee, last played for Ligue 1 club Lille. "After an intense career with ups and downs, the time has come to say goodbye ... I ...

September 12, 2025 10:25 AM

FIFA receives 1.5 million World Cup ticket applications in 24 hours

More than 1.5 million ticket applications from fans in 210 countries have been received by FIFA within 24 hours of the presale draw for the 2026 World Cup being launched, the governing body of world soccer said on Thursday. The extraordinary global demand for the tournament came primarily from the United States, Mexico and Canada, followed by Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, England, Spain, Portugal and Germany. The response highlighted the international appeal of the expanded 48-team tournament w...

September 10, 2025 4:47 PM

Extreme heat a rising threat to 2026 World Cup venues, says report

The 2026 World Cup could be North America's last without urgent climate adaptation measures, according to a new study highlighting extreme weather threats. The "Pitches in Peril" report, compiled by Football for the Future, Common Goal and Jupiter Intelligence, found that 10 of the 16 venues are at very high risk of experiencing extreme heat stress conditions. By 2050, nearly 90% of North America's host stadiums will require adaptation to extreme heat while one-third will face water demand equ...

September 10, 2025 4:47 PM

Bolivia seal playoff spot with win over Brazil, Argentina stunned by Ecuador

Bolivia shocked Brazil 1-0 to secure a spot in the intercontinental play-offs for next year's World Cup while Argentina suffered a 1-0 defeat by Ecuador in the final round of South America's 2026 qualifiers on Tuesday. Bolivia's Miguel Terceros converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time to secure the home win over five-times World Cup winners Brazil in La Paz, a result which saw Carlo Ancelotti's side drop to fifth in the standings. Bolivia will be joined in the playoffs by two teams from...

September 10, 2025 2:03 PM

Mbappe on the spot as France beat Iceland 2-1 in World Cup qualifier

France striker Kylian Mbappe scored one goal and set up another as the hosts came from behind to claim a fortunate 2-1 win against Iceland on Tuesday, maintaining their perfect start in World Cup qualifying Group D. The result left Didier Deschamps’s side top of the standings with six points from two games, three clear of Iceland. Ukraine and Azerbaijan have one point each after drawing 1-1 earlier on Tuesday. Iceland's Andri Lucas Gudjohnsen thought he had grabbed a dramatic equaliser two m...