FIFA has confirmed it will work with Qatar on an expanded 48-team World Cup in 2022 that will involve at least one more country hosting games.
Football s governing body has already approved the increase for the 2026 tournament and is investigating the possibility of instituting the change four years ahead of schedule.
The FIFA Council met in Miami on Friday and accepted a feasibility study that recommended the need for neighbouring nations to provide hosting support to Qatar.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: We came to the conclusion that, yes, it is feasible to move the World Cup in 2022 from 32 to 48 teams provided, of course, that certain conditions are met.
To be very clear, today we have a World Cup in Qatar of 32 teams and it is great l…
Dorival Junior will get things right despite Brazil s underwhelming start to the Copa America, believes left-back Guilherme Arana, as the Selecao prepare to face Paraguay.
Brazil were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Costa Rica in their opening Group D match on Monday, losing ground on Colombia, who started with a win over Paraguay.
While Dorival praised aspects of his team s performance in that match, he acknowledged more will be needed in the final third if the Selecao are to challenge for a 10th South American crown.
Atletico Mineiro full-back Arana, who played the full 90 minutes last time out, praised Dorival s approach as he opened up on the coach s reaction to the result.
As soon as we entered the dressing room, he praised our pressing aft…
Italy were beaten a few days ago by North Macedonia in the semifinals of the play-offs of the World Cup qualifications, which means the European champions will not be playing in Qatar. It ll be the second consecutive World Cup they ve missed.
It may have come as a great shock for a lot of people, but England midfielder and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson rightly stresses the pressure the renowned football nations face with each qualifying process.
There is, however, a discernable air of gloating from the English press (not players) these days, clearly showing enduring pain from the defeat England suffered at the hands of the Azzurri in the Euro final at Wembley last year.
It does show how difficult qualification can be, sometimes take for granted and it s ex…
In what was the first Premier League contest of 2022, Arsenal and Manchester City certainly didn t disappoint in what turned out to be a real thriller at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime.
While the Gunners might have taken a more than deserved 1-0 lead heading into the half-time break, it was Pep Guardiola s defending champions who eventually snatched a last-gasp 2-1 victory in north London.
Briefly extending their buffer at the top of the table to double digits, the Sky Blues will undoubtedly look back on Saturday s result if they re able to make it back-to-back Premier League titles this season.
In a meeting that saw huge controversy at both ends of the Emirates pitch, we have taken a look at the key talking points.
City show all of their resolve
Wa…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has warned that he will be even better in 2014 after his superb hat-trick in the Coupe de France on Wednesday.
Sweden international Ibrahimovic fired home his first goals of the year against Ligue 2 side Brest in a 5-2 win for PSG, with Thiago Motta and Ezequiel Lavezzi also finding the net in a comfortable victory.
Ibrahimovic enjoyed a stellar 2013 as he helped PSG to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years, while also becoming the first man since 1990 to score 30 league goals in a season in the 2012-13 campaign.
The 32-year-old s treble at Brest saw him move 26 goals for the current season, and the former Milan and Barcelona man is confident of producing further strong performances.
I hope to improve my game and become even better in 2014, he …
Ronald Koeman said VAR has broken football after the Netherlands suffered Euro 2024 heartbreak against England in Wednesday s semi-final.
The Oranje looked to be on course for a final meeting with Spain when Xavi Simons fired home after seven minutes, but England levelled through Harry Kane s 18th-minute penalty before Ollie Watkins stepped off the bench to net a 90th-minute winner.
The penalty decision that led to Kane s leveller was a controversial one, with the England captain caught by Denzel Dumfries high boot having already got his shot off.
Referee Felix Zwayer awarded the spot-kick after being sent to the pitchside monitor, leaving Koeman to rail against VAR s impact.
In my opinion it should not have been a penalty, said Koeman.
He [Kane…
Barcelona are interested in signing Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina in the summer of 2023, . The report has claimed that former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona wanted to sign Amrabat in the January transfer window, but they could not agree on a deal with Serie A outfit Fiorentina.
The Blaugrana remain keen on Amrabat and will make a move again for the Morocco international midfielder at the end of the season. Fiorentina will ask for between €35 million and €40 million in transfer fees for the 26-year-old midfielder, who played for Morocco at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Amrabat has made 14 starts and four substitute appearances in Serie A for Fiorentina so far this season. The midfielder has also played five times in the UEFA Europa Conference League…
Giorgio Chiellini feels Juventus have improved in the two years since their Champions League final defeat, but he remains wary of the threat holders Real Madrid pose.
Juve were beaten 3-1 by Barcelona in the 2015 showpiece, with Chiellini missing out through injury as his side were outclassed in Berlin.
However, the Bianconeri knocked Barca out at the quarter-final stage of this season s competition and the experienced centre-back is optimistic of their chances in Cardiff, despite Madrid s class.
Our start to the match will be crucial, Chiellini told a news conference. We have to be organised – that s essential in a one-off game and it gives you the best chance of reading the play.
We meet a team that have won this trophy twice in the last three year…
Former captain Faye White says the lack of media attention after England’s run to the European Championship final in 2009 was “soul destroying”.
The 45-year-old, who skippered the Lionesses for their 6-2 defeat to Germany in the final in Helsinki, was present on Monday to unveil a message of support laid out beneath the flight path out of Heathrow Airport for Sarina Wiegman’s side before they fly to Australia for the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday.
The message, large enough to be visible to the England party as their plane ascends over west London, reads “Lionesses, you’re our pride,” and is tagged with thousands of smaller messages of support submitted by fans across the country.
The move, which has been organised by one of the Football Associati…
The Thanksgiving holiday has everyone in a hurry, trying to wrap up a week’s worth of work in just three days while looking ahead to an extended break and eating turkey – in some form – for every meal. But in the midst of that holiday hoopla, things get missed and the work that is produced isn’t as sharp as usual.
The same things happen on the football field every week of the NFL season, as teams fall victim to situational spots that test their focus and fortitude. And there lies the value of NFL spot bets.
We scour the Week 12 slate – including the Thanksgiving Day games – for the best letdown, lookahead and schedule NFL spot bets to know before your place your bets.
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