Back once again with the world-famous Weekend Crossword. Think of your favourite trios and you might go with Neymar/Messi/Suarez or Milan/Inter/Juventus – perhaps, if you’re Gianni Infantino, you’d pick power, corruption and lies. But for us, there’s nothing better for a Saturday morning than the real Big Three: cup of tea, lie-in and FourFourTwo Weekend … Read more
Foden started for England in their 2024 European Championship final defeat by Spain but missed out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Three Lions reached the semi-finals of the tournament before losing 2-1 to Argentina, and Foden said it was hard watching them walk out for the national … Read more
Fifa and Infantino wanted to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including its World Cups, with external investors able to buy stakes in it. It said it would “invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments” in a new subsidiary – Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE). Infantino set a deadline of 19 September … Read more
Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell chunks of the World Cup to private investors has sensationally collapsed, with the Fifa president admitting the project “has created divisions of a nature that are no longer of the interest of the objective”, amid widespread anger globally. The plan had caused ructions within football around the world, leading Uefa … Read more
Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson agreed with McInnes that there is no need to panic. “It’s not the result Rangers wanted, but it is a point away from home at a difficult venue,” he said on BBC Radio Scotland. “Other teams will come here and find it very difficult. “At this point in the season, … Read more
Thelo Aasgaard earned Derek McInnes his first point as Rangers manager as they fought back for a 1-1 draw against Dundee United. Lachlan Rose struck the first goal of the Premiership season to give United a half-time lead at Tannadice. Rangers lacked control in possession in the opening period but they looked more threatening after … Read more
It wasn’t the World Cup that Germany had hoped for following an early exit in the round of 32, thus stretching its drought of not reaching at least the semifinals to three tournaments. The four-time champions weren’t tabbed to win it all, but there’s always expectations of a deep run for this team. Things started … Read more
Victor Montagliani (Concacaf president) Like Infantino, he was elected in 2016 promising governance reform. A former president of Canada Soccer, as co-chair, Montagliani was heavily involved in the build up to, and delivery of the 2026 World Cup, the first to be hosted by three nations. He is fluent in French, Italian and Spanish, as … Read more
After beating MK Dons 3-0 in a training-ground friendly last weekend, Arsenal truly begin their pre-season programme against Girona on Saturday evening. It marks a return to action for the Premier League champions, who will want to show their success last season was not a one-off. Retaining the English title is incredibly difficult if you … Read more
What has been happening? It has been a week that has rocked football. The news caught everyone by surprise. When reports first emerged on Tuesday afternoon that Fifa, world football’s governing body, was to launch a vehicle to control the commercial rights to the World Cup, and would sell a stake of this company to … Read more