Goalkeeper Patrick Beach made eight saves for the Socceroos in their group opener on Saturday night as FIFA President Gianni Infantino looked on.
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Australia coach Popovic had pulled off a massive shock in his starting lineup, dropping experienced captain and goalkeeper Maty Ryan in favour of Beach, winning only his third cap.
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Vice-captain Jackson Irvine was also dropped in favour of 21-year-old midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler in a starting XI that featured 10 World Cup debutants.
Both of those selections proved to be inspired, with Beach pulling off a string of fine saves to deny Turkiye, who dominated possession and territory but could not find a way past the Australian goalkeeper.
Okon-Engstler meanwhile was instrumental in setting up the opening goal in the first half, unleashing a long ball that split the Turkish defence and sent Irankunda racing in on goal to score.
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Turkiye – playing in the World Cup for the first time since finishing third at the 2002 tournament – arrived in North America dreaming of making a serious run in the knockout rounds.
But their talented team made up largely of players who regularly compete in the European Champions League were unable to get to grips with a well-organised Socceroos lineup.
One of Turkiye’s best chances came in the 27th minute when Real Madrid’s Arda Guler forced a smart save from Beach with a rasping shot.
Just seconds after that chance though Australia took the lead.
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Beach picked out Okon-Engstler deep in the Australia half, and the 21-year-old midfielder pumped the ball upfield for Irankunda.
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The Australia winger still had plenty to do but a clever first touch took him clear of the covering defence before he tucked away a low finish.
Irankunda celebrated by sprinting to the edge of the pitch and pretending to box the corner flag, mimicking former Australia skipper Tim Cahill’s signature goal celebration.
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Turkiye thought they had equalised three minutes later after Abdulkerim Bardakci’s piledriver from outside of the area hurtled towards goal.
But Beach got the slightest of fingertips to divert the ball onto the post and Australia survived again.
Beach kept up his commanding form in the second half, turning a Guler free-kick wide for a corner on 57 minutes.
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With Beach continuing to make save after save, Australia made the game safe in the 75th minute when Metcalfe picked the ball up in midfield, advanced on goal and shot home from 25 yards.
“Unreal, it is a dream come true. We have got the win now,” said Irankunda, the youngest men’s World Cup scorer for Australia and not a definite starter before kick-off.
“It feels amazing, you have got to thank the staff, thank the nation, they have got the belief in me.”
Australia are playing in their sixth straight World Cup and seventh overall.
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The Socceroos fell to France in the opener in Qatar but then beat Tunisia and Denmark in their group before getting knocked out by eventual champions Argentina in the round of 16.
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It is the third World Cup appearance for Turkiye, who reached the tournament for the first time in 1954.
The teams are in Group D with the United States and Paraguay. The Americans thrashed Paraguay 4-1 in their group opener on Friday in Los Angeles.
India’s flagship track and field star Neeraj Chopra returns to the Commonwealth Games stage tonight as he competes in the Men’s Javelin Throw Final at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow. Having captured gold at Gold Coast 2018 and missed out on Birmingham 2022 due to an injury, Chopra aims to reclaim the Commonwealth crown in what promises to be one of the most high-octane field finals of the Games.
The final is scheduled to start at 12:45 AM IST on Saturday, August 1.
Overcoming tricky Commonwealth Games Glasgow weather in qualification
Neeraj Chopra sealed his place in the 12-man final after posting a best mark of 79.61m on his second attempt during Thursday’s preliminary round. While the mark remained below his usual standards and national record of 90.23m, it proved more than enough to place fifth overall in a qualification session heavily disrupted by cold temperatures and unpredictable crosswinds.
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No thrower in the 18-man qualifying field managed to cross the automatic qualification benchmark of 84.00m. Speaking after the round, Chopra noted that the primary focus was simply securing a spot in the final round without overexerting in severe conditions.
Heavyweight line-up awaits in the final of Javelin Throw at Commonwealth Games
The field assembled for the Glasgow final represents one of the deepest lineups in Commonwealth Games history:
Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan): The reigning Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion qualified seventh with a throw of 78.63m.
Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (Sri Lanka): The rising South Asian star topped qualification with an 82.84m effort and enters with a world-leading 92.62m personal best set earlier this season.
Anderson Peters (Grenada) and Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago): Global champions who add immense championship experience to the 12-man final.
India’s triple presence in Glasgow final
India enters the final as the only country with three throwers competing for medals. Joining Chopra in the final are Rohit Yadav, who qualified ninth with a throw of 78.37m, and Yash Vir Singh, who placed tenth with a mark of 78.36m. With three Indian throwers in peak form and an elite international field, tonight’s Javelin Throw final at Scotstoun Stadium is set to be one of the marquee events of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is coming off the physically unable to perform list as he continues his comeback from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The move clears Kraft to return to practice, though Packers coach Matt LaFleur said the 2023 third-round draft pick wouldn’t be participating in team drills for now.
“We’re just going to kind of get him back ingrained into the process and into individual,” LaFleur said before the Packers’ practice Friday. “What’s great is when they do come off PUP, then now he can partake in some of the walk-through periods, especially that we do in the evenings, just to get him back hearing the call, lining up and then just going through that.”
Kraft caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games last season before tearing his right ACL on Nov. 2 during a 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The week before his injury, Kraft caught seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-25 victory at Pittsburgh.
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Kraft said during Green Bay’s mandatory minicamp in June that he expected to be ready for the Sept. 13 season opener at Minnesota and that he believed he was playing as well as any tight end in the NFL at the time of his injury.
This isn’t the first time Kraft opened a training camp on the PUP list. It also happened in 2024 after he tore a pectoral muscle that May.
“I was on the PUP for the start of a training camp going into the 2024 season, so came off the PUP and I played a full year completely healthy,” Kraft said Wednesday. “So that that’s the goal this time, is when I come off the PUP, there’s, you know, obviously some guardrails for me there initially as far as some activations, getting acclimated to the team reps and things like that, but playing the rest of the year fully healthy.”
Alas Pilipinas women’s team ahead of its match vs Vietnam in the SEA V Cup Legi 1 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas women’s team succumbed to Vietnam, 27-29, 17-25, 25-20, 19-25, in the opening day of SEA V Cup Leg 1 on Friday evening at Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi.
After losing in the first two sets, Alas put up a gallant stand in the third with Bella Belen scoring two consecutive kills, followed by Jia De Guzman’s 1-2 play to mount a 23-17 lead.
Vietnam answered with three straight points before Dell Palomata scored off the block to reach set point, 24-20. Belen closed out the set to extend the match.
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However, the home team was quick to recover and dominate the fourth to seal their first win, with Tran Thi Thanh Thuy leading the charge.
Japanese coach Taka Minowa’s debut as Alas Pilipinas coach was spoiled by the Vietnamese.
Alas Pilipinas, the winner of four straight bronze medals in the tournament since 2024, will have a short turnaround as it faces Thailand on Saturday at 5 p.m.
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The Filipinos nearly snatched the first set after Erika Santos and Bella Belen sent Alas to set point, 24-23, but Thuy forced a deuce for the Vietnamese.
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Palomata scored crucial hits, but Alyssa Solomon’s attack error sent the host to set point, 27-26, before Eya Laure saved a point. Thuy then put on the finishing touches, capped by a block on Solomon, to complete Vietnam’s comeback from Alas’ 5-1 start.
Vietnam, eyeing a second straight crown after ruling last year’s Leg 2, takes on Indonesia next.
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Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, Ireland; Pittsburgh Steelers fans cheer during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL International Series game at Croke Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Kevin O’Connell lived up to his word. The skipper said Caleb Banks would be ready for the beginning of training camp and that proved to be true.
Seeing the hulking defensive lineman get onto the field should be understood as being very positive. Recent years have seen the Vikings fall short of expectations in large part due to the young lads not contributing a ton. Put simply, that trend needs to reverse if the Vikings are going get to where they want to go in 2026 and beyond.
The Vikings: Caleb Banks is Practicing
The Vikings’ social media understands that getting the 1st-Round selection onto the field is a major development. Check out the brief clip:
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Of course, there’s not a ton that can be gleaned from just the brief moments. Nothing overly spectacular gets included but seeing Banks explode into the bag is a reminder of his power. Any lineman needs to be able to uncoil his hips to give his mitts power. Banks, in theory, should be a force in this regard given his unusually impressive build.
Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) participates in a drill during spring football practice at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 1, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
Consider what his upside looks like from the perspective of the pre-draft assessment.
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The analysis from Lance Zierlein on the NFL’s website: “Big-framed, long-limbed interior defender whose play needs more polish to consistently match his traits. Banks has a quick first step. He can stun/control single blocks when his hand strikes are timely and accurate, but he needs faster disengagement to increase his tackle count.”
Further from Zierlein: “His high center of gravity allows double teams to generate displacement, so a move to odd-front end could be in his best interest as a run defender. Like a grappler without submission knowledge, Banks is still learning to unlock his physical advantages so he can turn them into sacks. His traits and flashes at the Senior Bowl make him an enticing prospect, but injury concerns are a potential stumbling block for him.”
Part of the concern with being hurt is the lost reps for “polish.”
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Consider, as a clarifying example, the development of J.J. McCarthy. The young passer doesn’t lack for raw talent but his mechanics have sometimes been off. As a result, the play at quarterback hasn’t always been up to the Vikings’ standard. How often have Minnesota’s decision makers pointed toward the missed practice time as the reason for McCarthy’s Sunday struggles?
Similarly, the Vikings are betting on a 1st-Round selection with great athletic ability in Caleb Banks. He, too, is coming to the Twin Cities with a pile upside but in need of further refinement. Getting Mr. Banks onto the field to soak up that ultra-specific coaching from Ryan Nielsen is a great update for the Vikings.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Two things remain uncertain: can the kid stay healthy and can he snatch away a starter’s job in time for Week 1? Only time can offer certainty here.
The surest bet along the defensive line can be found in Jalen Redmond. He’s no longer just a good story (but he is still that). Rather, he has become a weekly difference maker who is looking to get recognized around the NFL instead of just in the Minnesota area. Think those early Adam Thielen days before he started getting love around that league. That’s where Redmond finds himself.
Don’t be surprised if Redmond earns a Pro Bowl spot after the 2026 season.
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Otherwise, the main names to know belong to Levi Drake Rodriguez, Ty Ingram-Dawkins (possibly more of an edge rusher now), Domonique Orange, and Elijah Williams. Can the unheralded fellas — Eric Johnson, Smith Vilbert, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Taki Taimani, and so on — assert themselves in the coming weeks?
Caleb Banks, 23, stands at 6’6″ and 325 pounds. Health permitting, Banks will become a very good player.
Jan 7, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) catches a pass for a touchdown during second half of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
All along, Vikings pass catcher Jordan Addison has oozed ability. He has had a quiet offeseason, a great development for the fourth-year receiver who has been playing well.
Will Ragatz of Bring Me the News sent along a short video after the debut training camp practice. Within the broader update, Ragatz notes that Minnesota’s WR2 was “just everywhere.” In fact, Ragatz suggested that an uneducated onlooker might conclude that “Addison is the Vikings’ best receiver.” Being “all over the field” is a nice update for the young fella who could be careening toward a “huge year.”
Jordan Addison as a Vikings Pass Catcher Ready to Explode
Opting for Mr. Addison at No. 23 in the 2023 NFL Draft seems obvious now but wasn’t fully so at the time.
Many, myself included, felt like Minnesota should go for a corner. Instead, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made a great move by choosing the USC receiver with speed to spare. He instantly became the Vikings’ second most lethal threat in the passing game, proving to be fully capable of overcoming a modest build to create room on the field.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) reaches for a pass against New York Giants cornerback Cordale Flott (28), Dec. 21, 2025, during the first half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Addison battled through tight coverage along the sideline as Minnesota’s offense attacked the Giants secondary in a late-season NFC matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.
As a rookie, Jordan Addison turned 108 targets into 70 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. Of particular promise is the 13.0 yards-per-catch average alongside the ability to put points on the board. Not everyone can be so lethal at getting the pigskin into the end zone.
#Vikings QB Kyler Murray and WR Jordan Addison have been working out together for the past 2 months in Dallas.
Both players reported to Minnesota early this week to prepare for the start of training camp, with hopes of a big year ahead 🚀 pic.twitter.com/HWQ9HfrtoY
Addison has since had more modest seasons. Some of that has been due to missing time. In 2024, Addison played in just fifteen games due to injury. He then dropped down to fourteen games in 2025 due to suspension. Worse yet, the disaster at quarterback pushed his production down even further: 42 catches for 610 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Now, not every problem can be pinned on the passer.
Last season, Mr. Addison struggled with drops. He tossed up his highest amount — 6 — even though he played in the lowest amount of games in his career. In fact, Addison’s half dozen drops last year exceed his combined total as a rookie and sophomore, which come in at 5. His drop percentage skyrocketed to 7.6% after 2.8% in 2023 and 2.0% in 2024.
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The early days of training camp have seen Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy battle in front of coaches, teammates, and even some fans. Whoever earns the job will need to show a strong rapport with Addison since he’s the main way to hurt the defense when the other side is going all out on slowing Justin Jefferson.
Dec 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) catches a pass as Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith (32) defends during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Motivation shouldn’t be an issue for the young fella. A player can get extended after his third season. Addison is now at that stage but hasn’t seen his deal adjusted apart from getting the 5th-year option on his rookie deal picked up.
At minimum, the Vikings appear committed to a pair more seasons of employing him. What he does in 2026 and 2027 will largely influence his ability to pull the Vikings to the negotiation table to get the finishing touches done on a meaty extension.
Jordan Addison is 24. Seeing him clear 1,000 yards should become normal for him.
Godswill Akpabio United FC have officially unveiled Edward Green as their new head coach after he signed a two-year contract with the Nigeria National League (NNL) club in Uyo on Friday.
Green takes over from Lawrence Kingsley and will lead the team into the 2026/27 season.
The appointment is a major step in Green’s coaching career as it is his first time leading a professional football club as head coach.
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Before this move, Green worked as an assistant coach at Akwa United, Sporting Lagos and Rivers United, where he gained valuable experience and earned respect for his tactical knowledge.
Speaking after his unveiling, Green expressed his happiness at joining the club.
“It is a privilege to become Head Coach of Godswill Akpabio United.
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“I believe in the vision of this football club and I am excited to begin this journey. Together with the players, technical staff and supporters, we will work tirelessly to build a competitive team that reflects the values and ambitions of this great club.”
Green started his coaching career with Ikot Ekpene United before spending five successful years as assistant manager at Akwa United. He later moved to Sporting Lagos and then Rivers United, adding more experience in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
He is also one of the few Nigerian coaches who holds a UEFA C coaching licence, showing his commitment to learning and developing as a coach.
Godswill Akpabio United will now hope Green can use his experience to help the club achieve its goals in the Nigeria National League.
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With a two-year contract in place, all eyes will be on the new coach as he begins his first job as head coach of a professional football club.
Leading horse trainer Ciaron Maher has officially declared Crown Lodge in Warwick Farm his long-term Sydney home, anticipating an amplified metropolitan presence in the forthcoming racing seasons.
Maher had initially intended to establish his Sydney operations at Leilani Lodge in Randwick and had commenced refurbishments there before the opportunity to secure Crown Lodge presented itself.
The successful relocation has already borne fruit, with Rock Empire becoming the first winner to come from Maher’s new Sydney headquarters at Randwick last Saturday.
Maher conveyed that the transition from his Bong Bong property in the NSW Southern Highlands, which accommodated 60 horses, had been smooth.
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“It’s probably the best stable in New South Wales, and not surprisingly,” Maher said of Crown Lodge.
“I was rapt to get in there. We were going to come to Randwick, but we thought this may have been an option. It’s a real showcase and the horses have settled straight away.”
“Bong Bong is a fantastic facility, but there are sixty boxes there and I had one hundred horses. I needed a bigger facility. This is perfect. It consolidates it.”
While Maher will continue to manage his Bob’s Farm base near Newcastle, Crown Lodge will function as his primary Sydney stable. The trainer is slated to officially inaugurate the complex this week and hopes to celebrate with a victory at Saturday’s Rosehill meeting.
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Maher has accepted with three runners at Rosehill to mark the start of the new racing season, including It’s A Knockout in the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1500m).
The mare has drawn barrier 12 of 13, prompting Maher to consider whether she will participate or be saved for the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) on August 7.
He was encouraged by her return to form, finishing runner-up to Mickey’s Medal at Randwick in her most recent start.
“It was good to see her back and hitting the line (last start),” Maher stated.
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“She could have drawn a bit nicer, but what do you do?
“Whether we run here or not, she could end up at Coffs. We’ll see how the race looks and how the track is.”
Maher trained 45 Sydney metropolitan winners from 377 starters in the 2025/26 season, finishing sixth in the Sydney trainers’ premiership. He is confident that the expanded facilities at Crown Lodge will enable his stable to become a more formidable force.
“I do feel we will, for sure. Naturally, because it’s a bigger facility,” he remarked.
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“I’m really looking forward to the next year, and five years.
“I’m pretty excited with where the business is at, and where it’s headed.”
Check the latest racing odds for the main race at Australia’s leading racing odds.
Marcus Rashford’s future of Manchester United is still a huge uncertainty despite the fact he looked set to depart Old Trafford this summer
Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has warned the club may get stung if they sell Marcus Rashford to a Premier League rival. Rashford, 28, remains a United player after Barcelona chose not to exercise their option to buy him permanently.
Speaking to Andy’s Bet Club, Meulensteen, when asked if the situation could be similar to United’s decision to sell Scott McTominay, who has gone on to star for Napoli, replied: “Would selling Marcus Rashford be a repeat of selling Scott McTominay?
“I don’t think people see Scott McTominay the same way. He moved because the club wanted to sell, and he has done brilliantly since. People might wonder if United sold him too early.
“But selling Marcus Rashford to a direct competitor like Arsenal or Chelsea could really hurt you. He is still a player who can make a difference. Ideally, if United sell him, they should sell him abroad.”
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Meulensteen also encouraged Carrick to have a dialogue with Rashford to see where his head is at and how he could be of use to the Reds. He added: “Michael Carrick is the type of person who recognises Marcus’s qualities.
“They need an open conversation so Marcus understands what is required. Michael Carrick won’t want to bring someone back if it creates another problem. If the clarity is there, he would be happy to bring him back into the fold.
“However, with the other players available, there wouldn’t be a guaranteed start every week. The fact that it is taking so long to find clarity suggests there is still something brewing in the background. If all parties were happy for him to come back, they would likely have made that clear very quickly.”
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In terms of attacking options, United’s main threats are Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount often operating in the space behind the striker.
Patrick Dorgu was also repackaged as a left-winger under Carrick, where he scored many key goals before injury sapped his momentum last season. United still have more pre-season friendlies to play.
They face Atletico Madrid in Stockholm tomorrow, Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8, Leeds United in Dublin on the 12th and AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland on the 15th, before their Premier League campaign begins against Hull City on August 22nd.
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Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
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Official premium experiences at Old Trafford are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.
The football world was rocked earlier this week when it was reported that FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, was planning to sell a stake in a new commercial subsidiary to private equity investors close to US President Donald Trump, prompting widespread outrage.
European football’s governing body, UEFA, quickly condemned the plans with its 55 member associations voting unanimously to boycott future FIFA competitions — including the next men’s World Cup in 2030 but potentially starting with the under-20 Women’s World Cup on September 5 — were the plans to be implemented.
The Europeans soon received backing from CONCACAF, the regional body representing 41 North American and Caribbean football federations, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) with its 47 members, technically robbing Infantino of majority support among FIFA’s 211 member associations (MAs).
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FIFA advisor Cordeiro steps down
On Friday, the pressure on FIFA grew even more when Carlos Cordeiro, former head of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and more recently a senior advisor to both Infantino and President Trump during this year’s men’s World Cup, resigned in protest at the plans, which he described as a “bad deal for football.”
Carlos Cordeiro (center left) was a senior advisor to US President Trump (left) and FIFA President Infantino (second from right)Image: Daniel Torok/Avalon/Photoshot/picture alliance
In statement, Cordeiro, 69-year-old former partner at Goldman Sachs, questioned why FIFA needed to seek private equity investment at all given its unprecedented World Cup profits, and criticized a lack of transparancy, oversight and due process surrounding the plans.
“FIFA already has access to extraordinary financial resources,” he said. “The organization sits on billions of dollars in reserves and no debt. The FIFA president himself has highlighted the $15 billion in revenue generated [during FIFA’s last four-year World Cup cycle] between 2022 and 2026.
“If member associations believe additional investment is needed to develop the game, FIFA already has the financial capacity to provide that support from its existing resources. Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2 billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.”
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FIFA: ‘Nobody is selling football’
Despite the opposition voiced by UEFA, CONCACAF, AFC and individual national associations including the German Football Federation (DFB), FIFA had earlier doubled down on its plans to establish “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE).
The subsidiary, valued by FIFA at around $20 billion (€17.5 billion), would be responsible for FIFA’s commercial rights like broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing contracts for its competitions, including the World Cup, but would sell a non-controling minority stake worth $4.2 billion to private equity investors.
“Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain,” FIFA said in statement earlier on Friday, slamming “incorrect media reports” without issuing clarification and what precisely was wrongly reported, and insisting that it would proceed with its “consultation process” — with member associations obliged to make a decision by September 19.
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“FIFA [member associations are] now being asked to believe that outside investors are needed to unlock greater value. I do not accept that proposition,” said Cordeiro.
“Most troubling of all is the absence of answers to fundamental questions: Why this deal? Why now? What oversight exists? Who benefits? Was there a competitive process? What governance will be in place? What will investors ultimately gain, and at what cost to football?”
UEFA lead FIFA criticism, threaten World Cup boycott
UEFA and its president Aleksander Ceferin have been at loggerheads with FIFA for some timeImage: Mike Egerton/PA/picture alliance
European football’s governing body UEFA, which has been at loggerheads with FIFA and Infantino for years and criticized the global body throughout the recent World Cup over expensive ticket prices and the Folarin Balogun red card affair, had come out publicly in opposition to the plan within an hour of it first being reported by the Financial Times and Times on Tuesday.
“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” UEFA said in a statement after a unanimous vote by its 55 member associations at a hastily convened emergency meeting on Thursday.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product … No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, political criticism came from new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a keen football supporter and one of the first European leaders to criticize the FIFA plans earlier in the week,
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“My view is strengthening [that] this was an outrageous suggestion,” said Burnham on Friday. “The idea that it could even be brought forward, in my view, shows that the FIFA general secretary [Infantino] is the wrong man to lead the organization.”
CONCACAF and AFC join opposition
Shortly after, North America’s soccer body CONCACAF also unanimously rejected the FIFA plan, though it stopped short of threatening a boycott by its 41 members.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also issued a scathing letter to its 47 member associations and warned the FIFA proposal would never succeed without the support of all six regional blocs.
“While the immediate debate centres on FFE, the AFC considers this issue extends far beyond a single proposal. Rather, it has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed,” read an AFC statement.
“This is not the first occasion where major stakeholders have been confronted with significant initiatives after the direction of travel appears to have already been determined. Such an approach undermines confidence in FIFA’s governance framework and diminishes the authority of its statutory bodies.”
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African body CAF said it would convene an executive committee meeting next week to look into the proposal, saying in a statement:
“CAF is committed to continue consulting and working together with its Member Associations, FIFA, other Football Confederations and stakeholders in support of increasing financial and other resources for the development and growth of football in Africa and worldwide,” it said.
South America’s CONMEBOL has yet to comment, but its president, Alejandro Dominguez, recently spoke out in favor of a further expansion of the men’s World Cup to 64 teams in 2030 — which would effectively result in all but one South American nations qualifying automatically.
Amid the outrage over the investment plans, the Press Association reported on Friday that FIFA was indeed pursuing precisely such an expansion, with a decision expected by August 14.
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Germany: What has the DFB said?
German DFB President Bernd Neuendorf can’t see the FIFA plan going forward without UEFA on boardImage: Ulrich Wagner/picture alliance
Germany’s mass-circulation Bild paper reported that key UEFA officials including German Football Federation (DFB) President Bernd Neuendorf had already discussed the FIFA plans via a video call on Wednesday.
“We must not lose the fans’ support, but we are well on the way to squandering that,” Neuendorf told public broadcaster ZDF, adding:
“I consider this to be extremely problematic and unacceptable. If UEFA rejects this request [for approval of the plan], then it is dead, because I believe that you won’t be able to find any investor who would be willing to go ahead with this project if UEFA is out.”
It’s not the first time that the DFB has crossed swords with FIFA. At the Qatar World Cup in 2022, Germany’s men’s team covered their mouths before a game in protest at not being allowed to wear a “One Love” rainbow armband to support LGBT+ rights.
In 2024, the Bundesliga was forced to abandon plans to sell a share of its TV rights to foreign investors due to fan protests that included tennis balls and remote control cars with smoke bombs being thrown onto pitch during matches.
Such actions are commonplace in German football, where the so-called 50+1 ownership model bars single investors owning a majority stake in a club and ensures fans retain more power than elsewhere in the world.
A half-sister to the distinguished Cox Plate champion Anamoe has notched a timely win at Sandown, with the breeding season drawing nearer.
Blue Willow, a mare by Blue Point from Anamato, herself a daughter of Redoute’s Choice, emerged victorious in the IVE> Handicap (1600m) on Wednesday.
Although the race was not a ‘Black Type’ event, it nonetheless represents a city win for Blue Willow, a significant factor for her pedigree, according to Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing.
The favourite at $2.40, with apprentice Jabez Johnstone aboard, Blue Willow triumphed by 1-¾ lengths over Baywatch ($9). Tempranillo ($5.50) secured third place, trailing by an additional 6-½ lengths.
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“That’s her Grand Final,” Turnbull declared. “That’s a great result for Godolphin and everyone involved.”
He further commented, “She’s a talented mare but it hasn’t worked out for her in the last couple of starts with barriers and race patterns. It was a good ride by Jabez. He took his time, got on the back of something and had a bit of fake cover and kept her balanced and it was good to see her finish off.”
Anamoe, who amassed 14 wins from 25 starts, including the 2022 Cox Plate and nine Group 1 races, is now commencing his stud career.
Mirroring his half-sister’s achievement, Anamoe’s first metropolitan win was also at Sandown, where he won the Merson Cooper Stakes on his second start.
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Turnbull indicated that the stable would follow the guidance of the Godolphin team, which includes Australian Managing Director Andy Makiv and Racing and Bloodstock Manager Jason Walsh.
“The breeding season is coming up, and she does have a lot of quality and value there,” Turnbull stated. “It’s great to get the win there and we can work the rest out later.”
Johnstone, having ridden the Godolphin-owned Custom to victory at Caulfield the prior Saturday, expressed his satisfaction in securing another win for the Royal Blue colours.
“I mentioned last Saturday that it’s an absolute privilege to be riding in these colours and winning in them,” Johnstone said. “She handled the conditions very well and to win the way she did without being under the stick, was a pretty dominant effort.”
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Blue Willow was the second of four winners for the Maher and Johnstone combination, who also saluted with Stay Silent in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap, Foire De Trone in the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap, and Here’s Matilda in the Tile Importer Handicap.
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