For Moroccan fans, one thing is certain: The national team’s 1-1 draw against Brazil in its opening 2026 World Cup match was just the beginning. They hope that their team will make history once again after its historic run to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup. However, while attention is currently focused on this month’s tournament, Morocco is already looking ahead to 2030. Along with Spain and Portugal, the kingdom will host the World Cup that year.

For Morocco, hosting the World Cup means more than just having a global sporting event in the country. The North African country had unsuccessfully put in five bids to host the tournament before FIFA finally awarded the contract in December 2024.

Observers say that the World Cup is regarded as one of King Mohammed VI’s most important prestige projects and considered part of a comprehensive modernization strategy. At the heart of this strategy is the country’s successful national soccer team.

“The World Cup serves as a catalyst for Morocco’s economic development,” Steven Hoefner, director of the German political Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s office in Rabat, told DW. The country is undergoing profound structural change, he said. In the face of climate change and drought, agriculture is losing importance, while industry, services and tourism are expanding.

Isabelle Werenfels of the Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) also agrees that the significance of the World Cup extends far beyond sports. “The World Cup has multiple dimensions,” she told DW. The government is using the tournament “to boost its modernization policy and legitimize major domestic investments.” 

Moroccan ‘soft power’

Morocco is currently investing billions in stadiums, airports, rail lines and roads. A study by the Spanish think tank Real Instituto Elcano described the 2030 World Cup as an instrument of Moroccan “soft power.” The tournament is intended to improve the country’s international image, attract new investment, and strengthen Morocco’s position in Africa, the authors wrote, detailing that “the goal is to create an appealing image of an open, tolerant, and up-and-coming country capable of managing projects at the highest level.”

Another goal is international visibility, which Hoefner described as “a central objective of the Moroccan leadership.” As Morocco has neither large oil nor gas reserves, it is increasingly relying on its political and cultural influence. The World Cup is intended to present the kingdom as a modern economic and investment hub, said Hoefner, who recently authored a study on Moroccan soccer policy.

Protests by Gen Z

However, there is also controversy surrounding these investments. Thousands of members of the generation born around the turn of the millennium, known as Gen Z, protested against the World Cup plans last year. “These protests were directed specifically against large-scale infrastructure projects,” Werenfels recalled. The critics argued that money spent on stadiums and prestige projects was being diverted from other areas such as education and healthcare, she added.

Hoefner views the protests by Gen Z as less directed against the World Cup itself than against the question of whether stadium projects should take priority over investments in education and healthcare. He predicts that long-term acceptance will depend on whether the population actually benefits from the investments.

This highlights the World Cup’s connection to one of the country’s central challenges: According to an analysis by the American think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Morocco has indeed made significant progress over the past 25 years. Life expectancy, income and educational attainment have risen; the country has invested heavily in infrastructure and is now Africa’s largest automotive exporter. At the same time, however, the authors pointed to high youth unemployment, regional inequalities and shortcomings in the education system. “Morocco’s successes to date are undeniable, but the road ahead will be fraught with obstacles,” the study stated.

Sustainability concerns

These mixed feelings are also reflected in Moroccan society. “Many people complain about the rising cost of living, but are also proud of the visible changes in their cities,” said Werenfels. New transportation links, sports facilities and public amenities are viewed positively. At the same time, resettlements and demolitions for new construction projects have also entailed social consequences.

The question of whether the World Cup will leave behind sustainable development or expensive prestige projects is therefore the subject of intense debate. “When it comes to infrastructure for sports alone, there are certainly questions about its long-term use,” said Hoefner. The planned Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, which, with about 115,000 seats, is set to become the world’s largest soccer stadium, will have to prove it can sustain long-term use, he said.

Environmental concerns

There are also environmental concerns. “Morocco is facing significant water problems,” noted Werenfels. This raises the question of how much tourism is sustainable in the long-term and whether certain developments might come at the expense of other economic sectors, particularly agriculture, she said.

Notwithstanding, many people hope that hosting the World Cup could trigger a development boom. The Real Instituto Elcano even drew a historical parallel: Just as the 1992 Olympic Games repositioned Spain on the international stage, the 2030 World Cup could be a similar turning point for Morocco.

Whether these expectations will be met, however, depends on more than just new stadiums and successful soccer matches. The real test will be whether Morocco can combine economic modernization, social development and prestigious national projects. The 2030 World Cup is thus not just a major sporting event. It is a test of the country’s future development path, and of the royal family’s political vision.

This article was originally published in German.

It’s been a big week for NFL running backs who have been stuffing their bank accounts with one big contract after another. And, true to the idiom, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs saved the best for last.

Gibbs agreed on Thursday evening to a three-year deal worth $67.5 million that includes $51.5 million in guaranteed money. The deal was announced by agent Todd France, who represents Gibbs, on his Instagram account.

Gibbs will be averaging an NFL-high $22.5 million per season on an annual average basis.

FALCONS’ BIJAN ROBINSON BECOMES HIGHEST-PAID RUNNING BACK IN NFL HISTORY WITH MASSIVE CONTRACT: REPORT

That’s understandable because he has turned the running back spot into a playmaking position at heights not really seen in Detroit since Barry Sanders did his thing back in the 1990s.

Gibbs has scored 39 rushing touchdowns in his first three seasons. He also scored 10 more receiving touchdowns. He led the NFL with 20 total TDs from scrimmage in 2024.

Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions and running back Jahmyr Gibbs look on prior to an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sept. 7, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

The Gibbs deal comes hours after Jonathan Taylor agreed to a two-year extension with the Indianapolis Colts that averages $22 million per season.

The Gibbs deal also comes days after Bijan Robinson signed a deal with the Atlanta Falcons that averages $22.25 million per season.

Yes, big week for NFL running backs, as all of those players surpassed the Saquon Barkley contract that averages $20.6 million per season and stood as the benchmark for the position since the 2025 offseason.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

DETROIT LIONS GREAT FRANK RAGNOW DETAILS HIS ABRUPT RETIREMENT, FAILED COMEBACK ATTEMPT

So, is there any downside from any of this?

Well, for the Detroit Lions it signals them doing something very familiar in that they draft well and pay to keep their own players.

They have now extended Gibbs, Aidan Hutchinson, Jack Campbell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Jameson Williams, Alim McNeill and Kerby Joseph — all good players the team selected in the draft.

And the Lions have used that expensive talent to win the NFC North in 2023, ending a 32-year playoff victory drought, advance to the NFC Championship Game that postseason, win a franchise-record 15 games in 2024 and reach the playoffs again last season.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) runs past Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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But you know what’s missing?

A Super Bowl berth.

A Super Bowl win.

Dan Campbell’s team has been outstanding with its drafting, with the developing of that young talent and in winning.

But that drafted and developed talent is playing at a much steeper price now. We’re talking over $800 million in total contract commitments for those picks now with the Gibbs deal.

The Lions should be expected to get the Super Bowl championship they are most definitely paying for.

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So far, the Vikings’ injury concerns haven’t been too concerning. That is excellent news.

Some of the credit belongs to…luck. Every so often, teams do everything well before seeing things fall apart (shout out to W.B. Yeats). Other times, though, teams do things well and get rewarded accordingly. I don’t lack for Kevin O’Connell criticism — run the ball! — but the skipper tends to take care of his players. The effort has been paying off.

The Vikings’ Injury Concerns at Training Camp

Corner James Pierre had to step away, albeit on a short-term basis.

“Yeah, it sounds like it’s a short-term thing,” DC Brian Flores explained. “He was out at the walk through today. He’ll be part of individuals today. We’ll see if we can get him a couple snaps here and there.” Sidelining Pierre for a time isn’t ideal but it does create more work for guys such as Chuck Demmings and Zemaiah Vaughn.

Minnesota’s WR2 — Jordan Addison — has had to step back. He, too, appears to have avoided major injury as he fixes up his thumb injury. The 2026 season should be the one where he clears 1,000 yards.

DT Domonique Orange took a day off earlier in the week, but a source told VT that the rookie was dealing with some bumps and bruises. Essentially, the kid had a maintenance day to chase away soreness. Nobody ever claimed being an NFL nose tackle was for the faint of heart.

— READ MORE: Christian Darrisaw’s Claim Would Be a Boost for Vikings —
— READ MORE: Vikings Draftee Lands Gig to Catch Passes for Lions —
— READ MORE: Young Vikings Trenchman Breaks into Starting Lineup —

Getting DT Caleb Banks back onto the field wasn’t a sure thing. Getting him at No. 18 was deemed a reach due to him having multiple foot injuries that sidelined him in 2025 and the early months of 2026. Some saw a bad choice while Minnesota saw huge upside. Getting (and staying) healthy is obviously key.

Rookie runner Demond Claiborne needed some time away from the field. He has since come back and had some struggles. Give the kid a chance. He’ll turn it around before long.

Coming into training camp, there was a small update about Blake Cashman having a nagging issue. He hasn’t been hindered, though. He’s in a contract year.

Starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw has seen great news arrive. He can become elite. Only health holds him back.

As a rookie, Gavin Bartholomew couldn’t get onto the field due to his back injury. He has since grown healthy and been really good, leading to no shortage of praise from training camp onlookers.

Guys such as T.J. Hockenson and Will Fries aren’t directly coming off injury. They are, though, getting further away from really tough injuries. Minnesota’s belief is that they’ll be better as a result.

Above all, the passers are healthy and able to compete. Some think that Kyler Murray is locked into the starting spot. Maybe that’s true, but J.J. McCarthy doesn’t appear to be interested in just rolling over. Mercifully, Carson Wentz is no longer in excruciating pain due to his shoulder injury. Can somebody from within that trio be a strong quarterback?

The Vikings get back onto the practice field tomorrow.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Despite strong pressure for him to resign, particularly from UEFA, Gianni Infantino convinced FIFA’s Board of Management to express their full support for him following a crisis meeting in Rabat on Wednesday. It was the latest development in a crisis that began with news last week of a FIFA plan to create a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to run the men’s World Cup and its other events, with a stake of up to 20% to be offered to external investors.

Where did Gianni Infantino come from?

Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino was born on March 23, 1970, in the southwestern Swiss town of Brig to Italian parents. Many years later, as FIFA president, he would speak of the discrimination he said he experienced as he grew up for being of Italian heritage in Switzerland. Infantino studied law at the University of Fribourg, before becoming the general secretary of the International Centre for Sports Studies at the University of Neuchatel in 1997. The independent center had been founded two years earlier by FIFA in partnership with the university and the city and canton of Neuchatel.

What did Infantino do before FIFA?

Infantino, who speaks six languages, first gained notoriety beyond Switzerland after joining UEFA, football’s European governing body, in 2000. There, he would climb the corporate ladder to become the organization’s general secretary in 2009. Serving under former UEFA President Michel Platini, Infantino’s position kept him largely out of the public eye, but during this time his face became a familiar one to European football fans, as one of his roles was hosting the Champions League and Euros draws, broadcast live on TV. 

How did Infantino become FIFA president?

The door to the FIFA presidency was knocked open by the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal in which several officials were indicted, seven of whom were arrested at a Zurich hotel. This came just ahead of a FIFA Congress to elect a new president. Although Sepp Blatter won reelection for a fifth term, he announced his resignation just days later. An extraordinary FIFA Congress was called for February 2016.

Infantino looked a rank outsider when he threw his hat into the ring. Platini, his boss at UEFA, was the favorite, but he withdrew his candidacy a month before the election, after both he and Blatter had been banned over ethics violations involving a dubious payment. 

In the days leading up to the vote, Sheik Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain emerged as the frontrunner among the seven candidates. However, Infantino, running on a pledge to clean up what was a scandal-ridden organization, won the presidency in the second round of voting. He’d also promised to increase FIFA payments to every member association.

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“We will restore the image of FIFA and the respect of FIFA, and everyone in the world will applaud us and will applaud all of you for what we’ll do in FIFA in the future,” Infantino told the delegates in Zurich’s Hallenstadion.

What has Infantino done in power?

Gianni Infantino has presided over a decade of unprecedented growth in revenue for FIFA, culminating in the 2026 World Cup — the first to feature 48 teams and 104 games — compared to 32 teams and 64 games in Qatar four years earlier. This was bound to generate higher revenue, but it was compounded by the dynamic pricing system FIFA introduced for the tournament. This led to sky-high prices for tickets — and FIFA went one better by getting into the secondary market  and taking a 15% cut from both buyer and seller on every transaction. 

While the final revenue numbers won’t be announced until FIFA publishes its annual report for 2026, the figures are expected to smash the almost $5.8 billion (€5.03 billion) the organization earned in 2022, largely from the Qatar World Cup. Infantino has spoken of a figure around double that. Others believe it could be far higher.

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What controversies has he been involved in?

He says he wasn’t to blame for a major talking point at the World Cup — the suspension of USA forward Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban following his sending off against Bosnia in the round of 32. This followed a call by US President Donald Trump to Infantino to request a “review.” Infantino insisted that an independent FIFA body had made the decision.

FIFA under fire for World Cup red card retraction

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The hydration breaks, which effectively split games into four quarters, also didn’t go over well with many football fans. Others were angry at his refusal to step in on rows over visas for traveling fans, officials and a referee from Somalia and the treatment of the Iran team in the US during the tournament.

Prior to the World Cup 2026, Infantino had made the headlines for the wrong reasons on several occasions. Among his more notable controversies were:

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• Ahead of the 2017 FIFA Congress in Bahrain, Infantino removed the chairmen of the Ethics Committee, Hans-Joachim Eckert and Cornel Borbely, without giving reasons.
• A year later he agreed in principle to a deal that would have seen a financial consortium from the Middle East and Asia acquire the rights to the Club World Cup and a global Nations League for a reported $25 billion. The deal never happened.
• In July 2020, the Swiss public prosecutor’s office accused Infantino of inciting abuse of office by meeting secretly with the head of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, Michael Lauber. Three years later the case was dropped due to a lack of evidence.
• In a ceremony at the World Cup draw in December 2025, Infantino presented US President Donald Trump with the newly created FIFA Peace Prize. This could be seen as the culmination of a widely criticized “bromance” between the FIFA boss and Trump.  

Why has Infantino been under such intense pressure to resign?

His problems began with the World Cup sell-off plan. UEFA sharply condemned the news within minutes — before threatening to boycott all FIFA events, including the men’s and women’s World Cups. After Infantino backed off the plan, UEFA doubled down, saying it had lost confidence in the “current FIFA leadership” and the “task of rebuilding trust in FIFA” had just begun. Football’s European governing body also threatened action through its US lawyers over what it termed a “shabby, backroom, opaque deal.”

How did he reassert himself?

The FIFA boss summoned senior staff members to an emergency meeting in Rabat on Wednesday. A statement issued after that meeting conceded that “mistakes made were acknowledged” in connection with the private investment plan and that the “process should have been handled differently.”

It also said those present had “reaffirmed their full support” for the president and stressed that FIFA would “no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.”

Edited by: Matt Pearson

St Helens interim head coach Eamon O’Carroll told BBC Radio Merseyside:

“There were far too many times when we were shooting ourselves in the foot and putting some pressure on ourselves. We’re clearly not at that level at the moment where we seem to handle that the way we’d like to or how we have in the past.

“We’ve got some young boys in there who may have got exposed at times. They will be better for this experience – I’m really proud of the young lads – but at the minute we seem to be swapping one of our younger lads for another younger lad.

“We’re then automatically asking a lot of some of our senior boys.

“I think you can see where we are at with that at the minute.”

[On play-off qualification] “It’s going to be a difficult one for us to achieve, but it’s not unachievable.”

Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last told Sky Sports:

‘It feels absolutely fantastic. I just want to dedicate that to the supporters who have stuck by us and turned up in big numbers. It was great to get a win for them.

“There were some parts of the performance I was really pleased with and some parts of the game we still need to improve [such as] individuals’ decision-making, but I’m not going to take anything away from tonight.

“To get a win at St Helens, I’m really, really pleased.’

St Helens: Welsby; Douglas, Sailor, Davies, Murphy; Robertson, Hastings; Suluka-Fifita, Humphreys, Walmsley, Keeley, Wright, Shorrocks.

Interchanges: Host, Whitby, Evans, Matagi.

Hull FC: Moy; Barron, Hardaker, Briscoe, Martin; Arthur, Sezer; Ese’ese, Bourouh, Hill, Batchelor, O’Neill, Bell.

Interchanges: Cust, Aydin, Romano, Wood.

Referee: Liam Rush.

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has said that Irish boxer Lee Reeves is “making progress” after being hospitalised following his fight in Dublin on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old’s condition was described as “critical but stable” after he was admitted for treatment following his defeat to Gary Cully.

Reeves was fighting for the vacant BUI Celtic super-lightweight title but was knocked out in the 10th round at the 3Arena.

The Limerick southpaw was stretchered out of the ring after the fight.

An update provided by Warren on Thursday struck a positive note.

“My team have been in touch with Lee Reeves’ team and he is making progress. That is what we’re hearing and thank the Lord for that,” Warren said.

“With Lee and it’s all about time. Time hopefully can be a healer.”

Warren added that his hope was that Reeves would be able to “get back to his family as soon as possible”.

Fifa chief Gianni Infantino has been accused of a “profound abuse of presidential power” by the world players’ union, Fifpro.

The accusation stems from Mr Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in a World Cup company to private investors.

Fifpro, which represents more than 70 player unions globally, stated that footballers’ confidence in Fifa had been “fundamentally broken” by the conduct of the global governing body’s president.

In response, Fifa issued a statement acknowledging that “mistakes” had been made in the plans to create Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).

However, the organisation maintained that Mr Infantino had the “full support” of the members of its management board present at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.

Fifpro noted the tone of that statement with “deep concern” in a communication issued on Thursday, adding: “The withdrawal of FFE was inevitable. But withdrawing the proposal does not erase what it revealed.

“A plan capable of permanently altering the ownership and governance of the Fifa World Cup, and commercialising the competitions built by generations of players, was conceived in secrecy, negotiated behind closed doors and brought to the brink of agreement before the Fifa Council, the member associations, players and football’s recognised stakeholders even knew it existed.

“That is not merely a governance failure. It is a profound abuse of presidential power.

“The withdrawal of FFE prevented an irreversible decision. It did not restore the confidence that made such a proposal possible in the first place. That confidence has now been fundamentally broken.

“It cannot be rebuilt through carefully drafted statements, internal reviews or promises to improve processes. Nor can it be restored simply by announcing governance and structural reforms that should always have existed.

“These reforms are now indispensable. But they are the responsibility of the future, not an absolution of the past.

“The players did not create this crisis. They will insist that football emerges from it with stronger institutions, stronger safeguards and leadership worthy of the trust the game demands.”

Fifpro has also written to Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom outlining its demands for governance reform.

Its letter, seen by the Press Association, stated: “The role of Fifa president exists to protect institutions, not to circumvent them. The World Cup is not the personal asset of any president. Nor is Fifa itself. They are held in trust for football.”

Fifpro’s letter said the FFE proposal’s handling was part of a “broader pattern” of decisions being taken without proper consultation – citing the introduction of hydration breaks as another example.

Fifpro said the breaks had been “presented under the banner of player health” but appeared in reality to be “closer to a proof-of-concept for future commercial exploitation by FFE-type investors than a genuine welfare measure”.

The players’ body signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Fifa the day before the World Cup kicked off, but wrote in its letter to Grafstrom: “The FFE episode demonstrated that commitments, however welcome, are of little value if they can be circumvented whenever one individual chooses to act outside the institutional framework.”

Mark Martin revisited NASCAR’s long-running technical debate around the Next Gen car during his appearance on the latest Dale Jr. Download. While promoting his new book Never Lift, the conversation shifted to how he would fix the racing produced by the Gen-7 car, and the Hall of Famer pointed to downforce and why he believes the sport took the wrong direction more than three decades ago.

The discussion comes at a time when NASCAR continues to face criticism over the Next Gen car’s racing on short tracks and road courses. While the car has improved safety and reduced costs through standardized components, many drivers and fans believe the current aerodynamic package makes passing too difficult, particularly when cars run close together.

Looking back at the evolution of Cup Series aerodynamics, Martin argued that NASCAR’s current problems can be traced to the early 1990s, when teams increasingly chased downforce to improve cornering speed. That was also when drivers first began talking about cars becoming ‘aero-tight,’ with disturbed airflow making it harder for a trailing car to stay close through the corners.

“In 1990, when we went to Atlanta to race your dad for the championship at the end of the year, we had three cars that we wind-tunneled,” Mark Martin said (1:16:48 onwards). “We had two that, in race trim, that had lift in the front, and one that was zero… We all raced that way. Your dad (Dale Earnhardt Sr.) had the same. Everybody had it. Then we got into the mid-’90s. We started making some serious downforce by 1993… In my opinion, it went off the rails (when) we started making downforce, and then people started saying ‘aero-tight.”

“They come with the five-and-five rule. That didn’t suit your dad’s cars, and it probably suited Fords better. I don’t know what the story was. Everybody’s calling aero-tight, and I said we need less front downforce. Your dad said we needed more, and that’s a fact. And your dad had a lot of pull, and it just kept going,” Mark Martin added.

The Next Gen car today generates much of their grip through a sealed underbody and rear diffuser. That creates a large pocket of turbulent “dirty air” behind the leading car. When a trailing driver enters that disturbed airflow, the front splitter and nose lose clean air, reducing front grip and causing understeer in the corners.

With every car producing similar aerodynamic performance and mechanical grip, following drivers struggle to close the final few feet needed to complete a pass, especially at superspeedways. Mark Martin believes the solution is to remove that dependency on front aerodynamic grip almost entirely:

“I’d want virtually zero front downforce in the front, or lift. Start with 300 (pounds) in the back. Maybe you need more. You don’t need a ton, but you need the front to be virtually nothing. If it’s nothing, it shouldn’t lose anything when it gets behind another car.”

His view is that reducing front downforce would make airflow far less influential, allowing drivers to race each other rather than fight aerodynamic turbulence.

Mark Martin explains why he never liked the Next Gen car’s design

Later in the conversation, Mark Martin suggested that NASCAR should continue exploring ways to reduce the aerodynamic influence on the Next Gen car. NASCAR has already reduced overall downforce by roughly 30 percent from the earlier generation, and also increased the horsepower in 2026.

Martin then revealed that his concerns about the Next Gen car actually began before it ever turned a lap (1:13:47 onwards):

“The first thing I would’ve said when I saw the first drawing of the Gen 7 was, ‘What’s wrong with the quarter panels? What’d y’all do?’ It doesn’t have a trunk lid. It looks like a hatchback.”

“When I first saw it, I said, ‘Why didn’t they push the body back?’ Then I got to looking more, and it’s like the rear wheels are rubbing the back bumper. Why is that? It just looks so not like a race car. Well the OEMs wanted all that.”

Despite those styling concerns, Mark Martin stressed that his biggest priority remains fixing how the cars race. Rather than focusing on setup changes, he believes the aerodynamic philosophy itself needs to change:

“I’d work with the engineers from the teams to make the underbody not work at all.”

While Mark Martin acknowledged the need for underbody, he believes reducing its aerodynamic influence is the best path toward improving side-by-side racing and giving drivers more opportunities to pass on merit rather than clean air.