FIFA President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with other directors in Morocco on Wednesday, a source told AFP, amid a wave of criticism over his now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within FIFA, over his handling of the proposal, and calls for him to step down have grown since he abandoned it last Saturday.

One of those believed to be at the meeting is FIFA’s secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, whose internal email to staff criticising the plan was leaked on Tuesday.

Read moreFIFA president Infantino’s problems mount as key FIFA allies turn on him

Infantino, a 56-year-old Swiss lawyer – who is holding the meeting in FIFA’s Africa regional office in Sale close to Rabat – was in Morocco to celebrate last week’s Feast of the Enthronement.

Morocco is to co-host the 2030 World Cup and Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa is one of the few to have publicly supported Infantino since the humiliating climbdown.

Lekjaa last Saturday had praised his “wise” move to scrap the plan in the interests of “unity and cohesion”.

He reiterated his backing for Infantino for “all the initiatives aimed at the development of world football” during his 10 years in charge.

Infantino had been basking in the warm afterglow of a highly successful World Cup – the largest ever with 48 teams and co-hosted by three countries, Canada, Mexico and the US.

His wish to serve a fourth and final term looked likely to be rubber-stamped in Rabat next March – no other candidate had come forward to challenge him.

However, Tuesday last week all that faded.

FIFA, world football’s governing body, floated the plan, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

Watch moreInfantino under growing pressure after FIFA scraps World Cup investor proposal

It said that, if approved, the project could provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.

‘Sad and reproachable’

Instead of acting as a sweetener it produced a furious backlash, with European football’s governing body UEFA resorting on Thursday to the nuclear option of boycotting the sport‘s jewel in the crown, the World Cup.

By Saturday Infantino held his hands up and withdrew the plan.

“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve,” said Infantino.

If he had hoped for that to be sufficient to shore up his authority he was to be swiftly disabused.

UEFA termed the proposal a “shabby, back room, opaque deal” hatched by Infantino.

“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” UEFA said in a statement.

North and Central American football’s governing body CONCACAF went further still and called for “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency” while slamming Infantino’s “poor governance and leadership”.

Grafstrom’s leaked email only added fuel to the fire.

He described the fiasco surrounding the proposal as “a sad and reproachable series of events”.

He added: “Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue.”

Converge guard Juan Gomez de Liano challenges the defense of San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo in the PBA Governors’ Cup.–PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Juan Gomez de Liano didn’t sugarcoat Converge’s woes in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup that continued with Wednesday’s loss to San Miguel Beer.

The FiberXers went down 126-114 against the Beermen, who went on a tear in the second half, for their fourth consecutive loss after a 3-0 start.

“I think we just kind of like fold towards the end of the game,” Gomez de Liano said.

Converge has been primed as one of the contenders with its talent-laden roster that includes rookie Gomez de Liano, and it seemed like it was when the conference began with wins over Titan Ultra, Terrafirma and Macau.

But the FiberXers lost their first meeting with the Beermen, triggering the ongoing dry spell that was followed by setbacks at the hands of the TNT Tropang 5G and NLEX Road Warriors.

READ: PBA:NLEX improves to 5-0 after fending off Converge

Gomez de Liano and Converge are hoping to figure things out as quickly as possible, especially now that they are fourth in Group A, with Terrafirma (2-4), Titan Ultra (2-5) and Macau (2-5) not far behind in the standings.

The top four teams after the group stage qualify for the crossover quarterfinals.

Up next for Converge are Terrafirma on Aug. 11 and NLEX on Aug. 14 before the league takes a long break for the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers and the Asian Games campaigns of Gilas Pilipinas, two games that will see whether the FiberXers can get their acts straight.

“I think for us, we just have to like know roles and accept it, then work towards the role that we want to play,” said Gomez de Liano. “We have a lot of great players that can do a lot and do damage, but then that’s the thing if you have a stacked lineup.

“You have to kind of figure out what your role is, what your purpose is in the team and kind of just work towards that. Chemistry-wise, I don’t think we lack chemistry. I think we just kind of fall short towards the end.”

Arshad Nadeem (AFP Photo)

Pakistan’s Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem has blamed the cold Glasgow weather for his disappointing performance at the Commonwealth Games. The defending champion finished ninth after failing to make the final three rounds, saying the low temperature made his body stiff and affected his usually smooth run-up.Nadeem managed 77.41 metres with his second throw after opening with a foul. His third attempt was 75.39m, leaving him outside the top eight.“The weather was extremely cold and I personally felt that it affected my body. As you have seen in many of my previous competitions, my run-up is usually very smooth, but this time it wasn’t… because my body had become stiff due to the cold conditions. My fitness was good and my health was fine, but ultimately whatever Allah wills is what happens,” he told reporters on Wednesday.Despite the result, Nadeem said he remains determined to make a strong comeback and urged fans to continue supporting him.“Please don’t lose heart and don’t stop supporting me either. Whatever I have achieved has only been possible because Allah blessed me with the opportunity to do it. The respect and recognition Pakistan has received around the world have come through years of hard work. I worked tirelessly while staying in Pakistan,” he added.“God willing, I will prepare with full dedication for the upcoming competitions and once again raise Pakistan’s flag on the international stage.”Nadeem also responded to criticism on social media, saying he understood the disappointment among Pakistani fans.“I have heard many things on social media, but I want everyone to remember that I am Pakistan’s son, and I always will be,” he maintained.

Lausanne Diamond League next

Nadeem’s next challenge will be the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland on August 21. He will face a strong field that includes India’s Neeraj Chopra, Commonwealth champion Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, Keshorn Walcott, Anderson Peters and Thomas Rohler.Nadeem will hope to regain his form before the Asian Games later this year.

PV Sindhu vs Ayush Shetty (Photos by PTI)

NEW DELHI: At 21, Ayush Shetty has already added multiple feathers to his cap. He won a bronze medal in the boys’ singles event at the 2023 World Junior Championships. Earlier this year, he became the first Indian men’s singles shuttler to win a silver medal at the Asian Championships.The Karkala, Karnataka-born shuttler was denied the gold medal by Shi Yuqi. The 30-year-old Chinese world No. 1 secured a comfortable 21-8, 21-10 victory in the final in Ningbo, China.That defeat extended Shetty’s winless record against Yuqi to 0-3, with the other losses coming at the 2026 Malaysia Open and the 2025 Indonesia Masters.Shetty, who was also part of India’s bronze medal-winning team at the 2026 Thomas Cup, will have an opportunity to avenge those defeats when he faces Yuqi in the first round of the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, which begin on August 17.It will be a daunting challenge against the defending world champion and the top seed in the men’s singles draw.“I think it is a tough draw. But I would say it is an equal draw in some sense because I think Shi Yuqi in the first round is better than him in the later rounds. And Lakshya (Sen) beat him at the All England (Open) in the first round in a very similar setting. With his big smash, I think Ayush is definitely going to be quite a threat. And I am hopeful that he pulls that out to win,” said chief national coach of the Indian team, Pulella Gopichand.As the draw for the World Championships was conducted on Wednesday, Lakshya Sen found himself paired against Collins Valentine Filimon of Austria, and five-time medallist PV Sindhu will go up against Sophia Noble of Ireland.If Sen wins his first and second rounds, he could face the 2023 champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, in the third.“I think that quarter (of the half) seems to be a lot tougher. There’s Christo Popov and Alex Lanier. So that is a little tough. But the men’s singles is a lot tougher. There are quite a few names in the men’s singles who are tough.“And all of them have won tournaments at some point of time. But depending on their form, I think that is what is going to decide. But Lakshya has the capability. And it is going to be some exciting badminton for sure,” continued Gopichand.

Sindhu eyes unprecedented sixth medal

Two-time Olympic medallist and ninth seed PV Sindhu won the gold medal in 2019, having previously claimed two silver medals and two bronze medals at the World Championships.If she is one for superstitions, being an unheralded seed has worked in her favour. All her medals have come when she has not been the top seed at the prestigious event.Placed in the top half of the draw, she could face third seed Wang Zhi Yi in the Round of 16, sixth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani in the quarter-finals, before a potential blockbuster semi-final against top seed An Se Young.But Sindhu and her coaching team would rather keep a match-by-match approach than shift focus to what lies ahead.Fifth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in men’s doubles, and 15th seeds Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto in mixed doubles, received first-round byes. As per the 64-pair doubles draw, all seeded pairs receive a bye in the opening round of the competition.India have two pairs in the women’s doubles field, with unseeded Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand leading the expectations.The World Championships have returned to India after a 17-year gap. The last time India hosted the World Championships was at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad in 2009.

India first-round matches at the 2026 BWF World Championships:

Men’s singles

Women’s singles

Men’s doubles

Women’s doubles

Mixed doubles

The Boston Red Sox were 14 games under .500 and mired in last place in the American League East on June 24, four games behind the Baltimore Orioles. The club has been nearly unbeatable since and finds itself in the second wild-card spot and 5.5 games out of first place in the division.

Boston (61-51) seeks its seventh consecutive victory Wednesday as it hosts the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox (59-53) at 7:10 p.m. ET for the middle contest of their three-game series at Fenway Park. The Red Sox, who are in the midst of a 29-5 stretch during which they posted a franchise record-tying 15-game winning streak, cruised to a 14-2 triumph in Tuesday’s opener.

Caleb Durbin belted a grand slam during a six-run first inning and Wilyer Abreu went deep twice for Boston, which has gone 15-3 since the All-Star Break. The Red Sox swept a three-game series at Chicago last month, outscoring the White Sox 15-2, and have produced at least eight runs in three of their last four contests.

Chicago has lost two of three but still owns a three-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. The team is 2-2 on its current six-game road trip but is just 25-32 away from home this season.

There are 10 other games on MLB’s Wednesday evening schedule, including the third contest of a four-game set between the San Diego Padres (59-55) and Arizona Diamondbacks (60-54) at 9:40 p.m. ET at Chase Field in Phoenix. The National League West rivals split the first two games of the series, with Arizona taking the opener 5-1 and San Diego responding Tuesday with a 9-4 victory. The Diamondbacks are one game ahead of the Padres for the third wild-card berth in the NL.

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Meanwhile, the Athletics (45-68) attempt to halt their six-game slide when they visit the Cincinnati Reds (54-58) at 6:40 p.m. ET for the middle contest of their three-game series at Great American Ball Park. The Reds, who have won four of five, rallied for two runs in the eighth inning to win Tuesday’s opener 5-4, sending the Athletics to their 11th defeat in 13 outings.

The Red Sox are -131 favorites against the White Sox in the latest consensus MLB betting odds. The Padres are -122 favorites versus the Diamondbacks at sports betting apps and the Reds are -148 favorites over the Athletics.

Below is a snapshot of what to watch and bet for Wednesday, Aug. 5. All times Eastern

MLB best bets, where to watch

Athletics at Reds

Time: 6:40 p.m. | Location: Cincinnati | TV: MLB.TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

SportsLine picks —  Model: Athletics +1.5 (-156) | Expert: Reds ML (-145, Adam Thompson)

Three of the Reds’ last four victories were one-run decisions. After suffering a pair of double-digit losses against the Detroit Tigers this past weekend, the Athletics were involved in a tight contest in the series opener at Cincinnati. Even if their losing streak continues Wednesday, the SportsLine Projection Model expects another close result as the Athletics cover the run line in 64% of its simulations. SportsLine expert Adam Thompson (22-16, +393 on his last 38 MLB money-line picks) thinks the Reds will prevail as the Athletics’ bullpen has posted a 7.64 ERA over the last two weeks while Cincinnati’s owns a 1.60 mark in that same span.

White Sox at Red Sox

Time: 7:10 p.m. | Location: Boston | TV: MLB.TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

SportsLine picks —  Model: White Sox +1.5 (-189) | Expert: Sean Burke Over 5.5 strikeouts (-142, PropBetGuy)

Boston right-hander Sonny Gray leads the AL with 13 victories and has lost just once since April 14. However, he has allowed at least four runs in each of his last two starts. Although the White Sox have scored fewer than three runs in three of their last five games, the SportsLine Projection Model believes they’ll give Gray and the Red Sox a tough time Wednesday as its simulations have them covering the run line 71% of the time. Chicago righty Sean Burke has posted back-to-back 10-strikeout performances and fanned six or more batters in 11 of his last 12 appearances, including a pair of relief outings. SportsLine props expert PropBetGuy (69-42, +1717 on his last 111 MLB picks) expects more of the same from the 26-year-old, who has recorded 60 strikeouts over 50 1/3 innings on the road this year.

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Padres at Diamondbacks

Time: 9:40 p.m. | Location: Phoenix, Ariz. | TV: MLB.TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

SportsLine picks —  Model: Diamondbacks +1.5 (-155) | Expert: Padres ML (-121, Angelo Magliocca)

Both teams are playing well, as the Padres have won nine of their last 11 games and the Diamondbacks five of their past seven. Arizona is coming off a 9-4 setback but has lost consecutive contests just once since July 9. Right-hander Casey Mize makes his debut for San Diego and allowed only two runs over 9 1/3 innings in his final two starts for the Tigers, but the SportsLine Projection Model sees the Diamondbacks keeping Wednesday’s contest close as they cover the run line in 68% of its simulations. SportsLine expert Angelo Magliocca is backing the Padres to win, however, as Arizona rookie left-hander Mitch Bratt has had control issues of late, issuing nine walks across 10 frames in his last two turns.

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Home is where the heart is. For linebacker Dre Greenlaw, that certainly was not with the Denver Broncos.

Greenlaw spent last season with the Broncos after signing a three-year, $31.5 million contract, but was cut almost a year later. Greenlaw then returned to the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent the first six years of his career, on a one-year deal. While it wasn’t the main reason Greenlaw left Denver, he certainly won’t miss the altitude of the Mile High City.

“F—ing altitude,” Greenlaw told The Athletic. “My mouth’s dry, my nose is dry, I can’t sleep. … I’m fighting demons left and right.”

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Dre Greenlaw #57 of the Denver Broncos stretches on the field prior to an NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Dec. 7, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nev. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

“I tell you, it’s different being here in California,” Greenlaw said. “This fresh air, bro, it makes a difference. You feel like you can run all day out here.”

Greenlaw’s Broncos tenure got off to an inauspicious start, as he suffered a severe quadriceps strain on the second day of OTAs, and it held him out until Week 7. Greenlaw said he felt head coach Sean Payton’s ire because he wasn’t able to be on the field.

“We were good, especially when I first came in,” Greenlaw said. “And then you pop your quad, people start looking at you. Then, when we played the Jaguars (on Dec. 21), I had a little bit of a hamstring (injury). After that, you kind of feel when the coach is, like, not really messing with you. I felt alone.”

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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs catches a touchdown pass under pressure from Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Dec. 14, 2025. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The linebacker said he knew the trainers better than his teammates because he wasn’t on the field. Last season, he appeared in eight games (seven starts), recorded 43 tackles, with two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception.

The Broncos ran a different scheme than the one Greenlaw used with the 49ers, and he said he never mastered it. He took accountability for his shortcomings in Denver.

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“I don’t blame anything on the Broncos,” he said. “Coming off the Achilles and the calf (injuries), I just wasn’t in the shape that I needed to be to go out there with them and give it all I got. I should have taken it slow. (But) naturally, they’d just paid me, so that’s all I wanted to do — go show them what I could do. And it bit me in the ass, the second day I got there.”

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Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota scrambles with the ball under pressure from Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw in the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., on Nov. 30, 2025. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

“I know what I could have done better, as far as being in that film,” he said. “That’s where I feel like I let myself and everybody down.”

After being cut by the Broncos, Greenlaw signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal to return to the 49ers. The familiarity of Southern California is one he enjoys.

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“It just feels like home,” Greenlaw said. “I get to still play football and prove people wrong. And that’s what I’ve been doing my whole life.”

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the invitation of 62 players to the camp of the Golden Eaglets ahead of this year’s WAFU B U17 Championship.

Head Coach Uwejamomere Eboboritse has called up five goalkeepers, 24 defenders, 20 midfielders and 13 forwards for the screening and training programme in Abuja.

The invited players have been asked to report to camp as Eboboritse, alongside his assistants Kalli Mohammed Kachalla and Abdullahi Isa, begin preparations for the regional competition.

Nigeria will be hoping to build another strong Golden Eaglets side, having won the FIFA U17 World Cup a record five times.

The 2026 WAFU B U17 Championship is scheduled to take place in October.

Goalkeepers: Emmanuel Dada (Beyond Limits FA), Enabodje Jackson Akpobome (Dosu Joseph FA), Mutiu Adenle Adedayo (Seamoriow FA), Usama Salisu (Ranchers Bees FC), Johnny Kelvin (KMK Football Academy).

Defenders: Daniel Agunzi (Imperial FA), Michael Ogwuche (Triple 44 Academy), Chinedu Destiny (Supreme Kings FC), Isa Jamiu (Inspire FA), Ifechukwu Nweke (Benin City Sports Academy), Nabil Shehu (Sports Supply FA), Augustine David (Right2Win FA), Abdullahi Muhammad (Ahzuba FC), Auwal Fahad (Derby FA), Ahuchaogu Chinenye Goodluck (Supreme Kings FC), Chinedu Nchoje (Gbagada FC), Ekwueme Chidubem (Giant Brillars FC), Tochukwu Muoneme (Rangers International FC), Eke Kingsley (Supreme Kings FC), Mubarak Dayyatu (Mahanaim FC), Abdulrazak Ibrahim (Breakthrough FA), Davidson Chukwuemeka (Golden Generation FA), Isah Kasim Ladan (Mavlon FC 24), Hussaini Saeed (AS Roma Academy).

Midfielders: Paul Emmanuel Akpan (Solo Wanderers FC), Goodness Ukwubile (Turf Arena FA), Japhet Vincent (Mees Palace FA), Chinedu Divine Mbachu (Sporting Lagos), Sochima Joshua Emeka (Multilife Saver FC), Anifowose Faruq Olayanju (Jaguar Sports FA), Mansur Sanusi (Beyond Limits FA), Adegbola Alameen Oladimeji (Stormers FC), Abdullahi Jamiu Afolabi (Smart City FC), Salisu Abdulsamad (B Angel FA), Oluwole Akinyele (Breeding Professionals FA), Abubakar Fuhaad (Stormers FC), Abdulrazak Abubakar (Simoiben Academy), Michael Ekundayo (Vinod Academy), Otugo Akachukwu (P. Sports FA), Abdulmalik Babatunde (Adoration Football Academy), Nwobodo Chinoso (Mavlon FC), Abdulsalam Fuhad (Cart FC Academy), Benedict Samuel (Ikon Allah Football Academy), Benjamin Benedict Boloni (Dreamline Football Academy).

Forwards: Barnabas Chichi (Transformers FA), Ayinde Basit (Ikorodu City FA), Igboenobe Columbus (Forster FA), Yusuf Isa Alo (Footwork FA), Raheem Lateef (Inspire FA), Abuchi Lawrence (Sporting Lagos), Abas Sani (Kubarachi FC), Israel Asuquo Ayo (Kon Academy), Usoro Godswill (Sporting Supreme FC), Usman Kachalla (Desert Fox FC), Muhammad Auwal (Kano Pillars FC), Mahmud Ahmed (Beyond Limits FA), Anreki Peter Samuel (Strikers Hub FA), Fasiu Mubarak (Sporting Supreme FC), Abdullahi Suleiman Ibrahim (Ikon Allah Football Academy), Shaibu Umar Faruk (Palmville College Lagos), Bello Ibrahim (Palmville College Lagos), Aliyu Abah Muhammed (Lobi Stars Feeders).

San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo in action against Converge in the PBA Governors’ Cup.–PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—After improving to a 5-2 record in Group A, San Miguel Beer is tipped to handle its next two assignments in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Following a 126-114 win over Converge on Wednesday night, the Beermen will face Macau on Friday, then Titan Ultra on Wednesday. Both teams are at the bottom part of the standings with identical 2-5 slates.

But make no mistake, June Mar Fajardo and the rest of San Miguel aren’t letting their guards down.

“We still need to go hard against them because our coaching staff always reminds us that we can’t take them lightly,” the nine-time PBA MVP told the Inquirer.

“Even if they’re at the bottom of the standings, they’re capable of winning the big games. For us, we don’t want to lose.”

Fajardo had a big game against the FiberXers despite his scoring woes after collecting 21 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks with zero turnovers. Import George King dominated with 46 points and 14 rebounds for the Beermen, who continued to miss the services of key cog CJ Perez.

Perez suffered a groin injury early in San Miguel’s 110-96 loss to undefeated NLEX last July 26.

The Beermen dominated both the Giant Pandas and Giant Risers in their first-round encounters last month.

San Miguel routed Macau, 123-109, in its conference opener on July 14 before crushing Titan Ultra, 143-105 on July 29.

Coach Leo Austria, who had his official return as the Beermen’s head coach after undergoing a heart procedure last month, approaches SMB’s next two games with the same mentality as Fajardo.

“Games against those two teams are equally as important as when we play NLEX, TNT or Converge,” he said. Every win is for us to get to the next round,” he said.