On Thursday, FIFA accused UEFA of launching a smear campaign and argued that its opposition to the selloff was motivated by a desire to preserve European football's dominance.

Infantino, who has announced he will seek a fourth term in March 2027, has since faced calls to resign but retains support from the African and South American confederations.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino laid out his manifesto for reelection as the champion of poorer soccer nations on Sunday as UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin ruled out running against him but said he thought there would be an opposition candidate.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino privately offered Morocco the right to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in exchange for political backing, according to a report by The Times.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that the proposed launch of a private subsidiary to exploit the commercial benefits of the World Cup was "an opportunity but not an obligation".

Critics fear it could erode transparency, weaken governance and place commercial interests ahead of the game's long-term integrity.

FIFA has faced searing criticism over the cost of World Cup tickets, with fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) branding the pricing structure "extortionate" and a "monumental betrayal".

Infantino said he was recently in Antalya, Turkey, to visit with the Iranian team at its training camp and said the team wants to participate in the World Cup.

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino told AFP on Tuesday he was "very reassured" about Mexico's hosting of games in the World Cup, in his first comments on the violence triggered by the killing of a drug cartel leader.

After numerous instances of abuse hurled at Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinicius Junior, among others, Infantino told a meeting of South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) there were "problems" in the sport.

The proposal from football's rule making body to introduce 'blue cards', which gives referees the power to send players off for 10 minutes for dissent or committing cynical fouls, was discussed with FIFA at the IFAB's Annual General Meeting in Scotland.

The head of the world governing body said there was no place for discrimination of any kind in football or broader society.

Tempers had flared in the Maracana stands moments before kick-off, with Brazilian police using batons.

The sport's governing body expects 2 billion people to tune in for the 64-game tournament being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with the event set to kick off in Auckland on Thursday

"There will be no more football with racism in it. The games should be stopped immediately when it happens. Enough is enough," Infantino said on Thursday

For the first time the next World Cup will include 48 teams -- up from 32 -- and will be co-hosted by three countries, another first

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino insisted Wednesday he would never be disrespectful to Pele as he came under fire over a photo call at the Brazilian legend's wake.

There has been demands for FIFA to set up a compensation fund for migrant workers.

Pro-migrant, anticolonial discourse has been weaponised to support Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino blasted the "hypocrisy" of Western critics of Qatar's human rights record on Saturday, making a passionate defence of the World Cup in the Gulf state on the eve of the kick-off.