FIFA

FIFA stands by its decision for gender equality for World Cup

FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura - and head of women's football New Zealander Sarai Bareman - are in Sydney this week to check on preparations for the tournament that is now just 72 days away.

Their visit coincides with last-minute negotiations between FIFA and the broadcasters of five big European countries - England, Germany, Italy, France and Spain - which president Gianni Infantino has repeatedly criticised for offering "10 to 100 times less" to broadcast the Women's World Cup, compared with the men's.

FIFA increases funding for New Zealand Football

The new windfall is the result of a budgeted record revenue $17 billion FIFA is expecting to generate over the 2023-26 cycle.

The $13m each of the 211 member associations will receive is a 30 percent increase from the previous 2019-2022 cycle and a sevenfold increase of the amount distributed prior to 2016.

"For larger member associations, the FIFA Forward Development contributions may be a nice addition, but for member associations in Oceania, these contributions can be a game-changer," FIFA Development Manager for Oceania David Firisua said.

FIFA shifts Women's World Cup match to bigger stadium

The Matildas will face the Republic of Ireland at Stadium Australia in Sydney on 20 July rather than the smaller Sydney Football Stadium.

Stadium Australia was due to host knockout matches only, but given the significant interest in tickets across the Tasman, FIFA decided to move Australia's first match to Sydney's largest stadium.

The Football Ferns will kick off the tournament on the same day in Auckland when Eden Park hosts the opening ceremony following New Zealand's game against Norway.

Argentina and England feature heavily in FIFA Awards finalists

Messi, along with his Paris St Germain team mate Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City's Erling Haaland, were among the 14 players shortlisted for The Best FIFA Men's Player award.

The trio are joined by last year's winner Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona, Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and PSG's Neymar and Achraf Hakimi.

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award, is also in the shortlist.

Pele dies aged 82

He had been in and out of hospital in recent months after a tumor was found on his colon.

Pele, whose given name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, scored a world record 1,281 goals, and is the only player ever to win the World Cup three times.

With sublime skills and a winning smile, he helped make soccer the world's most popular sport and he charmed popes, presidents and Hollywood stars in a seven-decade career as player and ambassador for the sport.

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Fifa boss describes start of World Cup as best ever

Former champions Argentina, Spain, Germany and Brazil all suffered shock group-stage losses and Africa, Asia and North America were represented in the last 16 along with traditional powerhouses South America and Europe.

Infantino said the matches -- "played in beautiful stadiums" -- had already attracted a TV audience in excess of two billion viewers.

"Fantastic atmosphere, great goals, incredible excitement, surprises, small teams beating big teams," he said in comments released by FIFA on Wednesday.

Arab world celebrates Morocco win

Arabs from Baghdad to Tunis cheered as Morocco became the first Arabic-speaking country to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, the first to be held in an Arab country.

In Rabat, where fans had crowded cafes for hours beforehand to watch the game, people jammed downtown roads leading to a square where fans had partied after previous Moroccan victories, flags waving from their windows and horns furiously sounding.

"It's the first time I had this feeling!" said Fahd Belbachir, on his way to the city centre. "We're so proud."

Croatia win shootout over Japan

Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida were all denied by Livakovic before Mario Pasalic coolly sent Japan keeper Shuichi Gonda the wrong way to set up a last-eight date for the Croatians with Brazil or South Korea on Saturday morning (NZ time).

Reuters reports three times in the knockout rounds in Russia four years ago Croatia came from behind to advance after extra time before losing to France in the final.

World Cup 2022: Tournament set to start one day early with Qatar v Ecuador

The Group A opener was due to be played on 21 November at 16:00 GMT, as the third match of the competition.

The opening match of the tournament was to be Senegal against the Netherlands at 10:00, earlier on the Monday.

However, the administrative arm of world governing body Fifa has submitted a proposal to move the Qatar game.

It followed discussions with Qatar and their opponents Ecuador, after receiving a request from the South American confederation Conmebol.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and FIFA put climate partnership into action

Key activities will include employing FIFA Legends to raise climate change awareness and adapting existing infrastructure in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to make it more climate proof.