The Bangladesh national football team will play two International Friendly Football matches at home against the Maldives on November 13 and 16 in this year's last FIFA window. General Secretary of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Imran Hossain Tushar confirmed the matter on Saturday afternoon. Earlier, the BFF communicated with Malaysia and Thailand to play football matches in the FIFA window in November, but they want to play only one match with Bangladesh. Later, the BFF communicated with the Maldives, who agreed to play two matches here, so the BFF accepted their proposal considering more (two) matches and cheap expenditure. In the last meeting, the BFF approved the decision. BFF Election: Tabith Awal poised to replace Kazi Salahuddin The matches are likely to be held at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, and we are maintaining close communication with the Kings authority. Bangladesh-origin English footballer Hamza Dewan Choudhury got" no objection" from England Football Association to play for Bangladesh after getting a Bangladesh passport and clearance from his English Premier League club, Leicester City FC. Soon after, the BFF applied to the FIFA players status committee with the necessary documents for permission to let Hamza into the Bangladesh team, but the FIFA committee wants more documents that delayed his desire to play for the Bangladesh team. Moreover, now he is out of the field due to injury. So, Hamza's participation in the Bangladesh team in the November window against the Maldives has become uncertain.

After a landmark court decision for the soccer transfer market, FIFA said Monday it will now invite “key stakeholders” worldwide for talks about updating rules put in question by former France international Lassana Diarra. The European Court of Justice ruled in the Diarra case on Oct. 4 in Luxembourg that some parts of FIFA’s transfer regulations did not comply with its laws on competition and freedom of movement for labor. While some analysts speculate that the entire global transfer market, worth more than $10 billion each year, could be upended, FIFA believes its consultations can focus more narrowly on player-club disputes where contracts are allegedly broken without just cause. The FIFA talks should include the global players’ union FIFPRO, plus representatives from clubs, leagues and national soccer federations. Messi's Argentina held 1-1 by Venezuela in South American World Cup qualifying "Together with them, FIFA will determine what conclusions must be drawn from the Diarra decision, and which changes are most appropriate and suitable to make to article 17 of the (transfer regulations),” the governing body's chief legal officer Emilio García said in a statement. Diarra, a former Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea player, signed a four-year contract with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2013. The deal was terminated a year later after he was unhappy with alleged pay cuts. FIFA and then the Court of Arbitration for Sport found the Russian club terminated the contract “with just cause” and ordered the player to pay 10.5 million euros ($11.2 million). Diarra argued his search for a new club was affected by FIFA rules, making his next employer jointly responsible for paying compensation to Lokomotiv. Man City and Premier League claim a win after challenge of league's financial fairness rules “The Diarra decision confirms the sanctity of contracts. Nobody, neither a club nor a player, can simply walk away from a valid contract,” García said. “Consequently, if players wish to be released from a contract, there will be financial consequences.” The FIFA-led talks will open while the Diarra case now goes back to a local court in Belgium, where a final ruling could take years rather than months.

The first-ever Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Academy Championship' 2023-24 under the talent development scheme of the World football body FIFA will begin simultaneously at 24 zonal venues across the country on December 19 A total of 170 BFF registered Academy teams from all over the country will  compete in Crore Taka's Under -15 football meet with the full financial support of FIFA. Independence Cup: Bashundhara Kings, Dhaka Mohammedan reach semifinals BFF vice president cum chairman of the development committee Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan (Manik) disclosed it at a press conference and tournament's draw ceremony at the BFF office in Motijheel on Thursday. BFF member M Eliyas Hossian, BFF general Secretary Imran Hossain Tushar, among others, were also present on the occasion. Copa América semifinals in New Jersey and Charlotte, among 14 U.S. cities hosting next summer Initially, 170 Academy teams, split in 24 zones, will compete in the first phase from December 19 and later  24 zonal champions teams will play again in the zonal finals at 12 venues. The BFF will involve 24 coaches in 24 zonal venues to hunt talented footballers for the BFF Elite Academy. FIFA Women's Int'l: Bangladesh win two-match series crushing Singapore 8-0 Later, 12 zonal champions teams will play in the final round of the meet will be held in Dhaka in February- March next year. The players, who was born between Jan 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010, are eligible to compete in the meet, to be organized in a slogan of "Give Every Talent A Chance".

Hosts Bangladesh Women's team needed just a draw against touring Singapore women's team to win the two-match FIFA Tier-1 Women's International Friendly Football Series here on Monday ( Dec 4). The 2nd and last match of the series between 130th ranked Singapore and 142nd ranked Bangladesh will kick- off at 3:pm on Monday at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi  Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur in the capital. Independence Cup Football: Quarterfinals begin Sunday Bangladesh women's team comfortably dominated the two-match series 1-0  outplaying Singapore women's team by 3-0 goals in the first match at the same venue last  Friday ( Dec 1), featuring two goals by occasional  striker by Tohura Khatun and rest one by defender Afeida Khandakar With this well-merited victory, Bangladesh women's football team not only dominated the series but also took sweet revenge of their 0-3 goals defeat against hosts Singapore  in a Development Tournament there six year ago. Women's Football: Bangladesh too hot to handle for Singapore This was the first victory for Bangladesh national women's team in international football within  about 14 months after winning the historic title of  the SAFF Championship held in Kathmandu in September' 2022. Ahead of Monday's match, both the Bangladesh and Singapore teams made their final practices at the match venue Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Head of the Mission of Singapore Embassy in Dhaka accorded a reception in honour of the touring  Singapore women's football team at a local hotel Saturday night. Women's Int'l Football: Bangladesh to play Singapore on Friday Members of the Bangladesh women's football team and the Bangladesh Football Federation  (BFF) officials also attended  the function.

Bangladesh will face Australia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 second-round qualifier. The match will take place on November 16 at 3 pm Bangladesh time. Australia will host the match in Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, and Bangladesh will host the second leg of this match. Preview of BAN vs. AUS FIFA World Cup 2026 Second Round Qualifiers Bangladesh beat Maldives to confirm their placement in the second-round qualifier of World Cup selection. In this phase of the World Cup qualifiers, Bangladesh will have the opportunity to play 6 home and away matches. The World Cup qualifiers start this month which will last more than a year and a half. Bangladesh advanced to the second round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers after defeating the Maldives in the first round by a margin of 3-2 in two matches. Now, they’re moving on to the second round, where 36 teams are divided into 9 groups. Bangladesh is in Group I with Australia, Lebanon, and Palestine as their opponents. They’ll play six matches in total, facing each team both at home and away. Read more: Bangladesh football team start training session ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifiers Australia is a dominating team, and it’s likely they’ll play aggressively against Bangladesh. It’s crucial that Bangladesh maintain a strong fighting spirit. Each player needs to focus on giving their best performance and ensure there’s no lack of effort on their part. The Bangladesh team has been actively involved in the game for the past few months. Following two drawn international friendlies against Afghanistan in September, some of the national team players participated in the U-23 side at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. In October, Bangladesh played two matches in the preliminary phase of the World Cup qualifiers against Maldives. Overall, the team’s recent performance has been promising and positive. On the other hand, Australia has been a consistent participant in the FIFA World Cup since 2006. They currently hold the 27th position in the FIFA rankings, a significant 156 spots ahead of Bangladesh, which is ranked 183rd. In the recent World Cup in Qatar, Australia performed well by defeating Denmark and Tunisia in Group D, earning a spot in the last 16. Although they faced a setback with a 2-1 loss against the eventual champions Argentina, their performance in the tournament was remarkable. After the World Cup, Australia played six friendly matches and won two of them while drawing one against Mexico. So, playing against such a team will be difficult for Bangladesh, and they are the underdog here. Read more: Bangladesh team to leave for Melbourne to play Australia in FIFA World Cup qualifiers BAN vs. AUS Head-To-Head Football Matches So Far Bangladesh has encountered Australia twice before. In the 2015 World Cup qualifiers, the Red and Green team suffered losses of 5-0 in Perth on September 3, 2015, and 4-0 in Dhaka on November 17, 2015. Jamal Bhuiyan played in both matches for Bangladesh. They will meet Australia for the third time on November 16. The Bangladesh team expresses confidence, noting that compared to the squad from 8 years ago, there are some differences in the team this time. Australia Squad Against Bangladesh Australia’s national football team (Socceroos) has announced a 23-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine, incorporating an experimental approach. Fourteen players in the squad did not participate in Australia’s Qatar World Cup campaign. The matches are scheduled for November 16 and 22, and the squad includes two debutants.  Western Sydney Wanderers’ striker Kusini Yengi has been unexpectedly selected after scoring five goals in nine matches for League One leaders Portsmouth. Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer is also included as a backup to Mat Ryan. Australia Team  Mat Ryan, Joe Gauci, Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Aziz Behich, Jordy Bos, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Lewis Miller, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Ryan Strain, Keanu Baccus, Jackson Irvine, Massimo Luongo, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill, Brandon Borrello, Martin Boyle, Mitch Duke, Craig Goodwin, Jamie Maclaren, Sam Silvera, Kusini Yengi. Bangladesh’s Probable Squad Bangladesh’s preparation for the upcoming match against Australia is focused on a determined fight. However, the preparation process is still incomplete, even on the eve of their departure to Australia. Thirty players were called to the camp, but the final team of 23 players scheduled to go to Melbourne is yet to be confirmed by Coach Javier Fernández Cabrera. The coach is uncertain about the inclusion of one or two players, causing a delay in the decision-making process. However, here is our predicted squad. Anisur Rahman Zico, Shahidul Alam Sohel, Topu Barman, Rimon Hossain, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Mohamed Atikuzzaman, Mehedi Hasan Mithu, Mohammed Jahid Hasan, Tanvir Hossain, Masuk Mia Jony, Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Papon Singh, Abu Shaeid, Motin Mia, Aminur Rahman Sajib, Sazzad Hossain, Shahriar Emon, Eleta Kingsley, Sarower Zaman Nipu, Jafar Iqbal, Mojibur Rahman Jony and Mohammad Ibrahim. Read more: World Cup Qualifiers: BFF announces 23-member squad to fly Australia Friday night Bangladeshi Footballers to Watch Rakib Hossain In the second leg of the World Cup qualifying play-off against Maldives, Bangladesh scored a goal at the beginning of the match. Forward Rakib Hossain scored a goal in the 11th minute of the match that led Bangladesh to a 1-0 scoreline, which eventually boosted confidence in the team. Rakib played 34 matches for Bangladesh and scored 4 goals. Isa Faysal Debuted on June 25, 2023, 24-year-old Isa Faysal is the most valuable player for Bangladesh with a €225k market value. He played a total of 7 matches for Bangladesh. Australian Footballers to Watch Harry Souttar Harry Souttar is one of the star players of the Australian national football team as well as for Leicester City. He played 19 games for Australia and scored 8 goals so far. Mathew Ryan Australian football team captain and goalkeeper Mat Ryan has appeared in 83 matches for Australia. Although he has conceded 81 goals so far, Ryan kept 33 clean sheets. So, he will certainly become a great wall for the Australian goalpost. In his more than 10 years of career, Ryan got a yellow card only once. Final Words Team Bangladesh left for Melbourne on November 11, 2023, after the day-long training. While Australia, ranked 27th globally, presents a tough opponent, Bangladesh remains optimistic despite being the underdog. It is expected that the Bangladesh vs. Australia match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 second-round qualifier round will be competitive and interesting. Read more: Bangladesh’s matches in the 2nd Round Qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedules, Fixtures, Team

Coming from behind, Bangladesh played 1-1 draw with upper ranked Afghanistan in the 2nd and last match of the two-match FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly Football series in a rough and tough encounter at the Bashundhara Kings Arena here on Thursday. The match was locked in goalless position in a rain-soaked and keenly contested first half. Read : Bangladesh football team captain Jamal Bhuyan signs for Argentine Club Bangladesh national football team played the two-match FIFA international Friendly series against their 32 ranked upper Afghanistan national side as a part of their preparation for the next month' s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against the Maldives. After the match, the two match series between the two teams also ended in a draw. In the day's crucial match, striker Jabar Sharza put Afghanistan ahead in the 53rd minute of the match by a cool header from a goal-mouth melee, utilizing a corner kick of his mate (1-0). Incidentally, it was the first goal in the country's new international football venue --Bashundhara Kings Arena --which turned as an international venue last Sunday with first FIFA int'l friendly, also against Afghanistan. Read : Bangladesh Football Team Captain Jamal Bhuiyan becomes brand ambassador of National STEAM Olympiad 2023 Country's promising forward Shekh Morsalin, who spoiled a golden opportunity against Afghanistan in the last match, compensated  his previous mistake scoring the match equaliser in the 63rd minute by pushing the ball to open net from a handshake distance , off a Bishwanath Ghosh cross from right wing (1-1). It was also the first goal for Bangladesh national team in the new venue --Bashundhara Kings Arena. After making the equaliser, Bangladesh team created strong pressure over Afghanistan one after another, but failed to change the fate of the match due to shakiness of the forwards as well as for the confident defense of Afghanistan. Read : Bangladesh Football team holds training ahead of Afghan challenge In the day's tense-packed match,  Afghan coach Abdullah Al Mutahiri and Bangladesh' s Assistant Coach Hasan Al Mamun got matching order in the 23rd minute after receiving red cards for non-sportsman like behavior and for clashing with each other. Afghan mid-fielder Faysal Shayesteh got marching order in the added time of the match after receiving 2nd yellow card.

Lionel Messi, often considered one of the greatest football players of all time, has once again been crowned The Best FIFA Men's Player award. This prestigious award, which recognizes the world's top footballer, was presented to Messi at a glitzy ceremony held in Paris. This is the second time that Messi has won the award after it got separated from the Ballon d’Or in 2016. The Argentine forward had an outstanding year, leading Argentina to the World Cup trophy, where he was also named the tournament's best player. A Brief History of The Best FIFA Men's Player Award The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award is an annual award presented by the world governing body of football, FIFA. It was established in 2016 as part of a revamp of the FIFA World Player of the Year prize, which was presented between 1991 to 2015. Initially, the FIFA awards were given to the world's best men's football players, while similar awards for both males and females were presented between 2001 and 2009. In 2010, the men's award was merged into the FIFA Ballon d'Or, while the women's award remained until 2015. After 2015, both men's and women's awards were integrated into The Best FIFA Football Awards. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi’s Records, Argentina’s Road to Victory The award is presented to the player deemed to have performed the best in the previous calendar year, as determined by a voting process involving captains and head coaches of international teams, as well as journalists and fans. 25% of the total vote is held by each group. The inaugural winner of The Best FIFA Men's Player Award was Cristiano Ronaldo, who was then playing for Real Madrid. Ronaldo went on to win the award again in 2017, making him the only player to win it twice in the first three years of its existence. In 2018, Luka Modrić broke Ronaldo's streak by winning The Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the first time. After that, Messi won it in 2019. In 2020, Robert Lewandowski was awarded the title after an exceptional year with Bayern Munich. Read More: Messi voted best player at FIFA awards again Overview of Lionel Messi's Career in 2022 Messi passed a magical year in 2022. He appeared in 51 games for clubs and the national team. He scored 35 goals in total and had 35 assists. Among these 35 goals, he scored 17 goals for his club Paris Saint-Germain and 18 goals for Argentina. However, above all, his outstanding performance in the World Cup exceeds all his previous achievements. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Argentina's Lionel Messi had a tournament to remember. In the opening match against Saudi Arabia, Messi scored from the penalty spot in a 2–1 defeat. In the next match against Mexico, Messi scored a low 20-yard strike and recorded an assist on Enzo Fernández's goal in Argentina's 2–0 win. In the last 16 games versus Australia, Messi scored the opening goal of the game on his 1,000th senior career appearance, becoming the most-capped South American (CONMEBOL member) footballer of all time. He also surpassed and equaled several FIFA World Cup and national team records.  Read More: Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia In the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Messi assisted the first goal for Nahuel Molina with a reverse pass before scoring a penalty as the game ended 2–2 after extra time, and Argentina won 4–3 in the penalty shootout. In the semi-final against Croatia, Messi made a record-equalling 25th World Cup finals appearance, drawing level with Germany's Lothar Matthäus, and scoring the opening goal with a penalty before assisting Julián Álvarez’s goal in a 3–0 win. With his 11th World Cup goal, Messi overtook Gabriel Batistuta to become Argentina's all-time top scorer at the World Cup. Messi then declared the final against France to be his last World Cup appearance. Read More: Argentine foreign minister will visit Dhaka late Feb, asked to bring Messi with him: Momen Lionel Messi Won the Best FIFA Men's Player Prize For 2022 In 2022, Lionel Messi was awarded the Best FIFA Men's Player prize, making him the third individual to receive the honor twice, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo (2016, 2017) and Robert Lewandowski (2020, 2021). The last time Messi won The Best award was in 2019. Lionel Messi made history at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, becoming the sixth player to score in every knockout round of the world cup. His impressive performance included 7 goals and 3 assists, with his most impressive contribution coming during the final at Lusail, where he scored a brace. It was a remarkable achievement for Messi, who had never accomplished such a feat in his international career prior to Qatar. Kylian Mbappé was another contender for this award. Mbappé had 44 points, while Messi won The Best with 52 points. Voting for the FIFA The Best men's awards took into account performances from August 2021 to December 2022, with a particular emphasis on the FIFA men's World Cup, which ended in December of the same year. The award ceremony was designed to recognize the efforts of all participants throughout the world cup as well as the club, ensuring that everyone's accomplishments were acknowledged. Following is the resulting breakdown for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022. Rank Player Points Coaches Captains Media Fans 1. Lionel Messi (PSG / Argentina) 52 728 717 836 1,345,851 2. Kylian Mbappe (PSG / France) 44 478 395 433 391,676 3. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid / France) 34 230 301 304 200,009 Read More: Bruised Ronaldo scores twice to edge showdown with Messi Final Words Lionel Messi's technical skills, breathtaking goals, and exceptional performances have earned him worldwide acclaim, making him a true legend in the world of football. His remarkable goalscoring record, his ability to lead his team to victory, and his commitment to the game make him a truly deserving recipient of The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022.

The FIFA Men’s Player Award is one of the most prestigious individual awards in the world of football. It is presented annually by FIFA to the best male football player of the year, recognizing outstanding skill, sportsmanship, and success on the field. The award has been presented since 1991 (formerly known as FIFA World Player of the Year) and rebranded in 2016 as The Best FIFA Men’s Player. It has become one of the most highly anticipated events on the football calendar. From the early days of George Weah and Zinedine Zidane to the recent domination of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the award has been given to some of the most iconic and talented players to grace the game. This year FIFA has released the Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022. Let’s explore the players’ power ranking. Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022 The award is a true testament to the excellence of the modern game and the players who inspire us with their performances. It is a celebration of the best of the best in football and a moment for fans to honor the players who make the game so special. This year 14 footballers got the nomination. Players Country Club Julián Álvarez Argentina Manchester City FC Jude Bellingham England BV Borussia 09 Dortmund Karim Benzema France Real Madrid CF Kevin De Bruyne Belgium Manchester City FC Erling Haaland Norway Manchester City FC Achraf Hakimi Morocco Paris Saint-Germain Robert Lewandowski Poland FC Barcelona Sadio Mané Senegal FC Bayern München Kylian Mbappé France Paris Saint-Germain Lionel Messi Argentina Paris Saint-Germain Luka Modrić Croatia Real Madrid CF Neymar Brazil Paris Saint-Germain Mohamed Salah Egypt Liverpool FC Vinícius Junior Brazil Real Madrid CF                   Read More: Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022 Power Ranking After considering last year’s performance, some players will have a close competition, while Messi has a great chance of winning. The player is selected by a panel of international media members, coaches, and national team captains. The winner is determined through a combination of these votes and a public online poll. Let’s see the power ranking of the 2022 award. #1 Lionel Messi Argentine star Lionel Messi is top of the list after his great performance at the World Cup 2022. Lionel Messi is a phenomenon, having provided fans with many years of awe-inspiring football. His immense talent has finally been rewarded with the ultimate honor; a World Cup victory. He led the team to success with a series of goals and assists that amazed supporters in every corner of the world. The long wait is finally over. However, his club PSG’s elimination from the Champions League might be disappointing. But overall, it was an excellent year for Messi both in the national team and club with a total 51 appearances, 30 assists, and 35 goals. Besides, the winning of Trophée des Champions will put Messi forward in the award. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi’s Records, Argentina’s Road to Victory #2 Kylian Mbappe The young French talent Mbappe just turned 24 last month, and he can look back on his incredible career so far with pride. As a one-time World Cup winner and a World Cup runner-up, Mbappe is confident that he will break even more records at the tournament in years to come. His ambition and talent are certain to continue to be a formidable force in the world of football. Kylian Mbappe put his name in the history books with a sensational hat trick in the World Cup 2022 final against Argentina. This incredible feat earned him the Golden Boot and capped off an impressive run at the tournament. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar was a standout performer on the world stage, further reinforcing his reputation as one of the best players of his generation. #3 Karim Benzema Although Karim Benzema missed the World Cup, his incredible performance for Real Madrid and France has put him on the nominees' list. Further, his Ballon d’Or winning is another factor in being eligible for this list. In 2021/2022, Karim Benzema achieved a remarkable feat - he won the La Liga, the Supercopa de Espana, and the Champions League titles with Real Madrid! This success is proof of the strength of his talent and commitment to the sport. It is a great accomplishment for him and for the team as a whole. Read More: Ronaldo joins Saudi Club Al Nassr: End of an Era in European Football #4 Kevin De Bruyne Widely recognized as one of the finest midfielders in the world, Kevin De Bruyne has earned his praises through his impressive long-range passes, assists, and deadly goal-scoring ability. The Manchester City star shines on the pitch and is a top contender for any awards that are up for grabs. However, at the World Cup 2022, Kevin De Bruyne was unable to prevent Belgium’s aging team from an early exit in the group stage. His performance was far from impressive, leaving many feeling disappointed. But his incredible performance for Manchester City made him listed in the FIFA Men’s Player award. #5 Robert Lewandowski At the peak of his career, Robert Lewandowski has become one of the most renowned strikers in the world. His impressive goal-scoring record is well known, and he is being widely discussed as a potential recipient of both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best awards. The 34-year-old Polish international has made a name for himself in the footballing world. But, he could not put much effort into the national team at the World Cup. It seemed that this could be the last time we see Robert Lewandowski at a World Cup, and he did not have the successful tournament he had hoped for. Despite this, he still managed to score two goals at a World Cup, which is an impressive accomplishment. But, his club performance in Bayern Munich and Barcelona keep him on the best players list. Read More: SAFF U-20 Women's Championship kicks off in Dhaka February 3 Final Words These five players are the top contenders. However, among all the players, Messi is surely ahead in the race. His performance was hugely influential in Argentina’s success, helping them to defeat France in the penalty shootout. This result will undoubtedly give Messi a significant edge in the race to win the Best FIFA Men’s Player award 2022.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is criticizing successor Gianni Infantino’s plans for a 48-team World Cup and an expanded Club World Cup. In an interview with German weekly Die Zeit released Wednesday, Blatter said that “what is happening at the moment is an overcommercialization of the game.” “There are attempts to squeeze more and more out of the lemon — for example with the World Cup finals with 48 teams or now with a Club World Cup that must be viewed as direct competition to the Champions League,” he was quoted as saying. “FIFA is encroaching here on something that is actually none of its business, club soccer.” The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will be the first 48-nation tournament, meeting Infantino’s election pledge of a bigger and more inclusive World Cup going beyond European and South American teams. This year’s tournament in Qatar featured 32 teams. Earlier this month, Infantino called for a 32-team men’s Club World Cup in 2025. Read more: 2026 World Cup hosts take diplomatic handover from Qatar Blatter announced in June 2015 that he would resign early as FIFA president, in the fallout from a sprawling corruption investigation. He has long denied wrongdoing, saying in Wednesday’s interview that “I have never taken money that I didn’t earn — that’s why nothing on me could ever be proven in all the proceedings against me. And that will remain the case.” Infantino, a fellow Swiss, succeeded Blatter in 2016. Blatter told Die Zeit that he has “no relationship with Infantino” and that the current president “behaved disrespectfully because he has refused any contact with me since his election.” Blatter added that “he only communicates with me via lawyers.” Blatter claimed that he had repeatedly “tried to control the business,” for example in attempting to limit transfers of talented South American or African players to Europe. An attempt to introduce a pay cap for players also failed. Blatter said “we didn’t manage to protect soccer from economic and political influence.” Read more: Asia reworks qualifying format for 48-team World Cup in 2026 “I really tried always to serve soccer,” he said. “If in doing so I damaged it, then I am sorry.”

A parade to celebrate the Argentine World Cup champions was abruptly cut short Tuesday as millions of people poured onto thoroughfares, highways and overpasses in a chaotic attempt to catch a glimpse of the national team that won one of the great World Cup finals of all time. So many jubilant, flag-waving fans swarmed the capital that the players had to abandon the open-air bus transporting them to Buenos Aires and board helicopters for a capital flyover that the government billed as an aerial parade. “The world champions are flying over the whole route on helicopters because it was impossible to continue by land due to the explosion of people’s happiness,” Gabriela Cerruti, the spokesperson for President Alberto Fernández, wrote on social media. After flying over key points of Buenos Aires where fans had gathered, the helicopters returned to the headquarters of the Argentine Football Association outside the capital. Some fans continued celebrating in the streets, while others headed out of Buenos Aires with long faces, complaining they were unable to pay their respects to the team that brought home the country’s first World Cup trophy since 1986. “We’re angry because the government didn’t organize this properly so we could all celebrate,” said Diego Benavídez, 25, who had been waiting since early morning to see the team. “They stole the World Cup from us.” Others, however, took it in stride. Read: Huge crowds welcome Argentina team after World Cup victory “I’m not disappointed, we lived the party,” said Nicolás López, 33, who was in downtown Buenos Aires with his 7-year-old daughter. The parade was suspended shortly after two people jumped from a bridge onto the open-top bus carrying the players. One made it inside the bus, the other fell onto the pavement. Football association head Claudio Tapia blamed law enforcement for the changeup of plans. “The same security organisms that were escorting us are not allowing us to move forward,” Tapia wrote on social media. “I apologize in the name of all the champion players.” Toward nightfall, when most of the fans had already poured out of downtown Buenos Aires, there were isolated clashes between a few stragglers and law enforcemen. At least eight people were injured, according to local media reports. The incidents began when firefighters went to the Obelisk, the iconic Buenos Aires landmark that is the traditional site of celebrations, to evict a few people who had broken their way inside the monument. The bus had been moving at a snail’s pace for more than four hours through the throngs of humanity before the overland parade was cut short. Team Captain Lionel Messi and the rest of the players waved at the massive crowd as they carried the World Cup trophy aloft after securing the country’s third title. “This is madness, it’s indescribable,” said Brian Andreassi, 23, as he walked downtown wearing the team’s jersey. “There are no words.” The World Cup and the success of the Messi-led squad brought much-needed good news for a country stuck for years in economic doldrums and suffering one of the world’s highest inflation rates, with nearly 4-in-10 people living in poverty. “There’s an immense union among all Argentines — unity, happiness. It’s as if you can breathe another air, there’s another energy in the air,” said Victoria Roldán. “My body and heart are about to burst.” Carrying a World Cup replica, the 32-year-old and her 36-year-old sister, Mariana, were eager to catch a glimpse of the team and in particular its captain, Messi. “We’re dying to see him,” Roldán said. “Seeing him with that immense smile, with those bright eyes filled with hope, it really fills our heart with joy and happiness. ... I think that Leo has deserved it for years, and this was his moment.” The players were all smiles as they watched the multitudes hostling to get as close as possible to the bus. An estimated 4 million people were in the streets by Tuesday afternoon, according to local media citing police sources. “I celebrate the way the people took to the streets to honor our squad,” President Alberto Fernández wrote on social media after the parade was cut short. Read: 2026 World Cup hosts take diplomatic handover from Qatar Celebrating fans took over highways, avenues and the access routes into the capital as temperatures climbed to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Thousands had set up camp since early Tuesday morning at the Obelisk. The Argentine president declared a national holiday Tuesday so the country could celebrate the World Cup victory. The song “Muchachos,” which was written by a fan and became a popular unofficial anthem for the Argentine team at the World Cup, filled the streets as fans joined in singing it over and over again. Some fans also paid tribute to Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, the captain of the 1986 squad that won the World Cup and who died two years ago, with flags bearing his name and face. “This is for Diego, who’s seeing it from heaven,” fans chanted. “This is a party. The last time Argentina was a champion I was 3 years old, I don’t remember anything,” said Yael Torchinsky, 39. “I want to live this intensely because the Argentine people need this happiness.” By mid-afternoon, fans started filling up Plaza de Mayo in front of Government House, amid rumors the players might go there for a reprise of the festivities for Argentina’s 1986 World Cup victory that were held there. Fernández’s administration had offered the palatial mansion, popularly known as the Casa Rosada, or Pink House, according to Security Minister Aníbal Fernández. The raucous welcome for the team began before dawn as thousands of fans lined up upon their return from Qatar. The players were beaming as they descended from their plane in Ezeiza, outside Argentina’s capital, shortly before 3 a.m. onto a red carpet. Messi was the first one out, carrying the World Cup trophy, flanked by coach Lionel Scaloni, who put his arm around the captain as they walked past a sign that read, “Thank you, champions.” The team was welcomed by rock band La Mosca singing “Muchachos,” and several players, including Messi, could be seen singing the words as they boarded the bus taking them to the Argentine Football Association headquarters. It took the bus an hour to travel the 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) from the airport to AFA headquarters, where the players were welcomed with fireworks, and then spent the night. In the morning, Messi posted a photo on social media showing him hugging the World Cup trophy next to him while he slept.