Latest news with #49thUEFACongress
Morocco World
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
After UK Took 2035 Women's World Cup, Portugal, Spain, Morocco Eye 2039 Bid
Doha – The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced Thursday it is exploring a joint bid with Spain and Morocco to host the 2039 FIFA Women's World Cup, following England's confirmation as the 2035 host country. 'The Portuguese Football Federation and its two counterparts aim to submit a joint bid to organize the World Cup scheduled for 2039,' the Portuguese federation stated in an official communication. The announcement comes after an earlier bid for 2035 fell through when UEFA backed the United Kingdom's solo candidacy. Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Rafael Louzán had announced last Friday their intention to bid for 2035 alongside Morocco and Portugal, but the proposal faced immediate obstacles. According to sources within UEFA, Louzán's announcement caught European football officials off guard, as they were already aligned with England's bid. 'Given that the concurrent participation of the three 2030 host countries would not be possible, it was decided not to continue and to pursue other alternatives to strengthen women's football,' officials from Las Rozas explained. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed during the 49th UEFA Congress in Belgrade that only one valid European bid was received for 2035. The English FA's Chief Executive Mark Bullingham welcomed their unopposed status. 'Hosting the first World Cup since 1966 with our friendly nations will be very special. The hard work starts now,' he stated. The three countries' renewed focus on 2039 builds upon their existing collaboration for the 2030 men's World Cup. Spain currently ranks second in FIFA's women's rankings, with Portugal at 22nd and Morocco at 60th. Spanish national women's team coach Montse Tomé, speaking before the bid withdrawal, had supported hosting the tournament. 'It would be a great joy if Spain could be among the options to bring the Women's World Cup to our country,' she had said. 'Having experienced the 2019 World Cup in France, I've seen how it increased attention to our national team.' The FIFA timeline for the 2035 World Cup host selection will conclude during the organization's 76th Congress in the second quarter of 2026, marking the first instance where two tournaments – 2031 and 2035 – will be assigned simultaneously. The United States and Mexico remain the sole bidders for 2031. Tags: MoroccoPortugalSpainWomen's World Cup
Reuters
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Global football boss Infantino hopeful of Russia return
April 3 (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday he hoped Russia could rejoin the global football world soon, as it would signify that the war in Ukraine was over. Russian clubs and the national team have been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions since the country invaded Ukraine in February 2022. "As talks are going on for peace in Ukraine, I hope that we can soon move to the next page, bring back, as well, Russia in the football landscape because this would mean that everything is solved," Infantino said at the 49th UEFA Congress in Belgrade. "That's what we have to cheer for, that's what we have to pray for — because that is what football is about. It's not about dividing, it's about uniting girls, uniting boys, uniting people from wherever they are." UEFA Aleksander Ceferin echoed Infantino's remarks. "When the war stops, (Russia) will be readmitted," Ceferin told the UEFA Congress closing press conference. Ceferin said he strongly opposed a proposal FIFA is considering to increase the number of teams in the 2030 World Cup to 64 to mark the centenary of the sport's marquee event. Morocco, Spain and Portugal are hosting the tournament, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, where the inaugural World Cup was held in 1930, set to host three games. The New York Times reported that Ignacio Alonso, President of the Uruguayan FA, proposed the one-off expansion at last month's FIFA Council. "This proposal was maybe even more surprising for me than for you," Ceferin said. "I think it's a bad idea. I think it's not a good idea for the World Cup itself, and it's not a good idea for our qualifiers as well. "So I'm not supporting that idea. I don't know where it came from. It's strange that we didn't know anything before this proposal at the end of FIFA Council." The World Cup has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams for next year's edition in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Ceferin did not object to this year's Club World Cup, which has drawn criticism for creating a busy summer for players. "Now, the Club World Cup is happening, and that's it," Ceferin said. "Clubs from Europe wanted it, and I don't see his kind of competition to our competition. It will be more matches for some of the players." The Club World Cup runs from June 14 to July 13 in the U.S.
New York Times
03-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopeful on Russia return to football ‘soon'
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he is hopeful Russia can be introduced back into the football fold 'soon'. Russia's national and domestic teams have been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions since the country's illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia and Ukraine held U.S.-mediated peace talks in Saudi Arabia last month, and speaking at the 49th UEFA Congress in Belgrade, Serbia on Thursday, Infantino said he was hoping for Russia's return to football as this would signify that the war was over and 'everything was solved'. Advertisement 'As talks are going on for peace in Ukraine, I hope that we can soon move to the next page, bring back, as well, Russia in the football landscape because this would mean that everything is solved,' the FIFA president said. 'That's what we have to cheer for, that's what we have to pray for — because that is what football is about. It's not about dividing, it's about uniting girls, uniting boys, uniting people from wherever they are.' Russia's ban from football has remained in place for three years but talk about the country's return to the sporting landscape has increased in recent months following comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump and Zoran Lakovic, UEFA's director of national associations. Trump has described Infantino as 'my friend for a long time,' and in February Infantino defended his close relationship with the U.S. President. 'It's important for the world, much more than for football, that we have peace,' Infantino said in March. 'If there is a little role that football can play once peace has been achieved, of course we'll play our role. We look forward (to when) all countries in the world can play football.' Asked specifically if Trump had spoken to him about Russia returning to the World Cup, Infantino replied: 'No. I think there are more important topics to discuss when you discuss peace than about a football tournament.' In February, the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) condemned the prospect of Russia's return before a peace deal between the two countries is agreed and the war ends. Lakovic had said, as reported by Russian news outlet Izvestia, he hoped in 2025 'Russian sport will finally return to its former place: the peak of European sport'. A UAF statement to The Athletic on February 28 read: 'Sport cannot exist separately from fundamental values such as peace, respect, and fair play. Advertisement 'Allowing Russia to compete would normalise aggression, undermine the principles upon which international sports are built and would mean ignoring the suffering of thousands of Ukrainians, including members of the football community, who have lost their lives defending our country.' In September 2023, UEFA had announced plans to allow Russian Under-17 teams to compete in its competitions, but the proposals were later withdrawn. (Predrag Milosavljevic/AFP via Getty Images)
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
FIFA confirms U.S.-Mexico, UK as sole bidders for 2031, 2035 Women's World Cups
FIFA confirms U.S.-Mexico, UK as sole bidders for 2031, 2035 Women's World Cups FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the United States-Mexico and the United Kingdom are the sole respective bidders for the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cups. Infantino made the announcement on Thursday at the 49th UEFA Congress in Belgrade, Serbia. Should a compliant bid be submitted by the end of 2025, this will pave the way for the UK to host the Women's World Cup for the first time. The U.S. last hosted in 2003, having previously done so four years earlier, while Mexico has never staged games. Advertisement The Football Associations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland announced in March they would be submitting a collective expression of interest to host the 2035 tournament, seemingly leaving the U.S. and Mexico as the sole bidders for 2031. U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Soccer Federation announced last April their intention to lodge a joint bid for the 2031 tournament. The two federations withdrew their bid for the 2027 World Cup to instead focus on 2031. At March's FIFA council meeting, football's international governing body had invited federations affiliated to UEFA or the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to bid for the 2035 tournament. Reports in Spain had suggested Spain, Morocco and Portugal were planning to launch a rival bid for 2035. The three federations will jointly host the men's competition in 2030. reported in March that the U.S.-Mexico bid was exploring staging matches in Costa Rica and Jamaica. Sources familiar with discussions, speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated early-stage conversations about hosting a limited amount of fixtures in the two CONCACAF countries had taken place. Advertisement 'We are honoured to be the sole bidder for the FIFA women's World Cup 2035,' English FA CEO Mark Bullingham said. 'Hosting the first FIFA World Cup since 1966 with our home nations partners will be very special. The hard work starts now, to put together the best possible bid by the end of the year Infantio added: 'Today, I can also confirm that as part of the bidding process, we received one bid for '31 and one bid — valid bid, I should add — for '35. The '31 bid is from the United States of America and potentially some other Concacaf members together. And the '35 bid is from Europe, from the home nations. 'So, the path is there for the Women's World Cup to be taking place in '31 and '35 in some great countries, in some great nations, to boost even more the women's football movement.' Member associations will be required to formally submit their bids to FIFA in the final quarter of this year. Advertisement This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Soccer, Sports Business, UK Women's Football, Women's World Cup 2025 The Athletic Media Company
