FIFA Organization

FIFA announces proposal to change kickoffs and get rid of the center circle

The iconic lines of the soccer field could be seeing dramatic change. FIFA is proposing a plan to get rid of the center circle at midfield in attempt to make kickoffs more exciting.

The center circle has a ten-yard radius and is in place to keep opponents away from the team kicking off.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has stated that the game of football is constantly evolving, and the governing body must adapt even if that means changing the field. 

CONMEBOL president says it would be a mistake not to let South America host 2030 World Cup

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) believes FIFA would be making a mistake to not award the 2030 World Cup to a joint bid from Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile, the regional governing body said at its 76th Congress on Friday.

With the slogan "Juntos" (together) and the promise of a "Centenary Cup", CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez called on FIFA to award the World Cup to the continent where it began.

Indonesia stripped of U-20 World Cup hosting rights after refusing to host Israel’s team

Indonesia has been stripped of the right to host this year's Under-20 soccer World Cup, FIFA said on Wednesday.

The decision to stop Indonesia staging the May 20-June 11 tournament was taken after the country's football federation (PSSI) said it had canceled the draw because the governor of the largely Hindu island of Bali refused to host Israel's team.

"FIFA has decided, due to the current circumstances, to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023," a FIFA statement said.

FIFA aims for equal prize money between men's and women's World Cups by 2027

KIGALI - Prize money for the 2023 Women's World Cup will be $150 million, 10 times what it was in 2015 and three times the amount of 2019, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced in his closing remarks to the 73rd FIFA Congress on Thursday.

The figure, however, is still considerably lower than the $440 million total prize money awarded at the men's World Cup in Qatar last year.

In what would be a first for women, Infantino wants some of the prize money to go to the players.

2026 World Cup format revealed: 4 more groups, 40 more games, 11 billion more dollars

In America, there's a very sizable contingent of once-every-four-year fans who usually only get their soccer fix via the rare SportsCenter highlight or through that one friend who's always at the Irish pub early on Saturdays. But when the World Cup rolls around, this crowd appreciates and gets down with the month-long spectacle, making the U.S. feel as soccer-mad as any other country on the planet.

FIFPRO: Who thought a November-December World Cup was a good idea?

MANCHESTER, England - Global soccer players union FIFPRO said that the World Cup should never again be squeezed into a November-December window, and that Raphaël Varane's international retirement should ring alarm bells about the sport's smothering schedule.

FIFPRO released their World Cup 2022 Post-Tournament Review and Player Survey on Thursday, and said the results confirmed their fears around players' mental and physical fatigue and injury risk.

Check out the official Women's World Cup poster for Australia and New Zealand

With kick-off less than 20 weeks away (135 days) and Wednesday serving as the global celebration of International Women's Day, FIFA marked the occasion by unveiling the official poster for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The main poster is accompanied by one for each of the nine host cities, "highlighting the iconic and historical landmarks, wildlife and vibrant cultures that are unique to each."

FIFA's appointment of supermodel Adriana Lima leaves former players stunned

FIFA's appointment of supermodel Adriana Lima as its global fan ambassador in a Women's World Cup year is "baffling" and sends the wrong message to players and fans, former FIFA Council member Moya Dodd said.

Brazilian Lima will "develop, promote and participate in several global initiatives" in her role as FIFA's first global fan ambassador, the governing body said in a statement on Monday.

Remember World Cup stoppage time? It'll be the norm next club season

On Saturday in London, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) gathers for its 137th annual general meeting regarding the Laws of the Game.

President of France's soccer federation resigns amid harassment allegations

PARIS — Noel Le Graet has resigned as president of France's soccer federation amid allegations of harassment and sexual harassment and a government ministry audit this month that concluded the 81-year-old no longer had "the necessary legitimacy" for the job.

Le Graet, head of the French Football Federation since 2011, stepped back last month amid a legal investigation into allegations against him of sexual and moral harassment and after an audit and report commissioned by the sports ministry.

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