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CDC reveals massive behind-the-scenes public health operation that kept FIFA World Cup fans safe
The CDC operated behind the scenes during the FIFA World Cup, deploying disease surveillance, wastewater monitoring, and real-time data dashboards.
World Cup lessons for Kansas City small business: Show passion, embrace local, be an 'experience'
Not every business saw a boost from visiting fans, but some leveraged a prime location, ingenuity in planning, or a personal connection to get a boost from the FIFA World Cup's stint in Kansas City.
Sports Illustrated brings together sports, fashion and entertainment at Beyond the Pitch New York
The night before the FIFA World Cup final, Sports Illustrated brought together some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment, music and fashion for its
São Paulo and Corinthians hit with transfer bans
São Paulo and Corinthians were each punished by FIFA with a transfer ban this Tuesday, according to ge.As a result, Tricolor is temporarily prohibited from registering new players. In Timão’s case...
🚨 For now: FIFA will NOT sanction Leandro Paredes
It has been confirmed that Leandro Paredes will not receive any sanction from FIFA following the incidents in the World Cup Final, where he struck Eric García in the throat. According to the BBC, th...
Sports and politics: No longer strange bedfellows
Sports has always billed itself as above petty indifferences, something that brings people together on the sanctity of the playing field. FIFA, the guardian of the soccer World Cup pledges to ensure accessibility to everyone, promising that each athlete will receive a reception that is “safe, welc...
The secret to successful sports organizations? Employees who feel safe enough to speak up
With major sporting events like Wimbledon and the FIFA World Cup drawing global attention this summer, new findings from a University of Florida researcher highlight an often-overlooked factor behind their success: the well-being of the employees working behind the scenes.
2026 FIFA World Cup
2026 FIFA Men's World Cup news, live scores, schedules, live streams, stats, standings, bracket and more from NBC Sports
FIFA Investigates Post-Match Scuffle Between Argentina And Spain Players
FIFA opened an investigation Monday after Spain’s celebrations on beating Argentina in the World Cup final took an ugly turn when players briefly clashed on the field.
UFC Freedom 250 Fails to Knock Out The Ratings
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) If UFC fans wanted one image to say, “Hey, Paramount+ is crushing it with their UFC rights deal,” I could provide that image. Here it is: (Reminder: this is my creation of the Nielsen Top 30, since Nielsen doesn’t combine the lists or include sports. I take all three lists and combine them. Some streaming TV shows probably have higher ratings than many of the films on this list.) Look at that! UFC Freedom 250 is number one! It topped the Nielsen “Top 30” list for shows and films that made the top ten the week of 15-June. So if you’re a UFC fan or supporter of Paramount+, that’s the good news for you this week. This program topped the ratings charts for one week. Everything else is bad news, or at least a huge caveat to that story, which I’ll explain today in the first part of this week’s Streaming Ratings Report—for the weeks of 8-June and 15-June—which is a double issue since I’ve been writing on a bunch of topics recently. UFC Freedom 250 is one of the biggest streaming events of the year, and super relevant to Paramount+’s strategy, so it merited its own article. Let’s dive in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of June 8th to June 21st 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Check Out My Interview on UFC 250 at MMA Draw After you read this article, if you want even more thoughts on UFC and Paramount-Skydance/Paramount+, I did a written interview with MMA Draw. They asked me to answer some questions about UFC Freedom 250, and I was happy to chat with them. Find it here: [ The MMA Draw Newsletter Did Paramount really overpay for the UFC? What the data tells us so far If you know the history of American television, you also know that combat sports is often a leading indicator of the future… Read more a day ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Nate Wilcox and Zach Arnold ](https://www.themmadraw.com/p/did-paramount-really-overpay-for?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) I never thought I’d need a combat sports newsletter in my life, but the good folks at MMA Draw publish an excellent one on UFC, MMA, pro wrestling, boxing and more, analyzing both the sports themselves and the politics, economics and antitrust issues that impact them. Check the article and their newsletter out! Paramount+ Has Its Best Sporting Event of All Time…But Was It Worth It? Before we look at the UFC Freedom 250 data in particular, let’s talk about what we can’t say. Namely, let’s start with the lack of comparisons. First off, I’d love to put a chart out comparing this fight to past UFC fights on Paramount+…but we don’t have the data. This is the first time we’ve gotten Nielsen data about a Paramount+ UFC fight. As far as I can tell, Paramount provided data for the first fight, but it was a proprietary datecdote (saying it had “an average minute audience” of 5 million “views”) and then, for two fights, we got the linear viewership numbers when they aired on CBS, but no streaming data. Everything else was crickets. We also can’t compare this fight to other fights/combat sports on streaming, in particular the MMA and boxing, because Netflix also didn’t use Nielsen to track those events, opting for TVision and VideoAmp, respectively. (This isn’t Paramount’s fault, but does still suck.) We also can’t compare to UFC’s fights that used to be on ESPN+, since we don’t have any data for that, plus Disney+ didn’t have marquee fights. The comparisons would not be apples-to-apples. Can we compare to past Pay-Per-View fights? Absolutely not. The comparisons would absolutely NOT be apples-to-apples. That didn’t stop Paramount+, though, who bragged that their UFC events have reached drastically more people than past PPV fights. Duh. Sorry, but I gotta make this point again. A basic tenet of economics is that the cheaper something becomes, the more people consume or buy it. That’s Econ 101. (Sometimes pundits call things “Econ 101” that are actually like Econ 210 or even PhD-level economics, but no, this is really like first or second class basic economics.) Yet I still see one analytics firm consistently say that more people watch films on streaming than PVOD proves streaming which means that the streaming window is more valuable than the PVOD window. No, it’s not! Same thing here. Pay-Per-View events back in the day could be really, really, really expensive! So whole groups of people pitched in to buy them. That increased the perceived value of, say, the Mike Tyson fight. Or a UFC numbered event. So yes, the fact that Paramount+ makes numbered UFC fights essentially “free” if you’re already a Paramount+ member means consumption will go up. Obviously. Same for Netflix and their boxing matches. They’re talking about fights that used to cost consumers, in some cases, $50 in 1996…which is over $100 in today’s dollars. Over 1.6 million people paid that to watch the Tyson-Holyfield fight! Again, streaming is essentially “free”. Or $10 to $20, depending on what streamer we’re talking about and what tier you’re on. No wonder more people are “watching”. (Plus, Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing also helps these numbers.) UFC Freedom 250 Did Well…But I Have A Lot of Worries So what can we compare the fights to? Well, the good news is Nielsen put out that the fight averaged 7.0 million viewers for UFC Freedom 250, which is a solid number for a fight. We also know the length, at roughly 4 and a half hours. (I saw different run times, but this seems to be the consensus considering it started at 8 pm, had a delay and then finished after midnight on the East Coast. If you assume a shorter run time, then yes, the total hours viewed would go down.) That means I have the two numbers needed to add this to my Nielsen database. And then…I can compare this viewership to the NFL: And, uh, not great. But also within striking distance, mainly because the runtime for this event was so long. I’d also add that this event had viewership equal to a regular season NFL game on streaming, but if anything, it was more comparable to an NFL playoff or Super Bowl-esque event. And you can compare viewership to the top football games on broadcast, cable and streaming, and it’s not impressive at all: We can also compare it to other sports that week, including the NBA Finals and start of the World Cup: Again, not great. The NBA generated roughly four times as many average viewers each game for its NBA Finals. The World Cup has similarly big numbers. Also, that’s just a tiny fraction of the 25 most watched sporting events each week. The NBA, NHL and FIFA World Cup had many, many more games racking up hours. We could also compare this to other streaming programs to get an idea of “is this a good investment?” and here is how it ranks compared to other top Paramount+ programs: The worry here? Well, unlike scripted programming, which has rewatchability, older fights/sporting events have very little library value. Very, very few people are rewatching these fights, especially years from now. Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers. Then, in their quarterly earnings report, they only ended up with 700K subs. Not great! They claimed they dropped lower-value international subscribers, but that’s why I tend to discount subscriber additions when they’re leaked to the press.1 I expect we may see a bump again for UFC Freedom 250, but I’d caution using subscriber growth so soon after these events to judge the success, since new subs with high churn (see Peacock) aren’t great either. Also, analysts often want to attribute all subscriber growth to their favorite/pet show, and that just doesn’t make sense. The biggest caveat for UFC Freedom 250 and Paramount’s very first UFC marquee event is that these could be high watermarks for the sport. UFC Freedom 250 had an incredible amount of earned media coverage compared to most UFC fights. I mean, it had wall-to-wall national news coverage in the lead up to the event. (The first fight also had a lot of promotion from Paramount since it was first.) Other fights could reach this bar—say the Conor McGregor return to the Octagon—but they’ll be fewer and far between. Was This Deal Worth It? All to ask: is this Paramount deal worth it? In this case, I think the UFC Freedom 250 numbers are more distracting than helpful. This fight did well and compares well to other top sporting events. But we know that the first marquee event was at least a third smaller, if Paramount’s own data is to be believed. And it’s likely the other fights are much, much, much smaller. And then you get to the paycheck that Paramount-Skydance paid. FIFA’s World Cup cost about the same for Fox, but clearly generated multiples more total viewership. (Though it’s only every four years.) The NBA is much more expensive, but until the playoffs, they likely didn’t pay for itself. Even still, Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video likely overpaid. So, in that context, the NBA may be an overpay that makes the UFC look not so bad. But two overpays don’t make an underpay, to paraphrase the old cliché about wrongs and rights. And looking at UFC Freedom 250 as the likely ceiling of MMA on Paramount+, Paramount-Skydance likely paid too much. Share 1 I would love regular reports on subscriber additions by programs, but as is, it’s mostly leaked or rumored in haphazard ways.
Celebrities from across sports, entertainment and more spotted at World Cup final
Making his first appearance at this year’s World Cup, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were joined in their suite by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana and more.
Argentina 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Final Mini-Movie 🇪🇸🇦🇷🎥
Spain and Argentina met on football’s biggest stage with the FIFA World Cup™ trophy on the line. Relive the emotion, intensity and unforgettable moments from the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Final in the official FOX Sports Mini-Movie.
Three political subplots from World Cup
The FIFA men’s World Cup has come and gone, with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s final to win the world’s top international soccer competition for the second time in the last 16 years.&nb…
Politics and Football Collide in FIFA Final
Support for Spain became a proxy for opposition to Donald Trump.
Fox may have already lost its World Cup breakout star in Zlatan Ibrahimović
Zlatan Ibrahimović appeared to bid farewell to Fox Sports after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, suggesting his time in the network’s studio was a one-tournament experiment. “You made it easy for me. I hope, America, you enjoyed it as much as I did, and this is also my farewell to the studio,” Ibrahimović said…
Victor Wembanyama’s World Cup Final Appearance Catch NBA World’s Attention
San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama was in attendance during the FIFA World Cup finale between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium (temporarily rebadged as New York New Jersey Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Wembanyama was shown on the broadcast mere minutes before the halftime break. His appearance caught the attention of the NBA World, […] The post Victor Wembanyama’s World Cup Final Appearance Catch NBA World’s Attention appeared first on HEAVY.
Spain wins 2026 FIFA World Cup; Hartford fans pack Trinity Health Stadium watch party
Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring one goal against Argentina in extra time to cap off a final that went scoreless through regulation.
4 Takeaways After Spain Beats Argentina In Extra Time To Win 2026 FIFA World Cup
Spain stands alone on top of the world. Here are four takeaways from the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Full 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show ⭐️
Check out the full 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Halftime Show during halftime of Spain vs Argentina
When Is The Next World Cup?
What to know about the next women's and men's FIFA World Cups.
IShowSpeed hypes 2026 World Cup Final with hit song ‘Champions’
YouTube star iShowSpeed pumps up Argentina and Spain fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final with his hit song "Champions."
Tom Cruise, IShowSpeed, and More to Headline World Cup Closing Ceremony
Tom Cruise, IShowSpeed, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, and Jennifer Hudson will headline FIFA's star-studded closing ceremony before the 2026 World Cup final at New York New Jerse...
Spain's Pau Cubarsí Wins 2026 World Cup Young Player Award
Spain's Pau Cubarsí has won the 2026 FIFA World Cup Young Player Award, given to the tournament's top player under the age of 21.
Infantino's 2026 World Cup Travels, By The Numbers
FIFA President Gianni Infantino got some serious air time over the course of the 2026 World Cup.
What Do The World Cup Third-Place Winners Get?
France and England face off for a third-place finish in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. What does the winner receive besides bronze recognition?
Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna and BTS: What to expect at the World Cup final halftime show that could break soccer's rules
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, Yahoo's taking a look at everything there is to know about the soccer organization's first-ever halftime show.
White House defends Argentina team over Falklands banner
The comments could further fuel the row over the incident, which has seen Downing Street back calls for Fifa to investigate.
Kansas City business owner wins Verizon’s live pitch competition timed to World Cup
Liz Benditt scored the final goal Friday, securing victory in a national pitch competition that began with more than 500 contenders before narrowing to a live, Shark Tank-style round at New York New Jersey Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup final.
Will Argentina be punished at the World Cup over a political banner?
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer supports a FIFA investigation into Argentina's players celebrating with a political banner on the field.
FIFA Merges Football, Gaming and Entertainment for the World Cup
Little Black Book, Campaign from Jung von Matt SPORTS features Tony Hawk, IShowSpeed, Squid Game, and Ronaldo
World Cup winners to be presented with championship rings in tournament first
FIFA described it as "bringing one of the most recognisable American sporting traditions to the global game".
Sports without politics is a fantasy and the World Cup proves it
From ancient Greece to Nazi Germany, sport and politics have long been intertwined. Nevertheless, we still imagine that international sport can be kept above the fray and serve as a neutral arena where nations compete on merit alone. In this article, diplomacy scholar Geoffrey Allen Pigman argues the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows this is a dangerous illusion. When international sport is left entirely to revenue-maximizing private bodies like FIFA, it doesn't escape politics, but rather surrenders to its worst expressions. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics fast approaching, the IOC must decide whether to learn that lesson or repeat the same mistakes. The largest and most lucrative FIFA World Cup ever draws toward its climactic conclusion amidst a swirl of controversy. Team members, staff, fans, and spectators have been denied their right to enter the United States to participate, and US President Donald Trump intervened with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to overturn a referee’s call that Trump believed disadvantaged the US national team. It is a moment to step back and reflect on what the purposes of international sport mega-events like the World Cup, and international sport more broadly, are, and what they should be. Does international sport serve public purposes? Is there a public interest? Or is it primarily a private endeavor organized by commercial enterprises to entertain the global public (and generate profit in the process), which is occasionally used by governments and leaders for raisons d’etat? Central to the idea of sport is the principle of fair play, which in the international context demands that games be free from political interference. However, it is impossible to separate sport from politics, all claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The most positive political use of international sport through the millennia has been to facilitate diplomacy. The use of international sport for diplomatic objectives has existed since at least the time of the ancient Olympic Games, around which was instituted the custom of the Ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, between participating states to facilitate fair competition and diplomatic achievements by ensuring that participants could travel safely to the Olympiad. In his seminal work On Diplomacy (1987), diplomacy scholar James Der Derian characterized the objectives of diplomacy as overcoming alienation and mediating estrangement between governments and between peoples. One increasingly important diplomatic tool in the technology-infused media environment over the past century has been public diplomacy, under which governments and non-state diplomatic actors (e.g. transnational corporations) communicate to global publics about their international policy objectives and to shape their global brand image. Political scientist Michał Kobierecki, in his important book Sports Diplomacy (2020), views sports diplomacy as falling broadly within the ambit of public diplomacy, as international sport intimately involves the participation of global publics as spectators and consumers of global media. Diplomacy scholar Stuart Murray and this author, in a 2013 article, distinguish between international sport used for diplomatic purposes and international sport-as-diplomacy, which encompasses the range of diplomacy that occurs as teams and competitors, spectators and fans, and government officials all converge for international sporting events like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. Diplomacy scholar H.E. Chehabi, in a 2001 article on US-Iran sports diplomacy, describes the interaction between spectators and fans at international sporting events as “people-to-people diplomacy,” in which relationships develop independently of governments and their objectives. Diplomacy by the aforementioned definitions is often unsuccessful. Moreover, all too often the tools of diplomacy may be employed by governments and other actors to thwart or oppose the objectives of diplomacy as characterized by Der Derian. Governments routinely use the tools of public diplomacy to disseminate propaganda, spreading misinformation in the attempt to deceive global publics about their objectives and to create misleading impressions about their brand identity. Within sports diplomacy, the term “sportswashing” has been coined recently to describe how governments invest in and promote international sport to create positive global public impressions of their nations and, in doing so, to distract the global public from their deficient records in areas such as human rights and democratic governance. Murray, in his 2018 book Sports Diplomacy: Origins, Theory and Practice, introduces the concept of sports anti-diplomacy, wherein governments intentionally use international sport to advance aggressive and nationalistic objectives. Obvious historical examples include Hitler’s use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics to glorify his Third Reich and the 1969 El Salvador-Honduras football “war.” SUGGESTED READING The beautiful game made ugly By Emily Ryall FIFA argues that it is and seeks to be apolitical in its stewardship of international Association Football (soccer). FIFA policies governing bids to host the World Cup require uninhibited and non-discriminatory access for players, team staff, and spectators of all participating countries to host nations and venues. It became clear soon after Trump returned to power in the United States in January 2025 that Trump’s political intentions and objectives to limit non-US citizens from living and working in the United States and, in numerous cases, even visiting the country, would collide with FIFA’s host nation policies. Beginning soon after the start of the second Trump administration, US federal authorities imposed restrictions on entry to the United States of citizens of between 20 and 40 countries for any purpose, with only limited exceptions. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began arresting non-US citizens in the United States, including persons with and without legal status, holding them in jails, concentration camps, and other detention facilities until they were deported to their home or third countries, where they faced substantive risks to their personal safety. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, in an effort to ensure the most successful and lucrative World Cup in history, engaged diplomatically with President Trump in an attempt to facilitate entry to the US for World Cup participants. Infantino did all in his power to ingratiate himself with Trump, to the extent of creating a FIFA “Peace Prize,” which he awarded to Trump in December 2025 at a ceremony in the then Trump-controlled John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on the occasion of the World Cup draw. The prize was an ersatz consolation for someone who aspired in vain to win the rather more prestigious and well-known Nobel Peace Prize. And in the run-up to the World Cup, conditions became worse. In February 2026, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a war of aggression against Iran, illegal under international law, under the false pretence that Iran’s government was preparing to attack the United States and Israel. During the US aerial bombardment of Iran, US planes bombed Azadi Stadium, the facility where Iran’s national football team trained. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, it was clear that Infantino’s efforts had been for naught: the Trump administration would not adhere to FIFA policies governing access to World Cup host nations. World Cup referee Omar Artan, a citizen of Somalia, was denied a US visa to enter the United States to participate in the World Cup. Trump’s government only granted US visas to Iran’s football team ten days before they were scheduled to arrive for the tournament. Numerous members of the support staff for Iran’s team were denied US visas. Iran’s team, which had been scheduled to train in Arizona, was directed to shift its training site to Tijuana, Mexico, notwithstanding that all three of their group stage matches took place at US venues. The US Department of Homeland Security only permitted the Iranian team to enter the US on the day before each scheduled match and then to return to Mexico immediately after playing. Members of Iraq’s and Switzerland’s football teams were delayed for hours by US officials at the US border, and an Iraqi team photographer was refused entry. Spectators and fans from Haïti and Iran were denied entry to the United States altogether. A large number of fans from a range of countries had their applications for US visas rejected. There were multiple off-ramps through which participants could have avoided the negative consequences of Trump’s decisions for the 2026 World Cup. Once it was clear that the Trump government intended to violate the established expectations for World Cup hosts, FIFA could have shifted the matches scheduled to take place in the United States to Mexico and Canada. The three nations were already designated as co-hosts, and host cities and venues had been selected. Once it was clear that FIFA, governed by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino’s dependent and dysfunctional relationship with Trump, would never consider this option on its own, it fell to the national football federations to act. The national federations, particularly some combination of federations of the leading contenders (France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, England, Germany, etc.), could have refused to participate under the US-imposed conditions or, at the least, demanded an ironclad agreement with the Trump government that FIFA policies on access would be respected. ___ International sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. ___ Why did neither FIFA nor the national football federations act to protect the interests of players, team staff, referees, fans, and spectators? In essence, the relentless engines of capitalism prevailed over norm observance, ethics, and fair play. The revenue interests of FIFA, sponsors, global media, and host cities won out. FIFA’s managers viewed hosting another World Cup principally in the United States as a veritable pot of gold for FIFA and its collaborators. FIFA has estimated its own revenue over the 2023-26 budget cycle, which includes the 2026 World Cup, at $13 billion, revised up from an initial projection of $11 billion, and 72% higher than the previous revenue cycle. Of that total, FIFA is estimated to have generated $8.9 billion from the Cup itself in revenue from TV rights ($3.92 billion), sponsorships ($2.69 billion), ticket sales ($3.1 billion), licensing rights, and other sources. A joint study by FIFA and the World Trade Organization estimates that the World Cup will contribute over $40 billion to global GDP, including nearly $14 billion in direct visitor spending in the three host countries (but principally in the United States, which hosted the lion’s share of the matches). The FIFA World Cup is now reportedly “the single most lucrative recurring commercial property in global sport.” And yet, notwithstanding the Trump government’s uses of the World Cup for sports anti-diplomacy, and the climate of anxiety that this created for participants and spectators, diplomacy that did not depend upon governments was able to thrive at the World Cup. Examples of successful people-to-people diplomacy were legion, as citizens of towns and cities across the States, as well as in Mexico and Canada, welcomed team members, their families and supporters, to training sites across North America. Fans of different teams joined together in person in stadiums for matches, at watch parties and bars, and at welcome events sponsored by host cities. The joy and camaraderie shared between the citizenry of Boston and Scotland’s “Tartan Army” of fans is but one example of how the “Beautiful Game” brings people together. Friendships forged across continents are likely to endure well beyond the Cup final. Even those achievements cannot be seen as unalloyed, however. As South African football fan Byron Pillay commented to Al Jazeera, “Football is called the Beautiful Game for a reason, for its ability to unite people. But it’s hard to believe in that magic with the politics and war rhetoric off the field of play, especially when one of the tournament hosts is central to that.” Ultimately, the experience of the 2026 FIFA World Cup illustrates that, as international sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. As long as there is the possibility of diplomatic progress in mediating estrangement between governments or between peoples, there is a broad and overarching public interest in international sport. Likewise, as it would be difficult to put on an international sport mega-event without international sporting organizations like FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), global media firms, and companies purchasing sponsorships, public and private interests in international sport must coexist, most likely somewhere on a shifting spectrum between partnership and rivalry or cross purposes. As the World Cup wraps up, the IOC needs to consider its lessons before the scheduled 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if they want to avoid a media-hyped Trump version of the 1936 Berlin Olympiad. The IOC and the National Olympic Committees need to set conditions on and make demands of Trump’s government with clearly articulated consequences for non-compliance, up to and including cancellation of the Games. Time is running out for the IOC, as unlike with the FIFA World Cup, there is no at-the-ready alternate venue for Los Angeles.
Tiffany Naiman Breaks Down the World Cup Halftime Entertainment Show - The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
The 2026 World Cup brought a renewed focus on entertainment. Tiffany Naiman, director of the Berry Gordy Music Industry Center, explores why music has become central to FIFA's global strategy and examines its partnership with the Recording Academy.
Keir Starmer Calls For FIFA To Investigate Argentina Over Controversial Falklands Banner
After beating England, the Argentinian team unfurled a banner that read “Malvinas are Argentinian,” a reference to the British-administered Falkland Islands.
UK says Falkland Islands 'definitely ours' after Argentina banner
Argentina could be disciplined by Fifa for the celebrations after the World Cup win over England.
Laurens: Half-time shows should be left to American sports
Laurens: Half-time shows should be left to American sports
Sports World Reacts To Argentina's Comeback Win vs. England In World Cup Semis
The sports world was sent into a frenzy over another stunning Argentina comeback at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this time over England in the semifinals.
"Hydration breaks" can help the "beautiful game" become a beautiful business
The 2026 World Cup has seen the "hydration break" become a point of contention, with in-stadium fans repeatedly booing (and the FIFA-fearful broadcasters not inclined to mention it) and Fox laughing all the way to the bank.
Atlanta leaders hope FIFA World Cup sparks long-term business investment and economic growth
Metro Atlanta's business leaders say the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup is creating new international partnerships they hope will translate into lasting future economic opportunities.
2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule: Bracket, matches, dates, locations, group tables, results, how to watch
The full schedule with dates, times and stadiums for all 104 games at the 2026 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappé Misses The Final, But He Is Already A World Cup Legend
Despite coming up just short in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Kylian Mbappé has compiled a World Cup résumé that is simply unbelievable.
Four small businesses to compete in finals of Verizon’s Small Business Super Pitch
Selected from a nationwide competition, four businesses will make live pitches to judges including soccer legend and entrepreneur Carli Lloyd, then head to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ FinalNEW YORK, July 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Friday, July 17, 2026, days before the world’s top two soccer teams battle for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, a different kind of high-stakes championship is taking place just minutes away. Four American small businesses will gather at the Antique Loft in Hoboken, NJ to g
Europeans Have 'Changed' Their Opinion Of America During World Cup
It's official: Europeans have changed their opinion of America during the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. Thousands of Europeans, from countries like England, Norway, Switzerland, Spain, etc. flocked to North America for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. While the United States, Mexico and Canada acted as ...
Infantino opens door to 64-team World Cup
Plans for a 64-team men's world cup are set to be picked up and assessed in detail after the 2026 tournament with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino saying football needs to be "for the whole world".
Have your say on the World Cup semi-finals 🤔
France vs Spain and England vs Argentina — who will advance to the grand FINAL of the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Share your thoughts on the final in the comments!The decisive matches will take place on Tu...
‘What a joke’: World Cup referee mistake sparks outrage
Sunday afternoon’s FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match between England and Norway was a hard-fought battle that took extra time to decide a victor. However, the match was marred by controversy after what appeared to be a clear referee mistake. On England’s equalizing goal late in the first half, the ball appeared to hit a camera…
South Florida businesses report economic boom, as FIFA officials estimate a billion dollar economic impact
Erling Haaland's Father Rips FIFA Referee After Norway Loss
The England-Norway game wasn't without some serious controversy and while Erling Haaland himself will take it all in stride, his father doesn't have to.
2026 World Cup: FIFA disputes sky-cam wire contact as controversial calls help England past Norway
Norway fell 2-1 to England in extra time after a goal in the second half was overturned.
Norway's other World Cup campaign: Getting Israel kicked out of soccer - Live Updates
The Scandinavian country is playing a long game in the Middle East, using institutional pressure rather than fan protest or outspoken players to get Israel suspended from FIFA.
Chiefs and Sporting KC leaders say World Cup brought Kansas City to international stage
The top executives of the Kansas City Chiefs and Sporting KC said local residents and the thousands of domestic and international visitors will remember Kansas City's role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA is not an independent sporting organisation; it is a political tool.
Football fans around the world are only now finding out what Palestinians have long known.
Celebrities flock to 2026 FIFA World Cup matches worldwide
Tom Cruise and David Beckham were among the celebrities seen at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA World Cup schedule July 11: Games, kickoff times, livestream
Spots in the semi finals are there for the taking.
FIFA Rolls Out Major VAR Update Amid World Cup Criticism
FFIFA has introduced a big change to its VAR operations for the World Cup.
2026 FIFA World Cup - Watch and Stream Live Matches
Stream live Men's FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and view the latest news, analysis, schedule, groups, odds, predictions, where to watch and more at FOX Sports.
Bar business in Queens booming during FIFA World Cup
The World Cup Is Triggering a Massive Economic Boom. Here's Why Some Major Business Hubs Are Missing Out
Two major economic powerhouses have not been participating in the FIFA groundswell.
Seattle business owners hope Club World Cup improvements become permanent
Business owners say downtown looked better than ever during the tournament, but they'd like to see long-term solutions to keep it that way.
The Young Star vs. The Old Guard: What To Know For Spain vs. Belgium
What to know about the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal match between Spain and Belgium.
Cedarville Student Helps Broadcast FIFA World Cup for FOX Sports
Cedarville University junior Tayler Sharp is interning with FOX Sports during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, gaining hands-on experience in international sports...
Referees’ reputations are being impugned by politicians. FIFA needs to defend them
Officials just want to do their jobs quietly but when they are targeted by politicians with agendas, they need protecting
Argentina faces FBI investigation amid World Cup run
Led by international superstar Lionel Messi, the Argentinian soccer team has reached the quarterfinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as it looks to defend its 2022 World Cup title. However, in addition to the challenge on the field, it sounds like the team is going to have to contend with a legal battle. As…
Bringing the data to every sideline
MIT PhD student Henry Wang studies how data and technology can improve the way sports are played, analyzed, and refereed. Working in the MIT Sports Lab in collaboration with FIFA, he develops systems with the goals of helping referees make faster, more accurate decisions and expanding access to performance analytics across the globe.
Justin Bieber and More Join World Cup Final Halftime Show Featuring Madonna, Shakira and BTS
NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Bieber will bring his swag to the World Cup's star-studded, Super Bowl-style halftime show, joining fellow headliners Madonna, Shakira and BTS, FIFA announced Wednesday. Afrobeats star Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus — a choir of elementary ...
2026 FIFA World Cup bracket, results, scores: Round of 16 results, quarterfinals matchups, path to the final
The tournament is now into the round of 16 as the stakes get higher and higher
Two U.S. soccer team staff members suspended by FIFA for Belgium World Cup game
FIFA did not explain why it imposed the discipline
From KSU Owl Network to FIFA World Cup, alumna builds sports media career
In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Kennesaw State University alumna Maddie Crews ’24 marked her calendar for 49 consecutive days of covering the competition for multiple media outlets.
From chicken, waffles to luxury hotels: FIFA World Cup 2026 boosts Houston businesses
A Grambling State University student working at a Houston café and a century-old downtown hotel are among the local businesses feeling the financial impact of FIFA World Cup 2026 and the numbers tell the story.
Switzerland vs Colombia Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup™
Check out the full game highlights between Switzerland and Colombia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. Announced by Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves.
There is ‘a lot’ of politics in the world of soccer: WH World Cup task force executive director
White House World Cup task force executive director Andrew Giuliani discusses controversy around FIFA's decision to lift U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension on ‘The Story.’
Argentina 3-2 Egypt: Hossam Hassan says officiating 'unfair' and World Cup 'directed towards' reigning champions
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan criticised refereeing during dramatic 3-2 loss to Argentina in World Cup last 16; Enzo Fernandez scored late header to win game after Egypt had two penalty claims waved away; Hassan said refereeing was unfair; Sky Sports News has approached FIFA for comment
Argentina vs Egypt Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup™
Check out the full game highlights between Argentina and Egypt in the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. Announced by Derek Rae and Rob Green.
The World Cup Stood as a Break From U.S. Politics. Then Trump Got Involved.
The president’s call to the head of FIFA underscores that he has yet to find an area of American, or even global, life where he is unwilling to assert himself.
Trump's FIFA call opens a 'slippery slope,' says sports columnist Christine Brennan
NPR's A Martinez speaks with USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan about the World Cup match between the U.S. and Belgium and the lifted suspension of a U.S. star forward.
From The Sports Desk: Belgium demolishes the U.S. 4-1, and then trolls it afterward
“Overturn this,” Belgium posted on social media, a reference to FIFA suspending a one-game suspension for Folarin Balogun, the American striker, and allowing him to play in the match.
Trump’s request for a review of Folarin Balogun’s red card has become a global test of FIFA’s political neutrality
The U.S. striker’s red-card ban was suspended after President Trump personally asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino for a review.
Arizona fans cheer Balogun’s return but fear politics in soccer
Arizona soccer fans welcome Folarin Balogun’s return, but Trump’s role in FIFA’s reversal has some worried that politics is entering the World Cup.
CNBC Daily Open: Dow hits new high and football gets political
U.S. markets return in a celebratory mood, with the Dow crossing 53,000 and the Nasdaq rising amid a chip rebound.
‘Profoundly corrupt’: The EU’s leading FIFA critic sharpens his attack - Live Updates
European lawmaker Barry Andrews savages the world football governing body after U-turn on American star's suspension.
FIFA Facing Major Michael Olise Decision Following Flo Balogun News
France is looking to push FIFA to rescind the yellow card that star forward Michael Olise was assessed.
Recapping USA's Run At The 2026 FIFA World Cup
The United States fell short of a quarterfinal berth, but its memorable 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign gave fans plenty to celebrate. Here’s a full tournament recap.
FIFA's red card reversal: Fair play or political interference?
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended US striker Folarin Balogun's one-game red card ban in exchange for a probationary period of one year.The decision was announced after President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the red card.The suspended red card means Balogun can play in Monday night's win-or-go-home match in Seattle versus Belgium.But the decision has faced harsh criticism from fans and The Union of European Football Associations, which said the red card suspension "crossed a red line."What does the red card debacle tell us about political interference in elite soccer?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Jeffrey Pierre and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Kai McNamee.It was edited by William Troop and Tinbete Ermyas.Or interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.
FIFA disciplinary committee fines USMNT's Folarin Balogun $40,000, defends postponing red card suspension by 1 year
'Accidental American' Balogun at Crossroads of US, Soccer Politics at World Cup
Explore the fascinating story of Folarin Balogun and his pivotal moment in the World Cup amidst politics and identity.
Red card reversal of Folarin Balogun only latest example of politics entering sports arena
President Donald Trump talked about his conversation with FIFA President Gianni Infantino before the sport's governing body reversed the red card suspension against U.S. player Folarin Balogun.
What Trump’s FIFA Scandal Says About His Politics
Now the whole world is getting a lesson in presidential coercion.
Portugal’s Best Moments 2026 FIFA World Cup™ 🇵🇹
Check out Portugal’s 2026 FIFA World Cup™ best moments.
Rally planned at Hing Hay Park to draw World Cup fans to Chinatown-International District
With one FIFA World Cup match remaining in Seattle, business owners in the Chinatown-International District are making one final push to draw in global soccer fans as the neighborhood has struggled with sales.
Socialist mayor Katie Wilson silent amid protests over ‘human dumping ground’ ahead of US World Cup match
CID businesses report a major decline in foot traffic during the FIFA World Cup as residents protest Mayor Katie Wilson over crime and drug dealing.
Adidas Unveils New Match Ball For 2026 World Cup
Adidas has revealed the official match ball that will be used during the final stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
World Cup 2026: Belgium has appeal denied after FIFA reversed USMNT's Folarin Balogun 1-game ban after red card
U.S. Citizens Announce They're 'Rooting For Belgium' Tonight
Multiple U.S. citizens have announced on social media that they are "rooting for Belgium" on Monday night. The U.S. men's national team is taking on Belgium in the Round of 16. The Americans are in the middle of a World Cup controversy. FIFA has suspended the red card issued to star striker Folarin ...
Sports analyst on Trump’s involvement in FIFA suspension reversal: ‘Never seen anything like it’
Entertainment headlines with TMZ
TMZ's Branson Quirke joins Good Day Austin's Dave Froehlich to talk the latest entertainment headlines, including the Swift-Kelce wedding, the FIFA World Cup, and more.
Cote: Balogun back for U.S. is Trump, politics invading this World Cup
Folarin Balogun playing for U.S. vs. Belgium despite red card is blatant indication FIFA, Trump and politics have invaded the pitch in this World Cup.