Governing Bodies
DECISION ON 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP STADIUMS TO BE DELAYED BY COVID-19 PANDEMIC
BY ALI IVESON
The decision on which venes in the United States will host FIFA World Cup matches in 2026 looks set to be pushed back as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The United Bid – a joint bid of the US, Mexico and Canada – listed 24 potential venues in its winning proposal, with eight of those set to be cut, leaving 16.
Three in Mexico and three in Canada are confirmed already, leaving 17 American cities to battle it out for the right to host matches.
Two stadiums were put forward for Los Angeles – the Rose Bowl and the under-construction SoFi Stadium.
Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) President Victor Montagliani said that a final decision on host cities was likely to be made later than early 2021, which has been planned, because meetings and site inspections have had to be cancelled in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The deadline, I think, will likely be pushed back, because I think the cities are going to probably ask for it,” Montagliani said, per The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Canadian was on the bid’s Board of Directors and is also a FIFA vice-president.
“A lot of cities have other things on their hands that they have to deal with right now.
“So I think for now, until we get out of this, in all likelihood it won’t be towards the end of the year when that file is kind of picked up again.”
Only two of the proposed venues in the US are not home to National Football League (NFL) American football teams – Orlando’s Camping World Stadium and the Rose Bowl.
Both regularly host college football games and were used for the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
None of the other potential venues were used in 1994, with most built since.
Dallas’ AT&T Stadium, Levi’s Stadium near San Francisco, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Houston’s NRG Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium of Atlanta, Gillette Stadium not far from Boston and Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium were all built since the US last hosted the FIFA World Cup.
Seattle’s CenturyLink Field, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, FedExField on the outskirts of the capital Washington D.C., Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, Denver’s Mile High, Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia are the other options.
Away from the 2026 jamboree, Montagliani said there was a “need to be realistic in terms of when football will come back” due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.
Men’s CONCACAF qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were due to take place in March and April but were postponed.
They will be rescheduled for “likely the same time of the year, but who knows, that might change too,” according to Montagliani.
The President also added CONCACAF was “100 per cent” committed to completing its inaugural Nations League, scheduled to have been played in Texas this June.
-insidethegames
The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting that its Statutes will be amended at this year’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), insisting that no such plans are on the table for the September 27 meeting.
In a statement, the Federation stressed that the ongoing conversation around its Statutes remains at a preliminary stage and that suggestions of imminent changes are unfounded.
Ahead of the AGA, the NFF will host a workshop on September 26, bringing together representatives of its members, as well as officials from FIFA and CAF. According to the Federation, the forum is strictly consultative, designed to deliberate on proposals for new Statutes in line with the principles of good governance and international best practices.
The NFF explained that only after consensus is reached with its members will a separate General Assembly be convened to formally consider and adopt any proposed Statute changes.
“The NFF remains committed to due process, transparency, and working hand-in-hand with its General Assembly Members, FIFA, and CAF,” the statement read.
“The ultimate goal is to establish enduring Statutes that will strengthen governance, broaden representation, and promote inclusivity within Nigerian football.”
The Federation added that the long-term reform framework is aimed at ensuring stability and progress across its structures and enhancing the participation of all stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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