FIFA - The African Mirror

Nov

2023

Saudi Arabia clear to host 2034 World Cup after Australia drops out

SAUDI Arabia was left as a shoo-in to host the 2034 World Cup after Australia confirmed it would not make a bid for soccer's global showpiece on Tuesday's deadline day. World soccer's governing body FIFA had invited bids from Asia and Oceania for the tournament by October 31. Football Australia (FA) boss James Johnson had said the country was "exploring the possibility" of 2034, but on Tuesday the domestic governing body said it would instead focus on bids for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup. Australia's decision not to proceed with 2034 leaves Saudi Arabia…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco to build new stadium, upgrade six others before 2030 World Cup

NEWS

MOROCCO plans to build a large stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca, and upgrade six others in preparation for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, the prime minister's office said. A deal was signed the same day between the government and state-owned fund CDG to finance the new stadium to be ready by 2028 for a total cost of 5 billion dirhams ($500 million), the office said in a statement. The six stadiums- to be renovated to host the African cup of nations in 2025 and the 2030 World Cup- are in the cities of Agadir, Casablanca Fez, Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier,…

Oct

2023

By ROHITH NAIR and DANIELA DESANTIS

FIFA WORLD CUP IN AFRICA: Morocco, Spain and Portugal to host 2030 World Cup

FOOTBALL

IN a surprise announcement a year earlier than planned FIFA allocated the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Spain and Portugal but also said Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will host three matches to mark the tournament's centenary. FIFA said the joint bid from Morocco, Portugal and Spain was the sole candidate to host the tournament. The inaugural World Cup in 1930 was held in Uruguay and won by the hosts after they defeated Argentina in the final in Montevideo. Spain was awarded the World Cup weeks after their disgraced former chief Luis Rubiales was forced to step down following his allegedly unsolicited…

Oct

2023

By AHMED ELJECHTIMI

Moroccans ‘honoured’ to co-host soccer 2030 World Cup

FOOTBALL

MOROCCANS welcomed the announcement that their country would co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, after years of failed attempts. FIFA on Wednesday made a surprise announcement confirming Spain, Portugal and Morocco as hosts after another bid dropped out, but said the three opening matches would be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. After five failed attempts to become World Cup hosts, the announcement that Morocco will share the honours will lift spirits in the north African country, a month after a devastating earthquake that killed nearly 3,000 people. Soccer is a big part of Moroccan life, with…

Sep

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco and East African co-bid to host future Africa Cup of Nations finals

FOOTBALL

MOROCCO was awarded the hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, replacing Guinea who was stripped of the right to host the tournament last year, while the 2027 rights were handed to a co-bid from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Morocco won by default after Algeria, Zambia and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew before the vote of the Confederation of African Football's executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday. The North African country was a runaway favourite and will see the decision as a boost to their hopes of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal…

Jul

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Africa have more teams but not increased hopes at World Cup

FOOTBALL

MORE African teams at an expanded Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand this year might mean more chance of improved results for the vast continent, but realistically they may be lucky to do much more than get past the first round. There will be four African countries in the 32-team field, up from three in the last two editions. But Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia are not expected to make anything like the impact that Morocco did at the men’s tournament in Qatar last year when they became the first African side to reach the semi-finals.…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

United States to host expanded Club World Cup in 2025

FOOTBALL

THE first edition of FIFA's new 32-team Club World Cup will be held in the United States in 2025, world soccer's governing body said. FIFA confirmed in March that the revamped Club World Cup will be played every four years from June 2025. The FIFA Council unanimously appointed the United States as the competition's host for the first edition of the expanded format. The United States will also host the 2024 Copa America while they are also co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup along with Mexico and Canada. "The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of elite professional…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

FIFA approves 2026 World Cup format with record 104 matches

SPORT

ROHITH NAIR THE 2026 World Cup will have 104 matches instead of the traditional 64 games due to the expanded format with 48 teams taking part, global soccer governing body FIFA said ahead of its Congress in Kigali, Rwanda. The 2026 edition, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the first edition of the quadrennial tournament where 48 teams are taking part. The final will be held on July 19. The new format will also stick to drawing four teams in a group after a proposal for 16 groups of three was shot down…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Infantino to lay out plans for new term at FIFA Congress in Kigali

SPORT

THE major discussion points have already been settled before delegates gather for the 73rd FIFA Congress in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, including the format for the 2026 Soccer World Cup and Gianni Infantino’s next term as president. Incumbent Infantino will stand unopposed making his re-election a formality, even if he is not universally popular among member associations for a range of reasons, including pushing for a failed plan to play the World Cup every two years. Instead, there will be an expanded final that will feature 48 teams at the 2026 event co-hosted by the United States, Canada and…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

African football on the rise: CAF’s new continental Super League

SPORT

BIRD STORY AGENCY AFRICAN football is poised for a boost as FIFA associations look forward to additional funding under the FIFA Forward 3.0 programme, 2022-2026. In the new round of funding, individual associations could get up to US$5 million to supplement operational costs and an additional US$ 3 million to execute specific football projects. Associations that are the most in need will also take home US$1.2 million to cover the costs of travel and accommodation for their national teams, as well as the purchase of football equipment. Confederations and regional/zonal associations will receive US$60 million and US$5 million respectively, to…