GIANNI INFANTINO HINTS AT CHANGES TO WORLD CUP PLANS
FIFA President Gianni Infantino says football must have an "open mind" about future World Cup dates, including moving from the traditional summer slot, to adapt to climate change globally.
According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, all football players should maintain "an open mind" about the dates of all upcoming World Cups, not just the Saudi Arabian competition in 2034.
Discussions are continuing regarding how international football will be governed after 2030, when the present calendar is set. Except for the 2022 finals in Qatar, which were held in November and December to escape the unbearable desert heat, World Cups have historically taken place in June and July.
The Saudi finals in nine years are anticipated to have a similar solution, but Infantino maintains that scheduling considerations for all upcoming major competitions must take climate change into account.
"If you want to play at the same time everywhere, then you can play in March or in October – most likely because in December you are not playing in one part of the world, and in July we are not playing in another part of the world," Infantino said to representatives at the European Football Clubs General Assembly in Rome.
FIFA was talking about the "nitty gritty" of scheduling for the Saudi finals, he later told reporters outside the venue, but he also said, "We are discussing all the time." It is a broader reflection than just one World Cup; it is quite hot to play in several European nations in July, so perhaps we need to consider other options.
June, which is actually the ideal month to play football, is not used very often in Europe. We are talking about it and will see when we reach some decisions, but perhaps there are methods we can use to optimise the calendar.
We just have to have an open mind.”
During his speech, Infantino also hinted strongly at the Club World Cup's expansion to 48 teams, stating that he wants to talk about methods to make it "even better, even greater".
For the first time this summer in the United States, the competition included 32 teams, and Infantino called it a "great success" in terms of attendance, participation, and revenue.
Domestic leagues and player unions have filed legal complaints against FIFA over the competition's scheduling, claiming that the organisation failed to adequately consult them on the international fixture schedule.
Although Chelsea is said to have made about £85 million from their successful run in the US, clubs are eager to see the competition expanded, and Infantino stated that he would be open to allowing more clubs to participate in the upcoming edition, which is scheduled for 2029.
In Rome, he addressed the General Assembly of European Football Clubs, formerly the European Club Association, saying, "It was a success, and now we work together to see how we can make it even better, even bigger, even more effective."
Collaboration with "all the clubs, with all the stakeholders that want to debate and speak and develop it with us" would be necessary, he said.
"It will help everyone in this room and outside of this place," he continued. There will undoubtedly be many obstacles in the future, but we are all prepared to handle them.
FIFA EXTENDS PRESTIANNI BAN WORLDWIDE; WINGER SET TO MISS WORLD CUP OPENERS
Gianluca Prestianni will miss games against Algeria and Austria if selected by Scaloni. Get the full disciplinary breakdown.
FIFA has extended Gianluca Prestianni’s suspension for homophobic conduct to apply globally, which could sideline him for Argentina’s first two matches at the 2026 World Cup. The winger from Benfica, initially punished after a well-publicised incident with Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, will now have his ban affect not just club matches but international competitive games as well.
The disciplinary move by FIFA follows a request from UEFA, and the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has confirmed the six-match ban will take effect worldwide. According to a FIFA spokesperson, the committee agreed to broaden the suspension’s scope, impacting all levels of competitive play.
This decision carries serious implications for both Benfica and Argentina. What was once a suspension limited to UEFA competitions now bars the 20-year-old from participating in any FIFA competitive events, including the upcoming World Cup in North America.
If Prestianni makes Lionel Scaloni’s final Argentina roster for 2026, he will be forced to sit out the opening group stage games against Algeria and Austria. Despite this setback, he remains eligible for friendlies; he was actually called up earlier this year for matches against Mauritania and Zambia following his November 2025 senior debut.
While the ban totals six matches, half of those come with a two-year probationary clause. After missing a Champions League match against Real Madrid under a provisional suspension, Prestianni still has two active games left to serve. Notably, domestic games with Benfica this season are unaffected, since the worldwide ban targets only competitive international fixtures.
The incident that triggered this whole saga happened on February 17 during a Champions League knockout match at Estadio da Luz. Vinicius Junior accused Prestianni of racial abuse, prompting referee Francois Letexier to pause the game for eight minutes and activate FIFA’s anti-discrimination protocol.
Prestianni has denied these accusations and issued a statement saying he never directed racist insults at Vinicius Junior, suggesting the player misunderstood what was said. He also condemned the threats he received from Real Madrid players in the aftermath.
Despite his denials, UEFA’s investigation concluded that Prestianni engaged in discriminatory, specifically homophobic, conduct, leading to his suspension.
Questions remain about the length of the ban, as UEFA’s rules generally mandate a minimum 10-match suspension for offences against human dignity based on factors like race or sexual orientation. UEFA has not explained why the disciplinary body settled on a shorter six-match penalty.
Looking ahead, Prestianni faces a challenging path to regain standing under scrutiny. Should he violate conduct rules again within the probationary period, the remaining three matches of his ban could be enforced immediately, potentially harming his prospects with both Benfica and the Argentina national team.
GIBBS-WHITE INJURY UPDATE: LATE DECISION FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST’S EUROPA LEAGUE SEMIFINAL
Nottingham Forest are leaving it late to decide if a masked Morgan Gibbs-White can feature against Aston Villa tomorrow.
Nottingham Forest are waiting until the last minute to decide if Morgan Gibbs-White can play in tomorrow’s Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa.
He took a nasty hit in Monday’s win over Chelsea and needed stitches, and now there’s a real question about whether he’ll make it for Thursday’s clash at Villa Park. They’ve even measured him for a protective face mask, just in case he ends up playing.
Head coach Vitor Pereira admitted he hasn’t made up his mind yet, especially since there are other injury worries in the squad. “He’s definitely in pain,” Pereira said, talking about Gibbs-White. “We’ll see if he’s ready by tomorrow.” He explained that the final call will be a group decision between the player, the medical staff, and himself. They haven’t sat down for that last meeting yet, so your guess is as good as his.
When reporters pressed about the mask, Pereira joked, “I think so, but I don’t know the colour! I think he went for the fitting yesterday.”
Pereira’s press conference happened on Wednesday lunchtime, with training scheduled for later. He wasn’t sure if Gibbs-White would even show up at the academy for practice. “I’m waiting to see him at training, and then we’ll decide. It’s not the day to risk anything. One more day might make all the difference.”
He didn’t reveal much about others who’ve been sidelined: Murillo, Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare, and Dan Ndoye. Whoever steps onto the pitch, Pereira wants his team to show the same fighting spirit they’ve had, going unbeaten in their last ten games.
Asked about how late he’ll leave his team selection, Pereira said he’s got backup plans ready. “It’s not just doubts about Morgan. We have several injured players, so I’ll delay naming the team. But, honestly, I have Plan A, B, and C lined up.”
He wrapped up by saying, “We might not know which players will be fit, but there’s no doubt about our spirit or how we want to play. We’re ready to be resilient. We’ll have a meeting today to figure out who’s ready for battle. When it comes to the fight, I’d rather have healthy soldiers. So we’ll see.”
