More than half of World Cup countries face extra costs as Fifa fails to agree US tax deal

Fifa has not agreed tax exemption with US government Burden will fall disproportionately on smaller nations More than half the countries that have qualified for the World Cup are facing additional costs and potential losses due to Fifa’s failure to agree a blanket tax exemption with the United States government and significant variance in the host country’s international tax treaties. As a not-for-profit organisation Fifa has had tax-free status in the US since the 1994 World Cup, but that exemption does not apply to all of the 48 qualifiers, whose national associations must pay a range of fed

Pre-World Cup results have you worried? They probably shouldn’t

For examples of how little a team’s form in the World Cup run-in matters in the tournament itself, look no further than the US The last time the United States men’s national team entered into the home stretch of its preparations for a World Cup on home soil, the results were dire. From January through April of 1994, the Americans, who were mostly sequestered in a full-time training camp, played 12 games and won just twice. They even managed to lose to Iceland, a total non-factor in global soccer back then. Then, that ’94 incarnation of the team went on to survive the group stage and narrowly l

Will Arsenal’s international injury crisis spill over into the club season?

Rival fans have raged after 11 of Mikel Arteta’s players withdrew from action with their countries before the season finale With the benefit of hindsight, Mikel Arteta’s response to a question before Arsenal’s victory over Everton last month about how the forthcoming international break might affect his squad was revealing. “We have really good communication with most of them,” Arteta replied when asked whether he was planning to speak to the various international managers that were expected to call up his players. “We’ll wait and see how everybody is and have those conversations and make th

What is happening with Man Utd's teenage striker Chido?

Teenage striker Chido Obi made eight first-team appearances for Manchester United last season. This term, nothing. So how is his development going?

How Denver Summit smashed the NWSL attendance record in their first home game

NWSL newcomers attracted more than 60,000 fans to Mile High Stadium for landmark fixture against Washington On Saturday in Denver, the NWSL set a new single-game attendance record for the second time in less than a year. This time, it was the league’s 16th franchise, Denver Summit, who did the honors in their first home game, hosting 63,004 fans at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium (home to the Denver Broncos). The league’s new milestone eclipses the previous record by about 23,000 fans. Denver’s entry into the NWSL has been a fast-paced and ambitious whirlwind. They were officially announc

Italian heartbreak and De Zerbi checks in at Tottenham | Football Weekly

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen and Nicky Bandini as Italy suffer World Cup heartbreak once again, and Spurs call on Roberto De Zerbi to rescue them from relegation Continue reading...

Biggest drop in Premier League history? The scale of a Spurs relegation

If Tottenham are relegated from the Premier League it will be one of the biggest stories in the competition's history.

Meet the World Cup hopefuls...Real Madrid's next Galactico and Spurs' best performer

The next World Cup stars? A potential Real Galactico and a Spurs phenomenon

Rumble at the Riverside: Can Millwall stun Boro and blow promotion race wide open?

How much more decisive can you get?

Pressley wary of 'wounded animal' Celtic | Gers' Graham interest met with PL vow

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley believes his side must produce another “perfect performance” when they welcome “wounded animal” Celtic to Dens Park on Sunday – live on Sky Sports.

Officials correct not to give Amad penalty - panel

The Premier League's KMI Panel says both referee and VAR were right not to give a penalty to Manchester United's Amad Diallo at Bournemouth.