A lot of attention ok FIFA these - not least due to the excellent work by journalists. They do it everyday. All year. To follow the great journalists who write the most important stories on football, check out this group! Great initiative by @philippeauclair.bsky.social go.bsky.app/6oxTr7j

This week is such a good reminder that after delivering the "biggest-most-successful-joyful-zero-incident-world-peace-creating" event in the world, it could be good to just like, I don't know, take a vacation or something? #selfcare

The scathing full text of FIFA COO’s statement is worth reading to see a brave display of integrity from within Zurich HQ.

Tariq Panja@tariqpanja.bsky.social · 5d ago

In a week of incendiary statements, this from Kevin Lamour, who at least for tonight remains FIFA COO, is incredibly damning in that it is from an insider that goes beyond this one scheme and is an assassination in a few hundred words of the FIFA president as a leader of global football.

Also, @fifpro.bsky.social Europe raised concerns about the implications for players, governance and the integrity of football. 🔗 Read the full statement: www.fifpro.org/en/articles/...

⚽ @fanseurope.org published a statement warning about what private ownership could mean for supporters and the future of the game. 🔗 Read the full statement: fanseurope.org/news/football-belongs-to-the-fans-not-private-investors

📢 FIFA announced plans to create FIFA Forward Enterprise, a FIFA-controlled company valued at USD 20 billion that would oversee the commercial and event operations of the World Cup & other competitions. Under the proposal, private investors could purchase shares of up to 20% of the new subsidiary.

He is probably the biggest draw in the sports world right now, millions would love to watch Messi’s last games at the World Cup. So why are so many seats empty at some of the biggest games? www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/w...

At World Cup Ticket Prices, Even Messi Can’t Fill a Stadium (Gift Article)

The Argentine team and its superstar, Lionel Messi, have been among the biggest draws at the World Cup, but that was not enough to prevent vacant seats at its quarterfinal on Saturday.

nytimes.com

🚨 Content warning: At the #WorldCup, at least six players competed while linked to cases of sexual violence. They expose a gap sport can no longer ignore: absence of clear & survivor-centered eligibility standards for athletes accused of serious crimes. 🔗 sportandrightsalliance.org/new-report-n...

Sport is about being the best of ourselves—and this decision doesn't represent that at all. Nevertheless, I still believe the tide is turning as ppl are getting curious, seeing through these claims of "protecting women" & realizing trans women & girls deserve a place to belong, just like all of us.

Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA)@sportrightsall.bsky.social · last mo.

🚨 The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a devastating decision today upholding laws in Idaho and West Virginia that exclude transgender girls and women from participating in school sports.

“Every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa cannot.” Senegal captain Koulibaly speaks out on travel bans limiting travel from his country for fans for World Cup. www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly questions World Cup travel ban for fans: ‘Africans can’t have their people’ (Gift Article)

Senegal, Ivory Coast, Iran and Haiti are the nations at the World Cup subject to travel bans imposed by the Trump administration.

nytimes.com

This was a foreseeable problem, FIFA could have solved, if they put enough effort into it. As @andreasmeyhoff.bsky.social and I have written in April, that a person from Cap Verde would have to save money for 15 (!) years to at least afford the cost for the visa. www.spiegel.de/sport/fussba...

“Visa bans, the lack of protection for LGBTQI fans, & the rise of authoritarian practices in the United States have shattered all hopes of a rights-respecting," World Cup said @andreaflorence.bsky.social of @sportrightsall.bsky.social www.thenation.com/article/acti...

Raucous Protest Is Coming to the Joyless World Cup

As Trump and FIFA turn soccer’s biggest stage into a showcase for authoritarianism, activists are fighting back.

thenation.com

Vozinha's mother was unable to attend because she could not afford the costs associated with obtaining a U.S. visa. ✊ The World Cup should bring people together, not keep them apart. Join us in calling on FIFA to #KeepTheWorld in the World Cup: sportandrightsalliance.org/worldcup2026/

⚽ Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha delivered one of the standout performances of the World Cup so far, making seven saves and helping his team secure a historic 0–0 draw against Spain. The 40-year-old captain was named Player of the Match.

Reports that a referee on FIFA’s World Cup list from Africa has been turned back after trying to enter the US for the tournament. Surely, this is basic stuff FIFA should have ironed out well before now. FIFA has been, as usual, contacted for comment.

The impact of this victory goes far beyond the pitch, setting a clear precedent: women and girls belong in sport and everywhere they choose to be. 🔗 Read the full statement at the link: sportandrightsalliance.org/fifa-new-rul...

✊Sport must build bridges for women and girls, not barriers. 🔗 Read more: sportandrightsalliance.org/fifa-new-rul...

"This is the rebirth of hope and a strong message to those who try to erase women from society: you will not succeed." YES!!! 👏 @khalidapopal.bsky.social

Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA)@sportrightsall.bsky.social · 3mo ago

🎉 FIFA has approved a new rule that allows the Afghanistan Women’s National Team to be formally registered and compete in official #FIFA competitions. 🔗 Read the full statement at the link: sportandrightsalliance.org/fifa-new-rul...

🏀 Brianna Turner, WNBA player, a top women’s basketball league in the U.S., and long-time advocate for equity in sport, published an op-ed in @usatoday.com reflecting on the issues surrounding the IOC’s new sex testing policy for women athletes. 🔗 Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

Exclusive @theathleticfc.bsky.social : Current NJ Transit plans for return train from NY Penn Station to MetLife Stadium during World Cup are for tickets to be priced at over $100. Usual price is $12.90, making it more than a 7-fold increase for World Cup fans. www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

Train tickets to MetLife Stadium from NYC set to cost more than $100 during World Cup

nytimes.com

Truly remarkable how many people have told the Pope, in some way or another, to "shut up and dribble." Or corrected him on the Bible, despite their thin education on theology. Or told him to stay out of US affairs, despite him being a US citizen. The hubris is amazing.

Ever so proud of our work at @sportrightsall.bsky.social & especially what we've accomplished over the last year!

Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA)@sportrightsall.bsky.social · 4mo ago

🚨 Our work to raise the bar for sport and human rights in 2025 made one thing clear: policies are being put to the test and the world of sport is being called to rise to the occasion. 🔗 Read our 2025 Annual Report: sportandrightsalliance.org/2025-annual-...

With just over two months until the World Cup begins, the hotel industry doesn’t see the promised economic boon on the horizon.

Hotels Say World Cup Economic Boon ‘Isn’t Materializing’

With just over two months until the World Cup begins, the hotel industry doesn’t see the promised economic boon on the horizon.

forbes.com

Did a quick writeup of the new Olympic policy, which essentially bans trans women from Olympic competition. It also bans any women who test positive for the SRY gene, which has happened in the past. That's why the practice was abandoned more than two decades ago. Now, it's back. Gift link:

IOC Reinstates Chromosome Testing, Banning Trans Women From Competition | Defector

The International Olympic Committee announced today that any athletes who do not pass a specific chromosome test will be banned from competition. This means that trans women will no longer be able to ...

defector.com

The #IOC announced a new policy introducing universal genetic sex testing of women & girls, which will ban all transgender athletes from the women’s category, and intersex athletes, unless they undergo further testing to prove testosterone insensitivity. 🔗 sportandrightsalliance.org/olympics-sex...

Exactly. Secret working group, secret process, secret studies.

Nancy Armour@nrarmour.bsky.social · 4mo ago

This isn’t a surprise, but it’s still bullshit. If the science was actually there, the IOC would provide it. That they don’t says everything.

🚨 The #IOC is reportedly considering mandatory genetic sex testing and a blanket ban on trans and intersex women in sport. In response, the #SRA and over 80 organizations are calling for these plans to be immediately reversed. 🔗 Read the full statement: sportandrightsalliance.org/olympics-sex...

A reminder that the head of the LA Olympic Committee is all over the Epstein Files, refuses to resign, and the mobbed up crew on it backed him. Zero moral authority and zero care about women as people. Miss me. www.latimes.com/sports/story...

Transgender women are banned from the 2028 L.A. Olympics by a new IOC policy

Eligibility for women's competition at the 2028 L.A. Olympics and beyond will be determined by a one-time genetics test through saliva, a cheek swab or a blood sample.

latimes.com

And HOW exactly will you get informed consent and explain the consequences of testing for the SRY gene to a 6-year-old who just wants to play tee ball?

This is very weak from Spurs - taking down a flag promoting diversity because away fans may be bigoted. If you can’t stand up for your values when attacked, are they really values at all?