Sports

La Liga President tells Infantino to resign, accuses FIFA of damaging football

Published

1 minute ago

July 21, 2026

La Liga President Javier Tebas and FIFA president Gianni Infantino

La Liga President tells Infantino to resign, accuses FIFA of damaging football

La Liga president Javier Tebas has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down, accusing football’s world governing body of prioritising commercial interests over the long-term growth of the sport and implementing policies that are damaging domestic football competitions across the globe.

In a strongly worded interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas said he believes Infantino’s tenure as FIFA president should come to an end, arguing that the organisation’s recent decisions have placed increasing pressure on clubs, players and national leagues.

Asked directly whether Infantino should resign, Tebas replied: “In my opinion, yes. I think his time is up.”

Despite his criticism, the Spanish football executive acknowledged that Infantino remains firmly in control of FIFA because of the strong backing he enjoys from the organisation’s member associations.

According to Tebas, FIFA’s electoral system makes it almost impossible for a challenger to emerge.

“There is no opposition candidate because nobody wants to stand simply to lose,” he said, describing the governing body’s election process as “rotten at its core.”

Tebas, who travelled to the United States to watch Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, claimed dissatisfaction with Infantino’s leadership is widespread within international football, although many administrators prefer to express their concerns privately rather than publicly.

“I’ve spoken to many people here who disagree with what Infantino is doing. They say it privately but remain silent publicly. I don’t know which is worse—the silence or the complicity—because those who remain silent understand the damage football is suffering,” he said.

The La Liga president also revisited the controversy surrounding United States striker Folarin Balogun, whose suspension during the 2026 FIFA World Cup was lifted following intervention by US President Donald Trump.

According to Tebas, the decision raised serious questions about FIFA’s governance and could have severely damaged Infantino’s leadership had the United States progressed further in the tournament.

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“The suspension of the American player’s ban was extremely serious. They were fortunate Belgium eliminated the United States because otherwise it might have become a case capable of costing Infantino his position. Since Belgium won, the issue disappeared, but it is only the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

Tebas also criticised discussions about expanding future FIFA World Cups to 64 teams, warning that such a move would further congest the football calendar and weaken domestic leagues.

He argued that national competitions remain the foundation of the global football economy and should not be sacrificed in favour of increasingly larger international tournaments.

“Not everything can revolve around the World Cup. Expanding the number of participating countries makes no sense. The football industry is much bigger than one tournament. Domestic competitions generate employment, develop talent and sustain football throughout the year,” he said.

He added that football needs fewer international fixtures and stronger protection for domestic competitions to preserve the sport’s long-term sustainability.

The La Liga chief also criticised FIFA’s decision to introduce mandatory hydration breaks during every match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that the policy was applied even in climate-controlled stadiums where weather conditions did not justify such interruptions.

According to him, the breaks appeared to create additional commercial advertising opportunities rather than genuinely serving player welfare.

“Hydration breaks are a lie. In La Liga we only introduce them when temperatures genuinely require it. At several World Cup stadiums, I even needed a jacket because of the air conditioning. Those breaks became advertising opportunities,” he said.

He further criticised FIFA’s decision to extend halftime during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final to accommodate a star-studded entertainment show, arguing that commercial interests increasingly outweigh football traditions.

Tebas maintained that FIFA now makes major decisions without adequately consulting domestic leagues and other football stakeholders, creating growing tension between the governing body and national competitions.

His latest comments add to ongoing debates over football governance, fixture congestion, tournament expansion and the balance between international competitions and domestic leagues.

Several European football leagues have repeatedly expressed concern that FIFA’s expanding calendar places excessive physical demands on players while reducing the importance of domestic football competitions.

Although Tebas believes Infantino should resign, he admitted the FIFA president remains the overwhelming favourite to secure another term in office because of the continued support he enjoys from national football federations.

The remarks are expected to intensify discussions about the future of global football governance, FIFA’s leadership and the growing calls for reforms aimed at balancing commercial growth with the long-term interests of clubs, players and domestic leagues.

La Liga President tells Infantino to resign, accuses FIFA of damaging football

Sports

Teenager dies, several injured as Spain World Cup celebration ends in tragedy

Published

1 day ago

July 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Teenager dies, several injured as Spain World Cup celebration ends in tragedy

What began as jubilant celebrations of Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup victory ended in heartbreak after a 13-year-old boy was killed and several others were injured when a public fountain collapsed in the western Spanish town of Ciudad Rodrigo.

The tragic incident occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m. local time on Monday as hundreds of football supporters gathered around the Árbol Gordo fountain to celebrate Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the World Cup final.

According to emergency services, multiple distress calls were received after part of the fountain gave way while numerous fans had climbed onto the structure during the celebrations. The collapse sent people tumbling to the ground and triggered panic among the crowd.

The 13-year-old victim was rescued from the rubble and rushed to a nearby medical facility but later died from injuries sustained in the accident. Several other people were also injured, with local authorities confirming that some victims required hospital treatment.

In a statement, the Ciudad Rodrigo City Council expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended its condolences to the family of the deceased teenager.

“What should have been a celebration of Spain’s team in the football World Cup turned into tragedy,” the municipality said.

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The local authority also declared three days of official mourning, with flags to be flown at half-mast in memory of the young victim.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the collapse to determine its exact cause. Preliminary findings indicate that the historic fountain may have failed under the weight of the large number of supporters who climbed onto it during the spontaneous celebrations. Officials said they are also examining the structural condition of the monument and the circumstances that led to the accident.

The tragedy unfolded just hours after Spain secured its second FIFA World Cup title and its first since 2010, defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final played at MetLife Stadium in the United States. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time to hand Spain another historic triumph on football’s biggest stage.

The victory sparked massive celebrations across the country, with thousands of supporters filling streets, city squares and public landmarks in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and several other cities. Fans waved Spanish flags, sang victory songs and celebrated late into the night as the national team ended a 16-year wait to reclaim the World Cup trophy.

However, the fatal accident in Ciudad Rodrigo cast a shadow over the nationwide festivities and renewed concerns about public safety during large sporting celebrations. Authorities have urged football supporters to celebrate responsibly and avoid climbing fountains, monuments and other public structures that are not designed to support large crowds.

The incident has also reignited discussions about crowd management and emergency planning during major public events, with safety experts calling for stricter enforcement of public safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

As investigations continue, tributes have poured in for the young victim, while Spain’s World Cup celebrations have been tempered by grief in Ciudad Rodrigo, where residents are mourning the loss of a life during what should have been a moment of national joy.

Teenager dies, several injured as Spain World Cup celebration ends in tragedy

Sports

Messi’s final World Cup ends in heartbreak as Spain sweep title, FIFA’s top individual awards

Published

1 day ago

July 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Messi’s final World Cup ends in heartbreak as Spain sweep title, FIFA’s top individual awards

Spain crowned a historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign by sweeping the tournament’s major individual awards after defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.

Luis de la Fuente’s side lifted their second FIFA World Cup title, 16 years after their maiden triumph in South Africa in 2010, and etched their name into football history by becoming the first team to win the tournament after conceding just one goal throughout the competition.

The decisive moment came in extra time when Ferran Torres struck the winner to seal Spain’s memorable victory over Argentina in a tightly contested final. The triumph capped a remarkable month-long campaign built on tactical discipline, defensive resilience and attacking efficiency, with La Roja emerging as the standout team of the tournament.

Spain’s dominance was further reflected in the post-tournament awards, with three of their players claiming four of the five major honours presented by FIFA.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri was named the winner of the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player after delivering a series of commanding performances throughout Spain’s unbeaten campaign. The midfield maestro controlled matches with his composure, vision, passing accuracy and leadership, providing the platform for Spain’s success from the heart of midfield. The award added another prestigious honour to Rodri’s growing collection of individual accolades and reinforced his reputation as one of the world’s finest midfielders.

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France captain Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot after finishing as the tournament’s highest scorer with 10 goals in eight appearances. Mbappé secured the award after another prolific World Cup campaign, becoming the first player to finish as the tournament’s top scorer in two consecutive editions. The French forward also extended his remarkable World Cup record, taking his career tally to 22 goals to become the highest-scoring player in the history of the men’s FIFA World Cup.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón received the Golden Glove following an outstanding tournament between the posts. The Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper conceded only one goal throughout Spain’s victorious campaign, kept seven clean sheets and set a new World Cup record by going 650 consecutive minutes without conceding. His commanding presence, crucial saves and calm distribution proved instrumental in Spain’s historic defensive record.

Barcelona teenager Pau Cubarsí was named the Best Young Player after emerging as one of the biggest revelations of the tournament. The 19-year-old centre-back displayed remarkable maturity, composure and tactical awareness throughout the competition, helping Spain keep some of the world’s most dangerous attacking players quiet on their way to lifting the trophy.

The FIFA Fair Play Award was presented to the Netherlands in recognition of the team’s exemplary discipline and sporting conduct throughout the tournament.

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi in what is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance, finished as runners-up after falling to Spain in the final. England claimed third place after defeating France 6-4 in an entertaining third-place play-off.

Spain’s triumph will be remembered as one of the greatest campaigns in FIFA World Cup history. Besides reclaiming football’s biggest prize for the first time since 2010, La Roja combined attacking quality with extraordinary defensive consistency, conceding only once in eight matches while collecting the majority of the tournament’s top individual honours.

Full list of 2026 FIFA World Cup award winners

Champions: Spain
Runners-up: Argentina
Third place: England
Fourth place: France
Golden Ball (Best Player): Rodri (Spain)
Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Kylian Mbappé (France) – 10 goals
Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper): Unai Simón (Spain)
Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
FIFA Fair Play Award: Netherlands

Messi’s final World Cup ends in heartbreak as Spain sweep title, FIFA’s top individual awards

Sports

Spain dethrone Argentina in extra time to lift 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy

Published

2 days ago

July 19, 2026

Trends Admin

Spain dethrone Argentina in extra time to lift 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy

Spain have been crowned 2026 FIFA World Cup champions after edging Argentina 1-0 in a dramatic extra-time victory at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, ending the South American nation’s title defence and securing their second World Cup trophy.

A decisive strike from substitute Ferran Torres in the second half of extra time proved enough to separate the two sides after 90 minutes of disciplined defending, tactical battles and missed opportunities.

The victory marks Spain’s first FIFA World Cup triumph since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010, reaffirming the country’s status among international football’s elite and highlighting the success of a talented new generation led by Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Nico Williams and Ferran Torres.

Spain entered the final in impressive form after a series of commanding performances throughout the tournament and continued to dominate possession against Argentina. Luis de la Fuente’s side dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, patiently building attacks while limiting the defending champions to very few clear scoring opportunities.

Despite Spain’s dominance, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced several important saves to frustrate the European champions. He denied efforts from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo during regulation time, ensuring the match remained level despite sustained Spanish pressure.

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Argentina, seeking to retain the World Cup title they won in 2022, struggled to establish control in midfield and found it difficult to create meaningful chances for captain Lionel Messi and the attacking line. Spain’s organised defence successfully restricted Argentina’s movement and prevented the holders from finding their usual attacking rhythm.

The contest took another dramatic turn late in normal time when Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card and was sent off after a mistimed challenge, forcing Argentina to play the remainder of the match with 10 players.

Even with a numerical disadvantage, Argentina defended resolutely and forced the game into extra time, where Spain continued to press for the breakthrough.

The decisive moment arrived early in the second period of extra time when Ferran Torres capitalised on a well-worked attacking move to fire the ball past Martínez, sparking celebrations among Spanish players and supporters.

Argentina attempted a late response, but Spain remained composed defensively and controlled possession during the closing stages to protect their slender advantage until the final whistle.

The victory completes an outstanding campaign for Spain, who combined defensive discipline, technical quality and attacking creativity throughout the tournament. Their triumph also reflects the emergence of a new generation of Spanish footballers capable of competing successfully on the biggest international stage.

For Ferran Torres, the winning goal capped an impressive tournament and further strengthened his reputation as one of Spain’s most dependable attacking players.

Meanwhile, the defeat ends Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first nation in more than six decades to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title. The final could also represent the last World Cup appearance for Lionel Messi, whose international career includes a World Cup title, multiple Copa América triumphs and numerous individual honours.

Spain’s latest success adds another major trophy to an already remarkable era for the country’s football programme and signals a bright future under a squad filled with emerging stars.