Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Real Madrid are the current Club World Cup champions

FIFA faces opposition from leagues on Club World Cup

FIFA has been warned there is "no room" in the calendar for its new Club World Cup and that the competition will harm domestic leagues.

Soccer • 21 Apr 23

The FIFA Club World Cup is due to be expanded from 2025

FIFA's Club World Cup plans get European clubs' backing

FIFA's plans for an expanded Club World Cup has now received backing from the European Club Association (ECA).

Soccer • 27 Mar 23

The Women's World Cup trophy on display in Shanghai, China

Visit Saudi ruled out as Women's World Cup sponsor

Visit Saudi will not be a sponsor at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino has not ruled out future commercial opportunities for the gulf nation in women's football.

Soccer • 16 Mar 23

Infantino promises record growth after FIFA re-election

Gianni Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president during the 73rd Congress in Kigali on Thursday, promising record revenues in the next four-year cycle of $11 billion as he called for more football to be played around the world.

Soccer • 16 Mar 23

Argentina will defend their trophy in 2026

Updated World Cup to include new last-32 stage in longer event

The 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico will feature 104 games, including a new round of 32 stage, with plans for three-team groups abandoned.

Soccer • 14 Mar 23

The 2026 World Cup group proposals have caused controversy

FIFA admit to issues with three-team World Cup groups

A format for the 2026 men's World Cup will be discussed soon as FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani accepted there were "issues" with an earlier proposal for three-team groups.

Soccer • 02 Mar 23

Lionel Messi cradles the latest trophy in an extraordinary career that has yielded so many

Messi picks up another prize at Best FIFA Awards

Lionel Messi has been named men's player of the year at the 2022 Best Fifa Awards at a ceremony in Paris.

Soccer • 28 Feb 23

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are both among the nominees for FIFA's Best awards

Messi headlines shortlist for FIFA Best Men's award

Argentina featured heavily in shortlists for FIFA's Best awards following their World Cup triumph, with forwards Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and coach Lionel Scaloni receiving nominations in their categories.

Soccer • 12 Jan 23

FIFPRO wants to see concussion substitutes trialled at this summer's Women's World Cup

FIFPRO wants concussion subs at Women's World Cup

The world players' union is keen for temporary concussion substitutes to be trialled at this summer's Women's World Cup.

FIFA Women's World Cup • 11 Jan 23

UEFA and FIFA supported in legal row over Super League

UEFA and FIFA's right to block new competitions like the European Super League is compatible with EU law, according to a key legal opinion published on Thursday.

European Super League • 15 Dec 22

Infantino a no-show for meeting with European clubs

Gianni Infantino failed to turn up to a meeting in Doha on Friday between Europe's top clubs and FIFA as a key new agreement went unsigned.

Soccer • 09 Dec 22

Germany players covered their mouths in protest

No sanctions for Germany, MEPs call for compensation

Germany's players will not face any disciplinary action from FIFA after taking the OneLove armband protest to a new level as their players covered their mouths during a team photo at the World Cup, while a group of MEPs is calling for compensation for the families of migrant workers who died.

Soccer • 24 Nov 22

Germany pose for team photo ahead of Japan match

Germany cover mouths in wake of OneLove armband row

Germany players placed their hands over their mouths during a team photo ahead of their game against Japan for their World Cup Group E as the row over FIFA's threat of sanctions over the "OneLove" armband continued.

Soccer • 23 Nov 22

World Cup digest: FIFA probes Ecuador fans' chants

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Ecuador over homophobic chanting by their fans in their World Cup opener.

Soccer • 23 Nov 22

World Cup digest: Kane still to wear rainbow armband

England captain Harry Kane is still set to wear the 'OneLove' rainbow armband against discrimination at the World Cup in Qatar despite FIFA announcing plans for its own band on the eve of the tournament.

World Cup 2022 • 19 Nov 22

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during a press conference at the Qatar National Convention Center

FIFA's Infantino hits out at European critics of Qatar

FIFA president Gianni Infantino hit out at criticism of Qatar from Europe on the eve of the World Cup.

World Cup 2022 • 19 Nov 22

Brazil's coach Tite and players will be looking to end the country's 20-year wait for a World Cup

Echoes of 2002 suggest World Cup may be hard to call

The timing of the Qatar World Cup and the lack of preparation that many teams have had may see more than a few surprise results on the field of play over the next month, writes James McMahon.

Soccer • 18 Nov 22

Sepp Blatter was FIFA president when the 2022 finals were controversially awarded to Qatar in 2010

Blatter admits 'mistake' in awarding Qatar World Cup

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted it was "a mistake" to award the 2022 World Cup finals to Qatar.

Soccer • 08 Nov 22

Amnesty wrote to FIFA president Gianni Infantino (pictured) earlier this year

FIFA 'need to show leadership' on worker compensation

Amnesty International's head of economic and social justice Stephen Cockburn speaks to RTÉ Sport's Raf Diallo about their push for a compensation fund for migrant workers and the need for FIFA to "show leadership" on the issue.

World Cup 2022 • 22 Oct 22

Al Janoub stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, one of the host venues for the World Cup

Migrant workers cannot be forgotten about - Amnesty

The task to improve conditions for migrant workers in World Cup host country Qatar is only half done and must not grind to a halt when the finals are over, human rights group Amnesty International has said.

Soccer • 20 Oct 22

Security checks ahead of this month's Lusail Super Cup, where crowd management was reportedly quite chaotic

Qatar conscripts civilians for World Cup security roles

Qatar has called up hundreds of civilians, including diplomats summoned back from overseas, for mandatory military service operating security checkpoints at World Cup stadiums, according to a source and documents seen by Reuters.

Soccer • 27 Sep 22

Seven of Qatar's eight World Cup venues opened within the last three years

Calls for FIFA to pay World Cup workers compensation

Calls for FIFA to contribute to a compensation scheme for migrant workers in World Cup host country Qatar have received strong public backing in an international poll.

Soccer • 15 Sep 22

Wait times for offside decisions should be vastly reduced

Semi-automated offside introduced for Champions League

Semi-automated offside technology will be introduced at next week's UEFA Super Cup clash between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt before being used in this season's Champions League.

Soccer • 03 Aug 22

The Russian national teams are currently suspended from action

CAS dismisses Russian appeals over FIFA and UEFA bans

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed appeals filed by the Russian soccer federation and four Russian clubs against FIFA and UEFA's decision to ban them from all competition until further notice following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Soccer • 15 Jul 22

Blatter and Platini acquitted on corruption charges

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and one-time UEFA president Michel Platini were both cleared of corruption charges by a Swiss court.

Soccer • 08 Jul 22