Diego Lopez has revealed that, unlike many, he wasn’t surprised Julen Lopetegui dropped Iker Casillas from the Spain squad. Lopetegui, a former goalkeeper, signed Casillas for Porto in 2015 and regards him as “a friend”, but he hasn’t picked the 35-year-old since replacing Vicente Del Bosque following UEFA EURO 2016, instead selecting David De Gea, Pepe Reina, Sergio Rico and ... Read More »

With 94 minutes on the clock of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 group match with Cameroon, and the Africans having just pulled level at 1-1, Venezuela were heading for an early exit. One Vinotinto player who had no intention of packing her bags, however, was Deyna Castellanos. Lining up for the restart with Nohelis Coronel, the Venezuela ... Read More »

Every boy and girl that chases after a ball nurtures the same dreams: to play for a big club, represent their country and be recognised as the best player in the world. Zvonimir Boban, who achieved two of those goals, can vouch for that. “If you’re a football player, you just dream about being the best,” he said. “I don’t ... Read More »

The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016™ promises to be a landmark occasion in the history of FIFA award ceremonies. For the very first time since the inaugural FIFA World Player Gala in 1991, football fans will be given a starring role in proceedings. “Without them, football wouldn’t be the same. This is why we want to invite them to participate,” ... Read More »

Juan Roman Riquelme has showered Lionel Messi in praise, but rued Argentina’s inability to cope without him. La Albiceleste have won all three of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifiers in which the 29-year-old has played, but have triumphed in just one of seven in his absence. It has left Edgardo Bauza’s side fifth – the inter-confederation playoff position ... Read More »

Following the Reflection Sessions on Global Football Development held last year by FIFA and the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), the organisations have published their first joint study on youth football competitions. The publication looks at how to achieve the comprehensive development of youth players around the world by calling on all stakeholders (local, national, regional and global) to ... Read More »

The possibility of having video assistant referees (VARs) in football continues to move forward with The IFAB and FIFA working closely with interested league and association stakeholders at a third workshop in Zurich on 27 and 28 October. With previous workshops done in the Netherlands and the United States and live match tests done in the USA’s Major League ... Read More »

 As the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ gets closer, construction on all the tournament’s stadiums continues apace. Every month FIFA.com updates fans on how progress is going. This month’s progressAs one of Russia’s southernmost cities hosting the World Cup in 2018, an important milestone has been passed in the construction of Rostov-on-Don’s stadium. Rostov Arena, which will be the centrepiece ... Read More »

Marcello Lippi has refused to throw in the towel on China PR’s chances of reaching the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. China have drawn one and lost three of their opening Group A qualifiers, and trail leaders Iran, Uzbekistan and Korea Republic by nine, eighth and six points respectively. Lippi is aware his new pupils face an uphill struggle, but ... Read More »

There are many moments that Canada’s Christine Sinclair can point to as ones to remember in her illustrious career. While winning two Olympic bronze medals are at the top of her list, a decisive penalty kick taken last year rates just as high. It was the opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, with Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium ... Read More »