Once upon a time, there was a young girl from a land of poets and philosophers who dreamed of becoming a football star and winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games… While it is easy to imagine Anja Mittag taking the leading role in a fairytale like this one, the German international’s story is anything but fictional. On 19 ... Read More »

Holders Japan have beaten England 3-0 to reach the last four of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where they will face Spain in a rematch of the 2014 edition’s final. Riko Ueki grabbed a brace to add to Jun Endo’s early opener at Irbid’s Al Hassan International Stadium as the Little Nadeshiko maintained their 100 per cent record at ... Read More »

Korea DPR scored a 94th-minute winner to see off Ghana 2-1 in Irbid and set up a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup semi-final against Venezuela. Substitute Ja Un-Yong was the late, late heroine as the Ghanaians, despite plenty of brave resistance, saw their Jordan 2016 dreams come to an end at the Al Hassan International Stadium. Ghana were always seen ... Read More »

A passionate advocate of equality and inclusion in sports, Joyce Cook will take up the role of FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer on 1 November 2016. This position was created as part of the restructuring of FIFA’s administration and entails the delivery of a key goal in the recently established FIFA vision: investment in football development through FIFA’s 211 member ... Read More »

It is undoubtedly one of the most iconic saves in FIFA World Cup™ history. Pele’s downward header, connecting with Jairzinho’s threatening cross from the right, looked destined for the net – but somehow it was kept out by England shot-stopper Gordon Banks at Mexico 1970. A World Cup winner just four years previously, Banks demonstrated incredible agility, reflexes and goalkeeping instinct ... Read More »

Food always reflects the unique traits of ethnic groups, so a brief cultural lesson is needed before delving into the traditional national cooking of the Republic of Mordovia, which you can enjoy in Saransk as a Host City of Russia 2018. The native population in this region is made up of a Finno-Ugric branch called the Mordvins. To be precise, ... Read More »

Thailand’s Suphawut Thueanklang may not have won as many trophies as Falcao or Ricardinho, but there can be no doubting that he has made his mark on the history of the FIFA Futsal World Cup. For the second world finals running, Thueanklang has won the Goal of the Tournament award, voted for by the users of FIFA.com. Just as he ... Read More »

The development of women’s football involves more than just players and clubs. Women’s football coaches have an equally important role to play in the process, and in recognition of that, FIFA organised a regional workshop for them in the Jordanian capital, Amman, coinciding with the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016. Attended by 16 women’s football coaches from ... Read More »

“If my daughter grows up to like football, then obviously we’re going to support her at home.” So said a smiling Xavi Hernandez, proud father to a newborn baby girl, as he took in some of the action at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016. The Barcelona and Spain legend, who now plays for Qatari club Al Sadd ... Read More »

Andrea Belotti and Gigi Buffon hailed Italy’s heart following their dramatic 3-2 victory in FYR Macedonia. The 22-year-old striker broke the deadlock in Skopje, but the hosts scored two quick-fire goals and threatened more before Ciro Immobile’s brace, which he completed in stoppage time, secured La Nazionale all three points. “We suffered up to the last minute,” Belotti said. ... Read More »