Also known as: International Federation of Football Associations · International Federation of Association Football · World · International football body Fifa
FIFA — international football governing body organizing the 2026 World Cup with 48 teams in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Fifa was called to hold the US accountable for violations and discriminatory treatment of Iran's national football team
“"FIFA must hold the US accountable for violations of its rules and for the discriminatory treatment of Iran's national football team."”
Iran World Cup team heads to Mexico as US visa row eruptsInformanté
FIFA will host 2026 World Cup from 11 June to 19 July 2026
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held from 11 June to 19 July 2026, will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States and will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams.”
Host nations joined by Curaçao, Haiti and Panama at 2026 FIFA World CupInformanté
FIFA is hosting the expanded 2026 World Cup with 48 teams
“The 2026 edition will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, increasing Africa's representation from five nations to nine direct qualifiers and one play-off berth.”
African nations secure places at expanded 2026 FIFA World CupInformanté
FIFA introduced new qualification structure increasing Asia's representation
“The expanded tournament marks a historic shift in the competition's format and global reach, with Asia increasing its representation under FIFA's new qualification structure.”
AFC nations book places at historic expanded 2026 FIFA World CupThe Namibian
Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom described meeting with Iran FA as excellent and constructive
“Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom described as "excellent" and "constructive" the meeting held on Saturday in Istanbul with the Iranian federation to ensure Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.”
Iran have ‘constructive’ meeting with Fifa over World Cup preparationsThe Namibian
Fifa will provide financial assistance for the 2026 NFA Cup
“However, the NFA has also released a memorandum outlining an expansive vision for the 2026 NFA Cup, which will be hosted with financial assistance from Fifa.”
Bucks Buccaneers withdraw from NFA CupThe Namibian
Fifa boosted overall World Cup cash distributions to nearly US$900 million
“FIFA on Tuesday boosted overall World Cup cash distributions to nearly US$900 million following concerns over the spiralling costs for teams taking part in the tournament.”
World Cup to get cash boost as Fifa unveils red card crackdownThe Namibian
FIFA has promised a tournament where everyone feels safe, included and free
“FIFA has promised a tournament where everyone "feels safe, included and free to exercise their rights".”
World Cup risks being ‘stage for repression': AmnestyThe Namibian
Fifa banned all Russian and Belarusian teams in 2022
“In 2022, it took four days for football's World and European governing bodies, Fifa and UEFA, with the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to expel all Russian and Belarusian teams.”
Four years after banning Russia, Fifa and IOC passive in the face of warNew Era
FIFA entered partnership with ANOCA to develop football infrastructure at OlympAfrica Centres across Africa
“The project forms part of a broader initiative launched through collaboration between ANOCA and FIFA to develop football infrastructure at OlympAfrica Centres across Africa, with the objective of expanding access to sport for young people and strengthening grassroots sport development across the continent.”
Nam gifted N$9m FIFA-standard football fieldIran's World Cup team left Turkey for Mexico on Saturday ahead of the June 11 tournament start, days after the US refused to issue visas for some of the team's support staff. Iran's embassy said a "large" number of managerial and executive staff were denied visas and called for FIFA to hold the US accountable for what it termed discriminatory treatment.
6 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Iran's World Cup team left Turkey for Mexico on Saturday ahead of the June 11 tournament start, days after the US refused to issue visas for some of the team's support staff. Iran's embassy said a "large" number of managerial and executive staff were denied visas and called for FIFA to hold the US accountable for what it termed discriminatory treatment.
6 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Six teams from CONCACAF have secured places at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup: co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, plus Curaçao, Haiti, and Panama. The tournament will be held from 11 June to 19 July 2026 and will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and be hosted by three countries.
6 June 2026 · Informanté →
Africa will be represented by ten nations at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, with nine countries securing direct qualification and one earning a place through intercontinental play-offs. The direct qualifiers include continental heavyweights Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa, alongside debutants Cape Verde and returning Congo DR.
2 June 2026 · Informanté →
Nine Asian Football Confederation teams have secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition to feature 48 teams and be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The qualifiers include established contenders Australia, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq, as well as debutants Jordan and Uzbekistan.
1 June 2026 · Informanté →
Canada, co-hosts for an upcoming World Cup, are targeting their first-ever tournament victory after losing all six previous matches across appearances in 1986 and 2022. Coach Jesse Marsch's squad, featuring Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and Juventus's Jonathan David, reached the 2024 Copa America semi-finals and will face Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland in their group.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The government is expected to start the procurement process for a contractor to redevelop Independence Stadium in Windhoek during the second quarter of the current financial year, with the stadium currently at the final design and documentation stage. The project is one of five stadiums planned across the country to be upgraded to Confederation of African Football category three standards, to be implemented in phases.
24 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Brave Warriors face Cameroon, Comoros and Congo in group G of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Cameroon are five-time African champions and ranked 45th globally, while Namibia are ranked 120th in the world and 31st in Africa.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian Football Players Union founding president Sylvester Goraseb represented Namibia at the African Football Agents Conference in Cape Verde (11–12 May), where attendees discussed governance, player welfare, and implementation of continental football regulations. Key themes included National Football Agent Regulations, player safeguarding, women's leadership, and combating exploitation and human trafficking in football.
20 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The article examines how international football differs from club football, citing the absence of a transfer market and the pragmatic constraints on national team coaches who must work with available players and fewer high-profile matches.
19 May 2026 · The Namibian →
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom described a meeting held Saturday in Istanbul with the Iranian football federation as "excellent" and "constructive," aimed at ensuring Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Iranian federation president said discussions covered concerns and joint commitment to Iran's smooth participation, though visas had not yet been issued.
18 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The one-month countdown to the 2026 Fifa World Cup begins Monday with a record 48 teams descending on the United States, Canada and Mexico, though soaring ticket prices, political tensions, and conflict in Iran have cast an early shadow over the tournament.
10 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Windhoek-based Bucks Buccaneers Football Club has withdrawn from the upcoming Namibia Football Association Cup, which runs from 8 May to 27 June, citing financial constraints including approximately N$420 000 in salary commitments over two months and additional spending on travel, accommodation and equipment.
7 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Football Association will soon enter an agreement with the Pakistan Football Federation to build long-term institutional ties and strengthen development pathways in both countries. Preliminary discussions took place at the 76th Fifa Congress in Vancouver, Canada, with formal signing planned during an upcoming Fifa seminar in Miami.
7 May 2026 · The Namibian →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received pledges of support from the African and Asian football confederations ahead of his expected candidacy for a fourth term in 2027. The two confederations account for 101 votes out of 211 in FIFA's presidential election.
30 April 2026 · The Namibian →
FIFA boosted total World Cup cash distributions to nearly $900 million (specifically $871 million) from an initial $727 million, citing concerns over rising costs for the 48 teams competing in Mexico, Canada and the United States. The increase includes raising preparation costs per team from $1.5 million to $2.5 million and qualifying payments from $9 million to $10 million per team.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah received a delegation from the Namibia National Olympic Committee and Namibia Commonwealth Games Association at State House, where she was presented with the Trophy for Distinguished African Leaders in Sport, awarded by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa. The delegation said the award recognises Namibia's commitment to advancing sport and its growing role in the Olympic movement.
29 April 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibia Football Association has secured more than 10 land sites countrywide to build stadiums but lacks the financial resources to develop them, instead seeking external and local investment. The NFA's projects are separate from the government's plan to build 28 stadiums across regions, though the association will provide technical advisory support to ensure compliance with international football standards.
19 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Amnesty International released a report calling on FIFA and the US, Canada and Mexico to protect fans and communities during the 2026 World Cup, warning that conditions in the host nations—particularly the US under the Trump administration—contrast sharply with FIFA's promise of safety and freedom, with concerns about ICE operations, travel bans for fans from certain nations, and risks to LGBTQ+ supporters.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's football team lost 2-0 to Kazakhstan in their first-ever Fifa Series match, leaving them at the bottom of their group with no points. The defeat marks Namibia's fifth consecutive loss, and they face Comoros on Saturday in a match crucial for group runner-up status.
28 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Paris St Germain defender Marquinhos will miss Brazil's friendly against France in Boston but may return for the next friendly against Croatia. Coach Carlo Ancelotti said the match offers a chance to evaluate three new centre-backs ahead of the World Cup.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that Namibian sports federations like Athletics Namibia and the NFA should focus on strategic growth, talent pipelines and sponsorships rather than micromanaging events, and should delegate operational duties to trained sports managers to improve performance and professionalism ahead of the 2026 African Games.
17 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia will receive a N$9-million Fifa-standard football field at the OlympAfrica Centre in Omaruru as part of a continental partnership between Anoca and Fifa aimed at expanding access to quality sport infrastructure across Africa. The facility will provide young Namibians with improved opportunities to participate in organised sport and develop their talents in their communities.
11 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Brave Gladiators' Cosafa Championship victory in March was built on decades of grassroots development through the NFA's Galz & Goals programme, which gave young girls safe spaces and structured competition, supported by Unicef and later sponsorship from Skorpion Zinc Mine and FNB Namibia. Captain Lovisa Mulunga credited the pathway from community fields to the FNB Women's Super League for developing the team that won the trophy, though she noted women's football still requires more sponsors to sustain progress.
10 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Four years after expelling Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have taken a muted stance toward the recent US-led attack on Iran, prompting experts to accuse them of applying inconsistent standards and prioritizing powerful nations over principle.
10 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia will receive a FIFA-standard football field valued at approximately N$9 million through a continental partnership between ANOCA and FIFA, to be implemented at the NNOC OlympAfrica Centre in Omaruru. The sponsorship was announced by ANOCA president Mustapha Beraff during his visit for the ANOCA Zone VI General Assembly, as part of a broader initiative to develop football infrastructure and expand access to sport for young people across Africa.
9 March 2026 · New Era →
Telecommunications company MTC rewarded Namibia's national women's football team with N$300 000 following their triumph at the Cosafa Women's Cup, with each player and technical team member receiving N$10 000. Officials emphasised the importance of corporate partnerships in strengthening women's football and called for continued private-sector support.
6 March 2026 · New Era →
Iran's already-qualified participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is in jeopardy following escalating US-Iran military conflict, with the team's president saying it is unclear whether Iran will travel to the tournament. Iran has suspended local football activities and entered 40 days of mourning, while officials debate whether to participate or withdraw, citing concerns over diplomatic tensions, visa restrictions, security logistics, and the unprecedented situation of a host country at war with a participant.
4 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's ministry says it is waiting for a technical review from African football's governing body (CAF) before finalising preparations for the Independence Stadium. Design documentation was submitted to CAF in December 2025 for compliance review, but the ministry has not received a response despite follow-up attempts, though it aims to complete construction preparations by March 2026.
23 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Refurbishment work at Sam Nujoma Stadium is advancing on schedule, with structural repairs expected to be completed by October 2025 as part of a phased programme to restore the venue to international football standards. The current N$13 million phase focuses on foundation repairs, reinstalling precast elements, and roof recoating, with a broader rehabilitation effort costing roughly N$19.9 million funded through a 50/50 cost-sharing arrangement between the City of Windhoek and the Namibia Football Association.
19 February 2026 · New Era →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup will be "sold out," with 508 million ticket requests received for seven million available tickets. Infantino defended ticket prices as market-driven and estimated the tournament would generate over $11 billion in revenue for FIFA and around $30 billion in economic impact for the US.
19 February 2026 · The Namibian →