Kuala Lumpur's trusted voice for news, politics and business.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's grip on power has weakened significantly following his withdrawal of a $4.2 billion World Cup stake sale proposal. Regional confederations including UEFA and CONCACAF have lost confidence in his leadership, with reports suggesting coordinated efforts to force his removal before the March election.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces a serious re-election challenge after three major football federations withdrew support over his failed private equity proposal. Five prominent figures are emerging as potential replacements in the 2027-2031 term.
UEFA has declared that FIFA's current leadership no longer commands the confidence of the global football community, following the withdrawal of a controversial scheme to privatise portions of World Cup operations.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has dropped plans to sell a significant stake in the World Cup after the proposal sparked considerable internal divisions, citing a shift away from the football body's unifying mission.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces mounting pressure as the Asian Football Confederation rejects his plan to privatize World Cup operations. With three major continental bodies now opposed, the proposal appears doomed and threatens Infantino's leadership.
FIFA is seeking US$4.2 billion from private investors through a newly created subsidiary, aiming to double development funding for its 211 member federations including Malaysia's Football Association.
Following its successful free-to-air coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Radio Televisyen Malaysia plans to announce additional major sporting events. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil highlighted the broadcaster's commitment to expanding content while exploring new technologies.
Johor police arrested 12 men, one aged 15, following a violent brawl that erupted during a World Cup final screening in Johor Bahru. The incident highlights escalating tensions at public sporting events.
Malaysian police have dismantled a significant illegal betting syndicate linked to World Cup activities, with 161 arrests made including five suspected company directors or shareholders overseeing the operation.
Police in Johor Baru have detained 12 men, including one juvenile, following a violent altercation that erupted during a World Cup final viewing at a restaurant in Taman Daya early on Sunday morning.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has praised the national football team's exceptional togetherness as the squad prepares for Sunday's World Cup final against Argentina, citing their unique qualities.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's travel to Sunday's Argentina-Spain World Cup final in New Jersey was disrupted when smoke from Canadian wildfires forced the cancellation of her scheduled flight from Cancún to New York on Saturday.
United Nations experts have called for independent investigations into claims of undue interference with demonstrations highlighting Mexico's missing persons crisis during the recent World Cup football tournament.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph4i3z0g)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph4i3z0p)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22151%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EArgentine%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Argentine World Cup players faced calls for investigation after displaying a Falklands sovereignty banner following their semi-final victory over England, but residents in Buenos Aires rallied behind the gesture as a matter of national importance.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has come under intense scrutiny following his team's World Cup semi-final elimination by Argentina, though critics overlook how Argentina's defending champions and Lionel Messi's brilliance proved too formidable.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23phlpzgg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23phlpzgp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22320%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EUS%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
American authorities have confiscated over 700 drones operating near FIFA World Cup stadiums and fan zones since the tournament began in June, enforcing strict airspace restrictions that carry significant penalties.
England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged his team became passive after taking the lead but expressed no regrets over his tactical approach in Wednesday's 2-1 World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina in Atlanta.
An Argentine war veterans organisation has appealed to supporters to prioritise football over sovereignty disputes before Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against England, warning against using the match to promote territorial claims.
Atlanta police have implemented unprecedented security measures for the Argentina-England World Cup semi-final, including separate stadium entrances for rival supporters, as authorities navigate sensitivities stemming from decades of sporting and geopolitical rivalry.
French authorities arrested more than 160 people in Paris and Lyon following violent disturbances that erupted after France's 2-0 World Cup semifinal loss to Spain, with most incidents involving fireworks directed at police.
France's World Cup dreams ended abruptly in Arlington, Texas, as Spain delivered a masterclass performance to secure a dominant 2-0 semi-final victory. The French side, installed as tournament favorites, proved tactically naive and technically inferior.
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has apologised for remarks made by former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who questioned whether France's soccer players were truly French based on their heritage.
At 39, Lionel Messi has matched Kylian Mbappé's eight goals at this summer's World Cup and is pursuing a second title. The Argentine legend continues to rewrite football history.
Spain advanced to the World Cup semi-final with a 2-1 victory over Belgium, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute. The Spanish side will face France near Dallas on Tuesday in a repeat of their Euro 2024 semi-final meeting.
Penang police are escalating enforcement operations against illegal gambling networks as the FIFA World Cup moves into its concluding phase. Authorities have already apprehended 31 suspects statewide since the tournament began.
Police in Kuala Lumpur arrested 11 suspects including six South Korean nationals during a raid on a World Cup betting call centre in Taman Desa, Brickfields, dismantling an illegal sports wagering operation.
Argentina and Switzerland face off in the World Cup knockout round, rekindling their rivalry from 2014 Brazil. The defending champions arrive as favourites, but Switzerland harbour genuine hopes of an upset after reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in seven decades.
Brampton Soccer Club, which produced multiple Canadian national team players, lost its Ontario development league license last year, threatening the traditional pathway for young talent to reach elite European clubs and the national squad.
France and Morocco face off in a World Cup quarter-final shaped by their intertwined histories, shared diaspora and personal friendships among players forged in European clubs.
FIFA has opened an investigation into racist abuse targeting popular streamer IShowSpeed during World Cup matches in Miami. The 21-year-old content creator, who has over 57 million YouTube subscribers, was reportedly targeted multiple times during recent fixtures.
Colombia's legendary striker Radamel Falcao has launched a scathing critique of his nation's football infrastructure following their World Cup elimination on penalties by Switzerland, highlighting structural deficiencies in the domestic league system.
FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's automatic red-card ban following a call between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino has triggered widespread criticism from European football associations who warn the move undermines competition integrity.
Belgium has strongly criticised FIFA after U.S. President Donald Trump personally intervened to overturn a red-card ban for an American player ahead of Monday's World Cup knockout match in Seattle, with officials calling the move unprecedented and unethical.
Controversial remarks by Belgium coach Rudi Garcia about Senegal have triggered fresh scrutiny of racial stereotypes in World Cup coverage, with scholars warning that coded language perpetuates harmful depictions of Black players and African teams.
Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup knockout stage, prepares to face Argentina and Lionel Messi with genuine confidence despite opening odds of just one percent.
World Cup fans have launched a class action lawsuit against StubHub, alleging the secondary ticketing platform failed to deliver expensive match tickets despite payments made through their resale marketplace.
Chinese social media erupted after Paraguay's aggressive display against France in a World Cup last-16 encounter, with fans criticising both the South American team's tactics and Uzbekistan referee Ilgiz Tantashev's management of the match.
England and Mexico clash at the iconic Estadio Azteca on Sunday in a highly anticipated World Cup knockout match, with Brazil facing Norway in New Jersey simultaneously as the battle for quarter-final spots reaches its climax.
The US embassy in Mexico City has advised American citizens to remain vigilant during the World Cup knockout match between Mexico and England, warning of potential overcrowding hazards and public demonstrations.
The United States meets Belgium in a World Cup knockout match at Seattle's CenturyLink Field, seeking a quarter-final berth. American hopes have surged following victories over Paraguay, Australia, and Bosnia.
Herve Renard has stepped down as Tunisia's coach following the team's disappointing World Cup group-stage exit. The Tunisian side failed to record a single victory and conceded 12 goals, setting an unwanted tournament record.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into ticket resale platform StubHub following widespread complaints from fans who paid for World Cup matches but never received their tickets.
Brazil advanced to the World Cup last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Japan, courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli's stoppage-time winner in Houston. The five-time champions recovered from a first-half deficit to secure their progression.
Cape Verde's coach Bubista has vowed his team will maintain their attacking philosophy against Argentina in a World Cup knockout match, backed by draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
England narrowly escaped World Cup embarrassment when Harry Kane netted a second-half brace to overturn a one-goal deficit against the Democratic Republic of Congo, advancing to face Mexico in the round of 32.
Portugal will face Croatia in the World Cup round of 32 on Thursday, with the match coinciding with the first anniversary of midfielder Diogo Jota's fatal car crash in Spain last year.
Three individuals died from asphyxiation in Mexico City following celebratory gatherings near Paseo de la Reforma after Mexico advanced to the World Cup knockout stage.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is targeting an engaging performance against Democratic Republic of Congo in Wednesday's World Cup knockout fixture, with an early 5 pm UK kickoff designed to let young fans watch their first tournament match.
England mounted a dramatic second-half recovery to beat DR Congo 2-1 in an unexpectedly tense World Cup encounter, advancing to face Mexico in the round of 16 despite displaying continued defensive vulnerabilities that have plagued their campaign.
Toronto health authorities have issued warnings ahead of the Portugal-Croatia World Cup match, with temperatures expected to feel like 40°C due to humidity. Officials urge fans to stay hydrated and limit alcohol consumption.
A Czech music promoter has devoted his life to Argentine football, painting his house in the national colours and naming his son after Lionel Messi. His passion reveals the global reach of football fandom.
Three Dutch footballers endured racist and hateful messages on social media following their penalty shootout loss to Morocco in the World Cup last-32 encounter. The KNVB has pledged to report the abuse to authorities.
Iraq's Olympic Committee will investigate the national football team's disappointing World Cup campaign and implement measures to prevent similar underperformance in coming tournaments.
FIFA has confirmed that the expanded 48-team World Cup format attracted 4.6 million spectators across group stage matches, surpassing the 1994 tournament by over a million fans despite a lower average attendance per game.
France's devastating attacking arsenal has powered them through the group stage unbeaten, but defensive concerns on the left flank remain before their Round of 32 encounter with Sweden on Tuesday.
Canada has reached the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history, with Stephen Eustaquio scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner against South Africa at Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday.
Iran has levelled accusations of unfair and unsportsmanlike treatment as their World Cup campaign ends following a 1-1 draw with Egypt. The team faced travel restrictions and a VAR controversy that disallowed a goal.