New: Is this the most political World Cup ever? (with @mjslater.bsky.social) www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

When war started this moment looked unlikely, but Iran have now departed for WC. Spent 4 days with in Türkiye as they prepared. Watched training, match & spoke to players & officials as visa row went into last 24hrs. Read free on @theathleticfc.bsky.social here ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

FIFA has u-turned on a u-turn. Some water bottles will be allowed at World Cup stadiums this summer, but the new rules does not yet apply to venues in Mexico. @adamcrafton.bsky.social with more details (free to read):

According to emails seen by The Athletic, FIFA have informed World Cup ticket holders that they have updated the code of conduct and the correspondence told fans that “reusable water bottles are no longer permitted at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ stadiums”. nyti.ms/4x9TQkF

In 1989, I saw Detroit beat LA in the NBA Finals. My ticket cost $25, or $67 in today’s money. I see the cheapest Game 3 ticket for Knicks-Spurs is going for $6,000…89 times the inflation-adjusted price I paid 37 years ago. America, what happened? www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

On the one hand, FIFA says it will get so hot during some WC games that the players must take a 3min hydration break each half (creating two extra ad breaks). But on the other hand, it says fans can’t bring in their own water or an empty bottle to fill up with water! www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

He’s a one-dimensional player who scored 48 goals for England & won trophies at Barca. He’s a sports guy who was the BBC’s top earner. He was pushed out of the BBC but now owns a podcast empire set to break America. Maybe we should stop underestimating Gary Lineker. www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

Yes, yes, I know, water is wet. And I’m sure Gary Lineker doesn’t need reminding of England’s World Cup record. But his view on WHY the US have such long odds on home soil is interesting, particularly as he has scored 10 more goals at World Cups than most of us. www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

On the one hand, Concacaf/FIFA fines aren’t working. But, on the other, we can’t just let some Mexican fans keep screaming an anti-gay slur each time the oppo goalie boots it. Self-policing by fans is the best way to fix this…now would be a good time to start! www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

Liverpool have formally opened talks with Andoni Iraola about becoming their new head coach. More from @jamespearcelfc.bsky.social ⬇️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

Less than six percent of $98 tickets have been purchased for round-trip New Jersey Transit trains to MetLife Stadium during the FIFA World Cup. Full story from @adamcrafton.bsky.social ⬇️ 🔗 nyti.ms/43bLZW5

Four World Cups ago, England's preparations were thrown off course by the launch of Capello Index. But was it actually an idea far ahead its time? My piece: www.nytimes.com/athletic/731...

Irons going down & Spurs staying up Bank holiday Monday @theathleticfc.bsky.social pod alongside @mjslater.bsky.social @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social & Roshane Thomas (in his garden, sat in paddle pool of tears) Cost, firesales & dodging bullets Listen for free here ⬇️ podfollow.com/athletic-fc-...

Watch the full @theathleticfc.bsky.social show here with Roshane, @mjslater.bsky.social, @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social & me here. ▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS3O...

Turki al-Sheikh rented the Pyramids of Giza for his gaudy boxing spectacle. But his soft power attempt was flawed. What we learned was that, while Saudi has more money than God, it can’t buy culture and it can't buy civilization. www.sportspolitika.news/p/pyramids-g...

I hope nobody watches the Enhanced Games, not even fans of The Killers or Game of Thrones. It’s pseudo-sport for plastic people. But I have a feeling Enhanced Games Inc will be a hit…as an online pharmacy for looksmaxxers & tech bros. The “sport” is the shop window. www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

I hope nobody watches the Enhanced Games, not even fans of The Killers or Game of Thrones. It’s pseudo-sport for plastic people. But I have a feeling Enhanced Games Inc will be a hit…as an online pharmacy for looksmaxxers & tech bros. The “sport” is the shop window. www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

🎙️ We cover a lot of ground in this one: the concept of proportionality, Tonda Eckert’s employment prospects, Eastleigh’s location, Hull trying it on & how Southampton’s spying is the sports story of the year (so far). With @adamcrafton.bsky.social & @aakinwo.bsky.social pod.fo/e/41ba4d

📢 We welcome UEFA's decision to extend its Standing Facilities Observer Programme. 🙌 More fans will have the choice to stand at European matches from next season. 🔗 More: https://bit.ly/4upsghC

While we wait for the result of Southampton’s appeal, here’s an unclassified dossier on the story so far. www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

🏆 Toxic' to title: Inside Arsenal’s first Premier League for 22 years Free to read on @theathleticfc.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

“It’s legal. A service. I help people get tickets. I’ve never held a gun to anyone’s head.” Inside world of U.S. secondary ticket brokers - they don’t call themselves tout/scalper - & how they execute their World Cup plans. Free read for @theathleticfc.bsky.social ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

"Happiness and suffering are linked to the time you've had to wait." The wait is over. The suffering was prominent. Let the happiness in. Free to read if you have the head for it x www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

Leeds United director Peter Lowy tells The Athletic the board will imminently sit down with Daniel Farke to set out a fresh three-year vision for the club. #lufc

More than 8000 days since their last title. A long, meandering, complicated journey ends in joy. www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

Major news from @sprtswtr.bsky.social, who chased this for months and now finally has reportable details: FIFA promised a $1 million gift to Philadelphia from the Club World Cup to spur ‘legacy’ initiatives. The city is still waiting. www.inquirer.com/soccer/fifa-... via @phillysport.bsky.social

Job done — 1-0 to the Arsenal. Kai Havertz's header proved the difference against Burnley. Mikel Arteta's side could be Premier League champions in less than 24 hours.

Pep Guardiola will leave his role as Manchester City manager this summer, ending one of the most successful managerial tenures in Premier League history, with former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca expected to replace him. More from @david-ornstein.bsky.social @samdlee.bsky.social ⬇️ bit.ly/4tNfCYH

The 2026 World Cup is not only the most politically combustible tournament in modern history, but it is also on track to be the “most polluting” WC ever, with total greenhouse gas emissions hitting nearly 2 times the historical average. My latest @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The good news: the top 4 divisions in English football are all using a squad-cost ratio approach to financial regulation next season. The bad news: they’re using 4 different versions of it & many worry SCR just gives rich clubs an even bigger advantage. www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

🎙️ “Is FIFA exploiting World Cup fans?” Somehow @aakinwo.bsky.social @henrybushnell.bsky.social @adamcrafton.bsky.social & I spin this one out for 39mins. We discuss tickets, transport, NJ politics, China, Carlo Ancelotti, Morgan Freeman & Diana Ross. And Adam invents a new word. pod.fo/e/415c0f

As mentioned👇 the Championship has been talking about swapping PSR for SCR for months. Today’s the day. A recent indicative vote fell just short of 2/3 majority but clubs think it will pass on Fri. 85% of revs on 1st team squads, plus max £10m top-up in owner cash. www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

ENIC have poured over £230m into Spurs since 2022. Their stake is up 2.07% in that time. Warrants issued can take that yet higher. Here's what it means for both ENIC and c.30k minority owners w/ @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social @theathleticfc.bsky.social [𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗] www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

Nobody can say FIFA hasn’t THOUGHT about ways to mitigate the health risks associated with the N American summer. But FIFA still won’t say what its threshold is for postponing games when it’s simply too hot to play (or watch) football safely. The show must go on? www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr were seconds away from winning the Saudi Pro League title. But in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Brazilian goalkeeper Bento fumbled a long throw into his own net to rescue a point for Al Hilal. Ronaldo was substituted in the 83rd minute with his side leading 1-0.

A 79-year-old president who’s been having poor results lately blames the media and says he wants to stay in office longer. apnews.com/article/flor...

Gianni Infantino says FIFA is “humanity’s happiness provider”. But with 5 weeks to go to the World Cup, there’s still no legal way for 3.3bn humans (40% of them) to watch it. How time zones, Trump, piracy, TikTok &…cricket have weakened FIFA’s hand. Illegal stream 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

Sportsman stops playing & gains weight is an old tale. But sportsman stops playing, gains weight, struggles with his mental health, seeks help, gets better & decides to talk about it to help others is….Ashley Giles’s tale & he wants to share it. You can read it 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

Sportsman stops playing & gains weight is an old tale. But sportsman stops playing, gains weight, struggles with his mental health, seeks help, gets better & decides to talk about it to help others is….Ashley Giles’s tale & he wants to share it. You can read it 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

Where's the money from your exorbitant World Cup tickets going? To FIFA's $14 billion in revenue. Yes, friends in Europe, there's plenty of anger here in the U.S., too. How bad will the scars from this summer be in a country whose money FIFA deeply covets? www.inquirer.com/soccer/world...

It surely must go down as one of the great tirades of the English football season. Leyton Orient sealed League One survival on Saturday - but manager Richie Wellens was far from impressed. Was this the best rant of the season? 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

Rather than enforce FIFA's rules and ban the Israel Football Association for long-standing violations of FIFA statutes, Infantino wants to use Palestine as a backdrop to his efforts to play statesman and peacemaker. A man hopelessly out of his depth, and nobody at FIFA holding him to account.

🎙️With PIF out on LIV, dumping other sports bets & refocusing on domestic projects, where does Newcastle Utd fit in? Me, @aakinwo.bsky.social & @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social mull it over. pod.fo/e/40a9d0

FIFA Congress: - Iran FA visas revoked; Infantino says they will play at World Cup - Afghan women’s team in exile to be officially recognised - Palestinian FA take their complaint to CAS, rebuffed photo opp - Infantino announces he will run again, despite term limits Football, bloody hell.

Unlike Lance Armstrong, I do gifts. Here’s a free read about how Europe’s top clubs have got even more lovely Champions League money coming their way from 2027 thanks to Paramount, Disney, Canal+, DAZN….& games like PSG-Bayern. www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

Can I just shock you? It didn't work. Today the owners announced the crypto fundraising drive has fallen short of its target. Although, and this may be a first in the history of failed crypto projects, the people running it are going to give everyone their money back - all $168,600.

In a draft proposal, FIFA suggests capping leagues to one “out of territory” game per season, with a five-game limit for hosts. FIFA will also want six months’ notice, a “solidarity” plan & a promise to consider a reverse fixture. That may make some think twice. www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

West Bromwich Albion have been docked two points for breaching the English Football League’s (EFL) profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). More from @mjslater.bsky.social & Jessica Hopkins

The Independent Football Regulator keeps telling the EFL & EPL it’s not too late to agree a new financial distribution deal without him imposing one on them, but “the clock is ticking”. So what’s the hold-up? EVERYONE can (& should!) read this update on a 7yr saga.. www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...