“Every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa cannot.” Senegal captain Koulibaly speaks out on travel bans limiting travel from his country for fans for World Cup. www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

“Every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa cannot.” Senegal captain Koulibaly speaks out on Trump/Miller regime’s travel bans in the #WorldCup. @adamcrafton.bsky.social @david-ornstein.bsky.social

Exclusive Unionized workers in SoFI stadium today handed “Kick Ice Out” buttons to wear by union shop stewards inside the venue (and some are wearing them) Workers been fighting in recent months for protections against ICE at the venue. www.nytimes.com/athletic/735...

NEW @theathleticfc.bsky.social President Trump not currently planning to attend USMNT opening FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay on Friday night at SoFi Stadium, per four people familiar with match planning or his plans. He has walkthroughs of White House UFC event on Friday.

NEW: Democrat Rep. Rick Larsen tells @theathleticfc.bsky.social his info is ref Artan faced “legitimate” scrutiny "CBP decision probably the right one. CBP has authority to look at devices & seems they determined some communications concerning enough to deny entry” www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

💰 Missouri, Georgia and Florida waived sales tax on ticket sales to entice FIFA to give games to Kansas City, Atlanta and Miami. An analysis by The Athletic now shows this will cost at least $57m in lost tax revenue for the U.S. tax payer www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

NEW Infantino floats in & out of the Oval Office, hangs out with Trump officials, squeezes host cities for cash & cloaks FIFA in MAGA. Now, FIFA wants to be considered powerless. Free to read column on Gianni’s visa disasterclass www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

New Workers at SoFi stadium strike deal to become highest paid at NFL venues after threatening strike before World Cup 40% uplift for concession stand workers & clause allows them to walk off if “reasonable fear” of safety risk from ICE www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

Report There’s been a lot of public money spent in the US towards this World Cup. Here’s a mad one: the $25.8m spent by Kansas City to get a jail ready for the World Cup, only for it not to be ready by the World Cup… www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

Exclusive Chicago said NO to hosting World Cup Former mayor Rahm Emanuel tells @theathleticfc.bsky.social how FIFA wanted contract that could have forced Chicago taxpayers to pay for a dome on Soldier Field… & how FIFA claimed Chicago needed them for “marketing” www.nytimes.com/athletic/731...

Exclusive Chicago said NO to hosting World Cup Former mayor Rahm Emanuel tells @theathleticfc.bsky.social how FIFA wanted contract that could have forced Chicago taxpayers to pay for a dome on Soldier Field… & how FIFA claimed Chicago needed them for “marketing” www.nytimes.com/athletic/731...

The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has written to FIFA claiming that “many” Iranian and African journalists have been denied the necessary visas to cover the World Cup in the United States. www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

New: FIFA crisis….the union which represents more than 2,000 workers at SoFi Stadium has voted 96 per cent in favor of authorizing a strike - one week before the U.S. men’s national team open their World Cup campaign at the venue. Free to read! www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

NEW: After backlash from politicians, media and fans, FIFA u-turn on a u-turn: Now FIFA say that fans can bring a water bottle to World Cup stadiums this summer – but the new rules do not yet apply to venues in Mexico. www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

NEW @theathleticfc.bsky.social Members of FIFA’s security & safety team internally raised concerns over FIFA water bottle ban Staff members believe ban influenced by commercial interests (FIFA say it about safety) Coca-Cola sources insist not involved in decision www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

Exclusive: FIFA make last-gasp change to World Cup stadium rules: BANNING fans from bringing refillable plastic bottles, so fans must buy water in stadia As of May, empty bottles permitted so fans could refill amid heat concerns. Not now www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

NEW @theathleticfc.bsky.social Union representing over 2,000 workers at SoFi Stadium has broken off negotiations with the stadium operators and plans to hold a strike vote next week - just a week before the venue hosts the opening USMNT match of the World Cup. www.nytimes.com/athletic/731...

Story: A Vancouver-based non-profit which assists people recovering from serious spinal injuries organized a raffle of two World Cup tickets. Then the cease-and-desist letters came from FIFA. Free to read www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

The latest U.S. lawsuit threat against FIFA: A non-profit group demanding FIFA reverse its current policy of prohibiting the pre-revolutionary “Lion & Sun” Iran flag from venues in North America this summer. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

NEW @theathleticfc.bsky.social New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill requested New York New Jersey World Cup host committee CHANGE signage at MetLife Stadium: Was gonna be “New York New Jersey stadium” at WC, but one major sign to now read New Jersey New York Stadium www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

Exclusive @theathleticfc.bsky.social NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani secures 1,000 World Cup tickets at $50 to be balloted for New Yorkers (the cheapest at the WC) Inside the meeting with Infantino (& Wenger on FaceTime) & how Mamdani negotiated a rare FIFA concession. www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

NEW FIFA plan to prohibit the pre-revolutionary Iran flag - often used as a statement of identity and protest by Iranian diaspora against the theocratic Iranian regime - in their venues at World Cup this summer. Free to read www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

NEW @theathleticfc.bsky.social Yesterday: excited headlines about how $15k visa bonds are waived by the U.S. State Department for World Cup fans. The truth? Much more complicated l. The reality: most fans from impacted countries will not benefit. Explained: www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

Exclusive (and free!) interview with Carlo Ancelotti. We discussed Brazil, the big Neymar decision and why involving players in strategy is the key to success - “I don’t want soldiers” And why it’s “bullshit” to say Real Madrid players do as they want www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

Exclusive: FIFA to have opening ceremonies at all three host nation openers, plus USA 250 ceremonies at two July 4 games. FIFA acts lined up: Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, LISA, Future, and many more…. Free to read @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

NEW: A complaint has been filed to the attorney general of California alleging that the data sharing in FIFA’s accreditation process for workers at SoFi Stadium represents a “serious intrusion” into the right to privacy and violates worker rights. www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

Exclusive: Rodney Barreto, chair of Miami World Cup host committee, tells me that he received personal assurances from Marco Rubio that ICE will not be at World Cup venues “This is not going to turn into some ’round them up’ type of thing,” Barreto says…. www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

Exclusive NJ Transit to reduce pricing for the round trip rail to MetLife from $150 to $105 - 30% cut - after securing funding from sponsors & other private sources. Follows row between NJ Governor Sherrill & FIFA over pricing Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

The World Cup has been political since its very first edition. But in so many ways, this one feels even more so than most. My analysis on the eve of the FIFA Congress, the last big chance for the soccer world to say anything to Gianni Infantino before the summer: www.inquirer.com/soccer/world...

Inside battle for domestic league games abroad: 😮 FIFA to approve but working group considering a cap on how many games a league can play in specific outside territory per season 🇺🇸Real Madrid opposed to La Liga plan to play in US for fear it eliminates home advantage www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

REVEALED: @theathleticfc.bsky.social has seen official “tickets purchased” numbers for World Cup group games at 70k SoFi Stadium near LA. Sales for high-priced USMNT opener are lagging significantly (40k tickets purchased) behind games such as Iran v New Zealand. www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

Exclusive Philadelphia’s World Cup committee ensures FREE transport for fans leaving their stadium this summer, assisted by partnership with Airbnb. The in-bound SEPTA ticket to the venue is also staying at usual $2.90. www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

BREAKING NJ Transit confirm $150 round-trip rail tickets to World Cup at MetLife Stadium Alternative bus service is $80 (!) per passenger. Locals in area to be asked to work from home if possible to help flow of stations. www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Exclusive A formal union complaint has been filed with the National Labor Relations Board against FIFA and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which accuses them of failing to restrict ICE access to SoFi Stadium ahead of the World Cup. www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Exclusive A formal union complaint has been filed with the National Labor Relations Board against FIFA and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which accuses them of failing to restrict ICE access to SoFi Stadium ahead of the World Cup. www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Exclusive @theathleticfc.bsky.social : Current NJ Transit plans for return train from NY Penn Station to MetLife Stadium during World Cup are for tickets to be priced at over $100. Usual price is $12.90, making it more than a 7-fold increase for World Cup fans. www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

NEW @theathleticfc.bsky.social World Cup host committee for Boston is providing alternative service to $80 MBTA trains to Gillette stadium… A $95 bus service. Like the trains, no special pricing for children or seniors. Full details: www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

Exclusive and free to read @theathleticfc.bsky.social FIFA’s senior executives & Gianni Infantino have spoken about him making a President-to-President plea to Donald Trump for a *full* ICE raid moratorium across the United States during World Cup. www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

Next crisis for FIFA? SoFi Stadium workers bargaining agreement has expired and threatening a strike at LA venue hosting eight World Cup games. The issues: ICE, Airbnb, AI. “At this point, (striking) is pretty realistic,” the union tell @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

Gianni Infantino. Peace Prize. Sky high tickets. Some fans may have had enough. But federations? They can’t get enough. South American confederation Conmebol call for four more years of Gianni - without him even formally declaring he is standing yet. www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

Free to read: Trump’s White House must sign govt guarantees for FIFA to proceed with U.S. bid for Women’s World Cup in 2031 But White House wants to use its leverage for soccer to change a policy: its regulations on transgender players www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...

NEW @theathleticfc.bsky.social White House wants FIFA to follow lead of IOC by issuing policy to bar transgender women from professional women’s soccer — with Trump yet to sign off on required government guarantees for US-led bid to host Women’s World Cup in 2031. www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...

ICYMI, FIFA has yet to confirm the U.S.-led bid to host the Women’s World Cup in 2031, as reported last week by @adamcrafton.bsky.social in @theathletic.com A fascinating push and pull that explains much about FIFA www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Exclusive: Approval of U.S.-led bid to host Women’s World Cup in 2031 was postponed in significant part because… Trump’s White House has not provided required govt guarantees to FIFA & host cities want much better terms than 2026. www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Exclusive: Approval of U.S.-led bid to host Women’s World Cup in 2031 was postponed in significant part because… Trump’s White House has not provided required govt guarantees to FIFA & host cities want much better terms than 2026. www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Exclusive @theathleticfc.bsky.social Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) plans to almost quadruple usual prices for return train ticket from center of Boston to Gillette Stadium during World Cup. Up from $20 for NFL games to above $75. www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

NEW @TheAthleticFC Fans from several countries participating in the World Cup must deposit up to $15,000 in bond payments to receive a tourist visa to enter the USA, while FIFA is *still* pressing Trump administration for exemptions for players. www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

NEW @TheAthleticFC Fans from several countries participating in the World Cup must deposit up to $15,000 in bond payments to receive a tourist visa to enter the USA, while FIFA is *still* pressing Trump administration for exemptions for players. www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

A New Jersey congresswoman has introduced a bill requesting that no federal funding should be used to carry out immigration enforcement activity within one mile of any FIFA World Cup match or Fan Festival during the tournament in the U.S. this summer. Full story from @adamcrafton.bsky.social

Exclusive @theathleticfc.bsky.social Members of Congress have introduced three bills aimed at limiting ICE during the World Cup, including restrictions on ICE activity on public transport, and on enforcement within a mile of stadiums or Fan Fests during tournament. www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...