Last minute World Cup 2026 broadcast rights secured for Thailand

FIFA’s internal tensions have deepened after senior executive Kevin Lamour left the organisation, weeks after publicly criticising President Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to sell part of the governing body’s commercial rights. FIFA confirmed on Monday that Lamour’s working relationship with the organisation had ended on August 17, bringing an abrupt close to the tenure of a senior official who had once been part of Infantino’s inner circle. “FIFA can confirm that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer has ended,” a FIFA spokesperson said. The organisation thanked Lamour for his service but offered no further explanation. Lamour joined FIFA’s senior leadership team in November 2024. He had previously supported Infantino’s campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2016. His departure comes after he openly attacked a proposal to create a commercial subsidiary worth around $20 billion and sell as much as a 20% stake to private equity investors. The plan was designed to raise an estimated $4.2 billion. Lamour criticised the proposal last month, saying FIFA employees had been “deceived” about the plan and describing it as “the project of one person”. He also questioned whether FIFA’s leadership was putting personal interests ahead of football’s wider interests. The controversy intensified after Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned in protest and described the proposed deal as a bad arrangement for football. Infantino subsequently withdrew the proposal. However, the backlash has continued and has increasingly raised questions about Infantino’s bid for a fourth term as FIFA president. Infantino’s Reelection Faces Growing Opposition Infantino’s reelection, once widely regarded as almost certain, now faces a stronger challenge. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have all expressed concerns and recently called for an independent review of Infantino’s conduct. At the same time, several national football associations have questioned whether they should support another term. The Scottish Football Association has already said it will not back Infantino in next year’s election. The dispute has also moved into FIFA’s governance structures. Human rights organisation FairSquare has asked FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee to rule Infantino ineligible for another presidential term, arguing that FIFA’s rules limit presidents to three terms. Infantino, however, has maintained that his initial period in office from 2016 to 2019 should not count because he completed an interrupted mandate following the resignation of former president Sepp Blatter. He was elected in 2016 and subsequently won uncontested elections in 2019 and 2023. FairSquare director Nicholas McGeehan said the organisation’s complaint presented evidence of what he described as a breach of FIFA’s rules. Former FIFA Governance and Review Committee head Miguel Maduro also backed the complaint, arguing that term limits were a central part of reforms introduced to prevent excessive concentration of power. The dispute now places FIFA under increasing scrutiny ahead of next year’s presidential election. While Infantino retains support from the African and South American confederations, opposition from influential football bodies in Europe, Asia and North and Central America could make his path to another term considerably more difficult. With Lamour’s departure adding to the controversy surrounding FIFA’s leadership, pressure on Infantino is likely to remain intense as football’s governing body approaches a crucial election year.

Pakistan’s Under-21 hockey team has departed for Muscat to take part in a five-match Test series against Oman’s senior national side, giving the country’s emerging players a valuable opportunity to gain international experience against more seasoned opposition. The young Pakistan squad left for Oman on Monday, accompanied by head coach and Olympian Ayaz Mahmood, coach and Olympian Sameer Hussain, and coach Azfar Yaqoob. The series is being viewed as an important step in the development of Pakistan’s junior hockey players, particularly as they prepare to transition from age-group competition to the demands of senior international hockey. The first Test will be played on July 29, followed by the second on July 31. The third match is scheduled for August 1, while the fourth Test will take place on August 2. The five-match series will conclude with the final Test on August 4. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) believes the exposure will help the young players understand the pace, physical demands and pressure associated with international hockey. PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani extended his best wishes to the team before its departure and said the decision to send the players to Oman was aimed at boosting their confidence and providing them with meaningful international exposure. “Our junior players will gain confidence when they compete against foreign teams at the international level,” Wani said, stressing the importance of giving promising players opportunities to perform outside the domestic circuit. The series against Oman’s senior team could prove particularly useful for Pakistan’s youngsters because they will be competing against players with greater experience and exposure to high-level hockey. Such matches can help young athletes identify weaknesses, improve decision-making and develop the composure required in competitive international fixtures. For Pakistan, the tour is also an opportunity to assess the depth of its emerging talent. With the national side looking to strengthen its future pool of players, regular international exposure at the Under-21 level could play a key role in preparing the next generation for senior hockey. The five-Test format will provide the players with multiple opportunities to adapt. Rather than relying on a single match, the youngsters will have to recover quickly, learn from mistakes and make tactical adjustments throughout the series. The tour also gives the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate players under challenging conditions and identify individuals capable of progressing to the senior national setup. As Pakistan’s junior players prepare to take on Oman’s senior side, the series promises to be more than a collection of practice matches. It represents a test of character, confidence and readiness—and potentially another important chapter in the development of Pakistan hockey’s next generation.