Alex Eala on the cusp of Washington Open title after Naomi Osaka sweep

RABAT: FIFA has thrown its full support behind president Gianni Infantino despite growing criticism over the now-abandoned proposal to privatise the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup, while admitting that serious mistakes were made during the handling of the controversial plan. The governing body’s senior leadership met in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday to address the crisis that erupted after details of the proposal were leaked to the media. Following the meeting, FIFA issued a statement reaffirming its confidence in Infantino but also apologised to member associations for the way the process was managed. The proposed project, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aimed to create a new commercial subsidiary responsible for managing tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup. FIFA estimated the venture could generate up to $4.2 billion, based on a valuation of $20 billion, while significantly increasing financial support for its 211 member associations. Under the proposal, each member nation would have received a one-time payment of $20 million in 2027, with regular funding for the 2027–2030 cycle rising from $8 million to $20 million. However, instead of winning support, the initiative sparked fierce opposition from football stakeholders worldwide. UEFA strongly criticised the plan, describing it as an opaque agreement that lacked transparency, while CONCACAF questioned Infantino’s leadership and governance. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also publicly expressed doubts about Infantino’s ability to continue leading world football. Facing mounting pressure, Infantino withdrew the proposal last weekend, saying FIFA’s primary goal had always been to unite and strengthen the global game. In Wednesday’s statement, FIFA admitted that member associations and the FIFA Council should have been more closely involved from the outset. It also acknowledged mistakes made after the proposal became public and pledged to improve transparency in future decision-making. A formal review of the process will now be conducted, with findings expected to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting. Officials confirmed that the FFE proposal has been permanently shelved. Later in the day, Infantino attended a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat alongside Moroccan football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, one of the few senior officials to publicly support him throughout the controversy. Despite surviving the immediate crisis with the backing of FIFA’s leadership, the episode has raised fresh questions about governance, transparency and trust within world football, casting a shadow over Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president.

The West Indies face another difficult route to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 after failing to secure automatic qualification for the tournament. The two-time world champions are currently 10th in the ICC ODI rankings and cannot move into the required top-eight positions before the September 30, 2026 cut-off date. Their remaining two ODI matches against India will therefore not be enough to rescue their hopes of direct qualification. Under the qualification system, the top eight ranked teams, excluding hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, will earn automatic places in the 2027 World Cup. The tournament will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Afghanistan recently became the latest side to secure automatic qualification after defeating Ireland in a thrilling contest in Belfast. They join defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh among the teams already assured of their places. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will also feature as hosts. For the West Indies, however, the road to the World Cup will now become considerably longer. They are set to compete in the World Cup Qualifier in February 2027, where they will need to perform strongly to secure a place in the main tournament. The situation is particularly painful because the Caribbean side experienced a similar setback during the qualification campaign for the 2023 World Cup. The West Indies entered the Qualifier in Zimbabwe but failed to reach the tournament after finishing fifth in the Super Six stage. It was a historic disappointment as the Caribbean team had previously appeared in every ODI World Cup since the competition began in 1975. The West Indies won the first two editions of the World Cup in 1975 and 1979, establishing themselves as one of cricket’s earliest dominant forces. Their failure to qualify for the 2023 tournament also resulted in their absence from the 2025 Champions Trophy, ending a long sequence of appearances dating back to 2013. Now, with another Qualifier ahead, the West Indies face a crucial opportunity to avoid repeating recent history. Their performance in February 2027 could determine whether one of cricket’s most celebrated teams returns to the global stage—or suffers another major setback.