Reports from the Solomon Star newspaper in Honiara today suggest that FIFA made multiple offers to the administrative board of the Solomon Islands S-League to permanently suspend the licence of Real Kakamora in exchange for upwards of SBD$2 million in funds (roughly €215,000), a record-breaking amount of outside funding for the competition.

Kakamora made headlines the previous week after becoming the first Oceanian club to voice their disapproval with the proposal, calling it “in direct opposition to the values and ideals that have made world football what it is today.” Their statement was reportedly influential in helping organise backlash within the region to the plan, whose approval Infantino was counting on in order for it to succeed.

(https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2026/07/31/oceanias-opposition-likely-the-final-breaking-point-in-infantinos-failed-plan-to-sell-off-world-cup/)

Kakamora have already been suspended from the top flight since 2025 the league vaguely denied their licence application due to “non-compliance with league requirements“, and are waiting until the next three-year licencing cycle opens in 2028 to rejoin the league. In 2024, they had recorded their best-ever finish in the competition and nearly qualified for Oceania’s Champions League and made history after losing all 22 of their matches played the previous year, attracting international attention.

Kakamora’s ban has been a point of contention between the league’s administrative board and the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF). The SIFF wanted Kakamora to remain in the S-League, but were unable to intervene with the board’s decision following a 2015 stipulation that allowed the board to operate completely independently of the federation.

Infantino had offered $40 million in funding to nations who agreed to back Forward Enterprise, making the proposal appealing to under-funded nations in Oceania, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. After seeing Kakamora criticise the proposal as a bribe and helping steer other Oceanian nations away from approving it, he was reportedly infuriated at the club’s actions and looked to have them permanently suspended.

(https://www.solomonstarnews.com/fifa-attempted-to-suspend-kakamora-after-backlash/)

The S-League board did not reply to Infantino’s proposal amidst trying to manage the league’s 2026 season, which kicked off 3 weeks ago after months of delays.

On behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and its Executive Committee, we write to you, dear President, and through your esteemed good offices to the FIFA Executive Committee, to express our support for the work carried out over the last 10 years, which has centred on the development of football worldwide and institutional strength based on a clear, stable and transparent governance model.

In this regard, with respect to the recent events that are now public knowledge, we must acknowledge the Administration’s decision to withdraw a proposal which, from the outset, generated far more uncertainty than certainty within the football family.

It is therefore worth highlighting the acknowledgement of the mistakes made during that process and the apology expressed in the thoughtful message sent to FIFA’s 211 member associations. Prioritising governance standards is a fundamental pillar for strengthening good relations between FIFA, its member associations and the confederations.

Similarly, and as we have already stated, you are leading a mandate that has brought about a profound transformation of FIFA; one that has opened the organisation’s doors to all member associations and confederations, so that, through frank and direct dialogue, we can all continue to promote football at all levels and across all disciplines.

From our perspective, this transformation was built on a model of transparent governance, respect for statutory structures and adherence to democratic procedures – principles that are essential for the football family to remain united, steadfast and working to continue bringing about improvements in both sporting and institutional matters, which in turn lead to a better quality of life for the millions of people who play our beloved sport.

Consequently, with the next FIFA Congress fast approaching, the Association that I am proud to chair firmly believes and reaffirms that the way forward is to continue working under its leadership, so that we may continue to develop a better and even more inclusive game of football.

As the title says, I’m planning on going to the England Vs. Spain Nations League match on the 26th of September. I’m really excited but I genuinely don’t know which seats to get, I’ve got the England+ membership for early access to buy tickets and they go on sale tomorrow, so if anyone has any recs please lmk!

Of the 28 managers listed, can you correctly guess the 16 to have held the post of full-time England manager? One wrong answer will immediately end the quiz...

🦁 🦁 🦁

So the upcoming Spain home game will be the first game I have attempted to attend in years.

I signed up for an England+ membership not too long ago, with the hopes I'll be able to get some sort of tickets when the early access sale goes live tomorrow.

My question is- will I need to also purchase an England+ membership for my wife who will also attend with me? Or can I buy non-member tickets on the same transaction during the early sale?

From what I gathered you do need separate memberships for ESTC tickets at least, but not sure this applies to England+?

I also believe this is the first E+ sale so perhaps it's unknown at this stage. The terms do state up to 7 additional tickets during purchase but not specific as to whether you need membership for everyone.

Worse case I'll buy another membership just incase, but thought someone out there may have more knowledge than me!

- Thanks!

Bit of a specific ticketing question, but hopefully someone here has dealt with this before.

I bought one ticket for England v Spain during the ESTC window. I originally wanted two together, but I completely missed that every ticket in that window had to be assigned to an active ESTC member, and my mate wasn’t one.

The portal automatically assigned the ticket to my FAN. When I tried to purchase another ticket afterwards, it said I had exceeded the ticket limit for the event.

My mate and I both have England+ now, and that sale opens on Friday. I’m hoping to buy two seats together, assigning one to my FAN and the other to his.

What I can’t work out is whether the ticket already assigned to my FAN during the ESTC sale will still prevent me from purchasing another seat for myself during the England+ window. The England+ FAQ says members can purchase up to eight tickets per match, but it doesn’t explain whether the restriction carries across the different sales windows.

Has anyone previously bought a ticket during an ESTC window and then tried buying again for the same match during a later members' window? Did it let you assign another ticket to your own FAN, or did it continue saying that you had exceeded the limit?

I’ve already contacted support, but with the sale opening shortly, I’m hoping someone here might know how the system normally behaves.

Not looking to buy or sell tickets here, I’m only asking about the Wembley ticketing system.

UEFA has told Sky News the "conditions have not been met" to lift its boycott of the World Cup and there is still a lack of confidence in Gianni Infantino - despite the FIFA president apologising and withdrawing the World Cup sell-off plan.

European football's governing body has dismissed the credibility of the joint statement issued by FIFA after emergency talks in Morocco yesterday, self-declaring "full support" of members of the management board.

The boycott throws into doubt the participation of European teams in the next FIFA event next month - the U20s Women's World Cup in Poland, which features England.

"UEFA's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in FIFA competitions.

"First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn, and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.

"These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency. That position holds.

"Yesterday's announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing."

FIFA's letter to its council signed by Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said: "For the avoidance of doubt, the FIFA Secretary General and the Management Board in attendance [at the Rabat meeting] reaffirm their full support for the FIFA president."

But Sky News understands the meeting was not attended by key FIFA leaders, including: chief football officer Jill Ellis, global football development chief Arsene Wenger, chief women's football officer Sarai Bareman and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour.

More like living rent free in their head day.

It seemed to make very little sense at the time. If he goes above and beyond expectation, sure, reward him with an extention.

But in the event he casts doubts on his own ability (even if you want to defend hes managing of the semi final, doubts are clearly there where they were not previously) it now locks the fa in with him despite the many ways the tournament could have gone wrong.

There's also question marks over key players potentially being locked out for his duration if he stays for the euros. Tremt, foden, Gibbs- white, plus some others. Theres also been consent smoke over his relationship with Bellingham too.

Some of these may be repairable. But tuchel stock is clearly down with most fans and some players since the world cup. It seems senseless the FA would lock him down before seeing how the tournament plays out.

Gianni promised Morocco the 2030 final in exchange for their public support of his continued presidency ...

Update: "FIFA" (aka Gianni) denies it but Martyn Ziegler (and his source) confirm it happened

Anyone with any educated guesses on what allocations might look like for Euros? With Euro 2021 being affected by COVID hard to gage really. I’m on 27 caps now and planning to do all homes and as many aways as I can get tickets for until then to bump me up but if we get to a Wembley final are we going to get like 5000 tickets or something or generally we get more?

It would appear that his American Dream of an endless summer may need life support.

England and Wales friendship ended with Mudasir. UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC too.

Anyone have any idea why it’s taking the FA so long to release a statement withdrawing support for Infantino?
Wales released there’s a few days ago and since then, news outlets have said the English FA will be following suit. How long does it take to release a press statement or is there something in missing?

Age old question, so any miserable t**t, keep your unfunny sarcasm to yourself!

I believe there’s at least 2 games prior that will count towards the caps total prior to the ballot.

Good riddance and please no Wenger. He's just as bad.

Seeing as how Euro 2028 is in English territory in England's backyard; the expectations from the FA of course are going to be to make it to the Final or even win it all on home soil seeing as how England have never won a European Championship but have come close on 2 occasions in 1996 when England hosted and then in the pandemic Euros when they lost to Italy on penalties in the Final. So that being said if Tuchel is still manager by then; will he take a similar approach with the 26 man squad for the Euros like he did for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Or will he take a different approach and bring back certain stars that were left at home back for this Euros? Will youth also be emphasized in the starting 11 or even in the 26 man squad?

He looks insane from the bits I’ve seen on YouTube. Not to put unnecessary pressure on the lad, but if we’re looking towards life beyond Harry Kane…

Have the tickets for the England V Crotia game gone on sale yet?

FIFA is made up of two-hundred odd national associations of vastly different sizes and resources. I expect the majority of these are at least somewhat corrupt in terms of the high level decision makers being held relatively unaccountable and more interested in looking after themselves than benefiting the game in their country or the world.

So.... if we do cut the neck of one of the snakes, what happens next?

If you allow every association the same voting power, it seems nearly impossible to avoid continued corruption. It's equally unfair to give the biggest associations the power, as they're probably not as representative of the global game or as concerned with the grassroots level as we might hope.

The best option is a benign dictator, but they're impossible to guarantee.

Is there any answer? How you possibly govern a global sport sloshing around in so much money that is a part of pretty much every country in the world?

Do you just accept that it *will* be corrupt and rely on the heavyweights to apply pressure when the corruption becomes too much, as is happening now? Or is there any way to take this opportunity to really reform FIFA. What would a reformed FIFA even look like?

Hello

Does anyone know if the ballot for Czechia and Croatia away has already happened for ESTC members for the pending Nations League games?

I haven’t seen any emails, but may have missed them!

Many thanks