Aberystwyth Town · Defender · #0 · England · 21 yrs
Federico Chiesa has opened up on his difficult two years at Liverpool, revealing the club blocked his January exit and hinting that Curtis Jones is close to joining Inter after the England midfielder ...
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed a shakeup for the 2026 World Cup, revealing a new pre-match protocol for the singing of national anthems. The 2026 World Cup is already gearing up to be a historic, groundbreaking event. Hosted across three nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—the tournament will feature an expanded field of 48 teams for the very first time, resulting in an unprecedented 104 matches. With North America setting the stage for significant structural changes, FIFA is also introducing fresh on-pitch regulations, alongisde new rules. President Gianni Infantino officially confirmed that a completely redesigned protocol will be implemented during the traditional pre-match national anthems. Under the new guidelines, all players—including the starting eleven and substitutes—alongside the match officials, will gather inside the center circle for a 360-degree ceremony, where the two teams and the referees will stand directly facing one another. “Having all players and referees face each other in the centre circle during the national anthems will create a moment of unity, pride and emotion that truly belongs to the teams and to everyone in the stadium,” Infantino announced via a post on his official Instagram account. Ver esta publicación en Instagram Una publicación compartida de Gianni Infantino – FIFA President (@gianni_infantino) Creating more engagement with the spectators Infantino is determined to make this edition of the World Cup entirely different from its predecessors. A core objective of the new layout is to integrate the fans in the stands directly into the pre-match spectacle, making them an active part of the stadium atmosphere. “We will have a redesigned 360-degree ceremony which engages every fan in the stadium, including country flag banners and on-pitch elements oriented to create a unique, immersive experience from every seat,” the FIFA President wrote. The fan experience will be further bolstered by a wave of new pre-game aesthetics on the turf. “As well as new visual elements – from player entry arches to handheld flags – poised to heighten the sense of anticipation, with enhanced features for selected matches,” Infantino concluded.
AFC Bournemouth are in the process of appealing after its academy failed to achieve Category One status. Category One is the highest status awarded to a club within the professional game under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). The EPPP is a long-term youth development strategy that was introduced in 2012 as a result of a consultation between the Premier League, the FA and the EFL.
Newcastle certainly did not want to lose Alexander Isak. After operating without an executive structure a year ago, Newcastle now have a chief executive, David Hopkinson, and a sporting director, Ross Wilson, in place. The absence of the latter position, in particular, was felt when it came to handling the Isak situation and dealing with agents.
With the domestic season now at a close, the Celtic fanbase awaits news on who will lead their team into the new campaign. Despite eventually finishing the season with a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double, the support have been left unsatisfied with the club's board. Craig Bellamy has reiterated his commitment to Wales after revealing he has rejected job offers from club sides.
