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FIFA President

FIFA President backs Ronaldo as Portugal star closes in on 1,000 career goals

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FIFA President

PARIS: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly backed Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portugal and Al-Nassr star moves closer to an unprecedented milestone of 1,000 career goals.

The brief exchange took place during the Esports World Cup in Paris, where Ronaldo greeted Infantino. The FIFA president referred to the striker’s goal tally and said, “23 to go? I wish you luck!”

Ronaldo currently leads the active men’s scoring charts with 977 career goals, while Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is second with 923, according to the figures cited in the report.

At 41, Ronaldo remains one of the most prolific scorers in men’s football. He has scored 130 goals for Al-Nassr and needs 23 more goals to reach the 1,000 mark.

Ronaldo closes in on historic milestone

Ronaldo added to his tally after coming off the bench to score in Al-Nassr’s 4-0 Saudi Pro League victory. He found the net seven minutes after entering the game.

His career tally includes goals scored for both club and country, with his pursuit of 1,000 goals continuing to attract worldwide attention.

Messi, 39, remains the closest active player to Ronaldo in the scoring race, with 923 career goals for club and country.

Ronaldo’s next challenge

Al-Nassr’s domestic and regional commitments could provide Ronaldo with numerous opportunities to reach the milestone in the coming months if he maintains his scoring rate.

The veteran forward is also being managed carefully by Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou, with the club aiming to keep him in top form throughout the season.

Ronaldo’s pursuit of 1,000 goals has become one of the most closely watched individual milestones in world football, with every goal bringing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner closer to history.

Calls grow for FIFA President Infantino to step down

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Calls grow

OSLO: Opposition against FIFA President Gianni Infantino has intensified, with the Norwegian Football Federation calling for him to resign, while UEFA has warned of a possible boycott of FIFA competitions.

Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness said Infantino had lost the confidence of the football community and should no longer continue leading world football’s governing body.

Klaveness said FIFA needed to focus on effective governance and reforms rather than becoming involved in power struggles. She emphasized the need for greater transparency and accountability within the organization.

Meanwhile, UEFA has maintained its stance that European teams could boycott FIFA competitions unless guarantees are provided that the ownership or management of major tournaments, including the World Cup, will not be transferred to private investors.

However, Infantino has received support from the football federations of Mexico and Argentina, while the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has also backed his leadership unanimously.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) did not directly support or oppose Infantino but expressed concerns over unilateral decision-making processes.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announces upcoming visit to Pakistan

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FIFA President

DAVOS: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced plans to visit Pakistan in the near future to promote and strengthen the development of football in the country.

In an interview in Davos, Infantino said he had given a commitment to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and is now preparing to make the visit.

He praised the newly appointed leadership of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), describing Pakistan as a “great football country” with significant potential.

Expressing optimism about the future of the sport, the FIFA chief said he hopes Pakistan will emerge as one of Asia’s leading football nations. He added that FIFA is actively working to support Pakistan in achieving this objective through institutional reforms and development initiatives.

Relations between FIFA and Pakistan have improved steadily in recent years. Last month, Pakistani lawmaker Syeda Amna Batool was appointed to FIFA’s Institutional Reforms Committee, marking a significant step in strengthening cooperation.

Earlier, FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa visited Pakistan in November 2025.

During his three-day visit, he held meetings with football officials and government representatives to discuss the expansion of football infrastructure and governance reforms.

Football has long enjoyed popularity among Pakistani youth, with increasing interest at national and international levels.

Local tournaments, school competitions, and community clubs across major cities have further fueled enthusiasm for the sport.

Despite this growth, football continues to operate under the long-standing dominance of cricket, which remains Pakistan’s most popular and commercially successful sport. However, recent developments signal renewed hope for football’s revival in the country.

500 million fans apply for FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets

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500 million fans

The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 has shattered all ticket demand records, with football fans around the globe submitting over 500 million requests for match tickets.

The football World Cup is one of the few major global sporting events where attending a match is a dream for passionate fans. The excitement for the 2026 edition—co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada—has reached unprecedented levels. Ticket applications were received between Thursday, December 11, 2025, and Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

During the random selection draw phase, more than half a billion requests were submitted from fans across all 211 FIFA member associations, setting a new benchmark in ticket demand for sports events.

Fans will be informed via email by February 5 whether their ticket requests have been successful. The host countries—USA, Mexico, and Canada—are among the top applicants, with significant demand also coming from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia.

Over the 33-day application window, an average of 15 million ticket requests were submitted daily, highlighting the massive global interest in the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino thanked fans worldwide for this overwhelming response, noting that demand exceeded expectations.

Interestingly, the most popular match during this sales phase was scheduled for Saturday, June 27, in Miami, between Colombia and Portugal. Other top-requested games include Mexico vs. South Korea on Thursday, June 18, in Guadalajara, and the final on Sunday, July 19, in New York.

FIFA honours Trump with peace award at World Cup draw ceremony

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FIFA honours Trump

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has awarded US President Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Award.

According to international media reports, Trump received the honour during the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw ceremony, scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.

The award was presented to Trump by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a ceremony held in Washington. Media outlets in the U.S. reported that FIFA had announced the honour last month, stating it would be given to individuals who made exceptional efforts for the cause of peace.

Speaking at the ceremony, Trump expressed gratitude, calling it “one of the greatest honours of my life.” He stated, “We saved millions of lives. We prevented wars—whether in Congo or by stopping conflict between India and Pakistan before it erupted.”

Trump also praised Infantino for his leadership, acknowledging remarkable achievements in football development and record-breaking ticket sales, describing the honour as a moment of pride for both the sport and its global community.