FIFA

SoFi Stadium Deal: The ICE Clause FIFA Didn’t See Coming

by
SoFi Stadium exterior before a World Cup 2026 match at Inglewood, California

When nearly 2,000 SoFi Stadium hospitality workers authorized a strike by 96 percent in early June, the timing looked like textbook leverage. The USA’s World Cup 2026 group stage matches were locked in at Inglewood. FIFA had no power to move them. A walkout at the host nation’s marquee venue would have been the most … Read more

Senegal’s World Cup Camp Crisis: Why FIFA’s Prize Money Never Reaches the Players

by
Stylized illustration of FIFA World Cup prize money flowing through federations to players

Pape Thiaw coached Senegal through the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2025, led them to World Cup qualification, and arrived in the United States for the biggest tournament of his career without a signed contract. He hadn’t been paid since February. The original team chef left mid-camp. Players chased bonus payments owed from months … Read more

World Cup 2026 Pitch Problems: Why MetLife’s Grass Is Slowing the Game Down

by
Soccer match on the natural-grass pitch at MetLife Stadium

The most consistent criticism of the 2026 World Cup so far hasn’t come from pundits. It’s come from the players’ feet. After a run of matches at MetLife Stadium, the venue booked for the July 19 final, France and Brazil internationals have openly questioned whether the surface is fit for the tournament’s biggest games. These … Read more