Gianni Infantino
France supporters wave flags during the Women Euro 2022 semifinal soccer match between Germany and France at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Women's final will cap Olympic soccer tournament in Paris

By Anne M. Peterson Jul. 28, 2022 07:24 AM EDT

Canada's goalkeeper, Kailen Sheridan (1) blocks a shot by United States' Sophia Smith during the CONCACAF Women's Championship final soccer match in Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, July 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
US beats Canada for W Championship title, '24 Olympic berth

By Anne M. Peterson Jul. 19, 2022 12:15 AM EDT

FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin touches the World Cup trophy as FIFA President Gianni Infantino stands beside him, at the end of the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. In a sweeping move to isolate and condemn Russia after invading Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee urged sports bodies on Monday to exclude the country's athletes and officials from international events. The decision opened the way for FIFA, the governing body of soccer, to exclude Russia from a World Cup qualifying playoff match on March 24. Poland has refused to play the scheduled game against Russia.(AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
Croatia vs France 7/15/2018

Feb. 28, 2022 12:12 PM EST

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestures to media end of the Club World Cup final soccer match between Palmeiras and Chelsea at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
SE Palmeiras SP vs Chelsea FC 2/12/2022

Feb. 27, 2022 02:12 PM EST

FILE - A general view of the St. Petersburg Stadium prior to the Confederations Cup soccer match between New Zealand and Portugal, in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 24, 2017. The British government led calls Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 for the Champions League final to be taken off Russia by European football's governing body to punish its deepening intervention in Ukraine. The showpiece men's game is due to be played in St. Petersburg on May 28 for the biggest sporting event in Russia since the 2018 World Cup.(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, file)
Euro backlash as FIFA refuses to expel Russia from football

By Rob Harris Feb. 27, 2022 05:53 AM EST

FILE - FIFA president Gianni Infantino speaks during the Confederation of African Football general assembly in Cairo, Egypt, July 18, 2019. Infantino has linked his plan for biennial World Cups to giving more hope to African people who currently risk their lives crossing the sea to Europe. Infantino's comments were in a speech to European lawmakers in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, file)
Olympic members unite against Infantino's World Cup plan

By Graham Dunbar Feb. 02, 2022 10:27 PM EST

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, center, prepares to present the trophy to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal midfielder Salman Al-Faraj, left, after winning the AFC Champions League final soccer match against South Korea's Pohang Steelers 2-0, at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Pohang Steelers FC vs Al Hilal Rijad 11/23/2021

Dec. 20, 2021 10:40 AM EST

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, center, prepares to present the trophy to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal midfielder Salman Al-Faraj, left, after winning the AFC Champions League final soccer match against South Korea's Pohang Steelers 2-0, at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
FIFA touts billions to be gained from biennial World Cups

By Rob Harris And Graham Dunbar Dec. 20, 2021 10:36 AM EST

Protesters hold protest posters during a protest against Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics by activists of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. (Jean-Guy Python/Keystone via AP)
Olympic leaders criticize FIFA as activists target meeting

By Graham Dunbar Dec. 11, 2021 10:12 AM EST

FILE - President of Brazil's Olympic Committee Carlos Arthur Nuzman, left, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, right, visit Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 22, 2014. Nuzman, the head of the Brazilian Olympic Committee for more than two decades, was sentenced to 30 years and 11 months in jail for allegedly buying votes for Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Olympics. The ruling by Judge Marcelo Bretas became public Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)
Boxing among 3 Olympic sports in danger of losing 2028 spot

By Graham Dunbar Dec. 09, 2021 01:13 PM EST

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, smiles after receiving the shirt of the Venezuelan soccer team with Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, right, during his visit at Miraflores Presidential Palace in in Caracas, Venezuela , Friday , Oct 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Infantino says biennial WCups needed to attract youth

By Rob Harris Oct. 20, 2021 08:25 AM EDT

El presidente de la FIFA, Gianni Infantino, sonríe luego que el mandatario venezolano Nicolás Maduro le obsequia una camiseta de la selección, el viernes 15 de octubre de 2021, en Caracas. (AP Foto/Ariana Cubillos)
Quitting FIFA mulled in Europe to fight biennial World Cups

By Rob Harris Oct. 19, 2021 05:56 PM EDT

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, smiles after receiving the shirt of the Venezuelan soccer team with Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, right, during his visit at Miraflores Presidential Palace in in Caracas, Venezuela , Friday , Oct 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Atletico Venezuela vs Caracas FC 10/14/2021

Oct. 16, 2021 03:33 PM EDT

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, smiles after receiving the shirt of the Venezuelan soccer team with Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, right, during his visit at Miraflores Presidential Palace in in Caracas, Venezuela , Friday , Oct 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
IOC voices Olympic concern at FIFA's biennial World Cup plan

By Graham Dunbar Oct. 16, 2021 03:31 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019 file photo, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin listens to reporter's questions during a press conference at the end of the 43rd UEFA congress in Rome. Ceferin says he has “grave concerns” about FIFA’s plans to stage World Cups every two years and is astonished by the lack of consultation by Gianni Infantino’s governing body. The comments were made in a letter to Football Supporters Europe. Ceferin says he backed the group’s “extremely valid and important” concerns about the damage doubling the frequency of World Cups would cause to domestic and regional competitions. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
UEFA says FIFA snubs request for talks on World Cup concerns

By Rob Harris Sep. 22, 2021 12:05 PM EDT

Sarina Wiegman is unveiled as the new England Women head coach at Wembley Stadium, London, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. Setting out on her vision as England manager, Sarina Wiegman was sure of one thing — the Women's World Cup should remain every four years. “The Euros are great, the World Cup is great, the Olympics are great so that is three tournaments," she said, pitchside at Webmley Stadium on Thursday. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
New England coach Wiegman against biennial Women's World Cup

By Rob Harris Sep. 09, 2021 01:51 PM EDT

FIFA president Gianni Infantino plays with a ball prior to the Copa America final soccer match between Brazil and Argentina at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Brazil vs Argentina 7/10/2021

Aug. 05, 2021 12:35 PM EDT

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, greets Argentina's Angel Di Maria at the award ceremony after his team won 1-0 against Brazil in the Copa America final soccer match at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Every year could soon have World Cup on Infantino's travels

By Rob Harris Aug. 05, 2021 10:01 AM EDT

Canada midfielder Jessie Fleming (17) celebrates her game winning penalty kick goal with teammate Janine Beckie (16) during a women's semifinal soccer match against United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Kashima, Japan. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
New time, venue for women's soccer final because of heat

By Anne M. Peterson And Rob Harris Aug. 05, 2021 09:52 AM EDT

President of UEFA Aleksander Ceferin congratulates Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after they defeated England on the Euro 2020 soccer championship final at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (John Sibley/Pool Photo via AP)
England vs Italy 7/11/2021

Jul. 14, 2021 06:31 AM EDT