Graham Dunbar

A decade-long zone so flooded that some of the highlights had been forgotten.

Olympic Truce breached by the next Olympics host nation and holder of the FIFA peace prize.

Crans-Montana hosts World Cup skiers for subdued pre-Olympic races weeks after fatal fire tragedy The Swiss ski resort Crans-Montana is back in the spotlight this week — for international sports. Four weeks ago the devastating fatal fire in a bar at a New Year’s Eve party killed 40 people, most of...

At Crans-Montana, in World Cup ski race week that is why the Swiss resort should be famous. The mood is subdued and respectful of the community's trauma since the New Year's Day fire tragedy. The time for celebration should be the world championships next year. apnews.com/article/skii...

Maybe Britain is totally broken after all.

FIFA boss Infantino criticizes “unacceptable” Senegal conduct at chaotic Africa Cup final FIFA president Gianni Infantino says Senegal leaving the field to protest referee decisions before winning the Africa Cup of Nations title amid shocking chaos was “unacceptable.”

Separate from Senegal, some of Morocco’s conduct around a home Afcon final – from ball kids to asking CAF, FIFA to re-litigate a ref’s field of play decisions – isn't really worthy of a future World Cup co-host.
apnews.com/article/afco...

A family member reacts after a federal immigration officer used a battering ram to break down a door before making an arrest on January 11, 2026, in Minneapolis.

Stunning photos from Minneapolis, including this one by John Locher for the Associated Press. www.theatlantic.com/photography/...

UEFA cites fall in US dollar last year for $55 million loss in accounts The fall in the U.S. dollar value last year cost has European soccer body UEFA about $55 million. The dollar value dropped about 9% against a range of foreign currencies in the first months of 2025.

Donald Trump and the European football economy. The falling US dollar value early last year put a $55M foreign exchange loss into UEFA’s annual accounts.
apnews.com/article/uefa...

Champions League winner PSG's $168M payment tops UEFA prize money list for last season Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain topped the UEFA prize money table getting $168 million last season.

UEFA confirms PSG’s 144.4M euros/$168M topped the Champions League prize money list in last season’s richer new format. 7 teams got 100M euros compared to 5 in the final season of 32-team, group-stage format. Also, a pay freeze last season for UEFA president Ceferin.
apnews.com/article/uefa...

Lindsey Vonn impresses again winning World Cup downhill for 2nd victory of Olympic season Lindsey Vonn has showed again she is the standout downhill racer in this Olympic season. Vonn won her second World Cup downhill in four races this season.

The Olympic women’s downhill on Sunday, Feb. 8 with 41-year-old Lindsey Vonn looks the must-see event, at least until a Canada-USA ice hockey medal game becomes a series of 20-player brawls.
apnews.com/article/worl...

Checking the Winter Olympics schedule to see what might bring Donald Trump to Italy, and there is men’s ice hockey on the middle Saturday, Valentine’s Day…

Enough to buy AC Milan again just for fun?

Coaches who were fired from their jobs this season - Mourinho, Solskjaer, Ten Hag, Amorim.

"Cancel all influencer tickets" has a nice ring to it.

about 500 per team per game

FIFA slashes price of some World Cup tickets to $60 after global fan backlash FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans following a global backlash and some will get $60 seats for the final instead of being asked to pay $4,185.

If FIFA listened to real world fans in the first place then this damage limitation would not have been needed. It still remains a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of $21 tickets pledged by the co-host FAs when bidding years ago. apnews.com/article/fifa...

Something worked today. A massive climbdown by FIFA and now there will be some $60 tickets for every game, including the World Cup final, for the most loyal fans of the teams playing in those games.

Who can say in which order McTominay, Tierney and McLean will go 1-2-3 in next year's Puskas Award voting? Until then... www.fifa.com/en/the-best-...

FIFA hosting in Qatar all member federations now on these many newly created committees about a year before the next presidential election campaign. Also an ideal chance to raise the subject of World Cup ticket prices.

One week after the World Cup draw, now the teams' most loyal fans have been hit with their ticket price list, and FIFA has united the world in outrage. Some achievement.

Remarkable Lindsey Vonn takes big lead in World Cup downhill with run to finish The queen of downhill skiing is well and truly back. Lindsey Vonn has put in a stunning run to take a huge lead in a World Cup downhill at St. Moritz in Switzerland.

Lindsey Vonn is a truly amazing athlete. apnews.com/article/skii...

IOC urges sports bodies to let Russian youth teams and athletes compete again with flag and anthem The IOC has taken a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports. It’s advising governing bodies of Olympic sports to let youth teams and athletes compete with their full identit...

Russia making real progress in sports politics without making any concessions in real world politics. apnews.com/article/ioc-...

Egypt and Iran complain about planned World Cup 'Pride' match in Seattle Egypt and Iran, two Middle East nations that target gays and lesbians, have complained to FIFA over the scheduling of a World Cup soccer match in Seattle that’s expected to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride.

On Egypt-Iran anger at Seattle for having to play during PrideFest, also in Seattle 2 days earlier is Qatar and that game can be vs. Wales. Rainbow-tinged karma for 2022? Also having Pride festivals each June - Madrid and Lisbon. So, more of this at 2030 World Cup.
apnews.com/article/worl...

Ahead of World Cup draw, recall when the FAs in US, Canada, Mexico bid in 2018 their aim/promise was to sell 7% of tickets – about 5,000 in each stadium – in lowest category priced at $21 in group stage. For the final, $128. FIFA did it differently.

Recall that the White House task force leader Andrew Guiliani already called it the MAGA-FIFA World Cup.

College freshman is deported flying home for Thanksgiving surprise, despite court order A college freshman trying to fly from Boston to Texas to surprise her family for Thanksgiving was deported to Honduras in violation of a court order.

A college freshman trying to fly from Boston to Texas to surprise her family for Thanksgiving was deported to Honduras in violation of a court order.

Iran boycotting World Cup draw citing visa restrictions for soccer officials Iran has decided to boycott the World Cup draw in Washington next week. The U.S. denied visas to members of the Iranian delegation, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

If FIFA has been unable to get a visa to enter the US for a member of its own competitions organizing committee, it doesn't bode well for fans at the World Cup. apnews.com/article/iran...

Occam’s Razor seems to agree.

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro begins 27-year prison sentence for coup attempt Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro started on Tuesday to serve his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt designed to keep him in office after losing the 2022 presidential elections, a move that many in the South American nation doubted would ever take place.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro began serving his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt designed to keep him in office after losing the 2022 presidential elections.

It’s such an obviously egregious and unprecedented ruling that FIFA gave Ronaldo…

Cristiano Ronaldo set to avoid ban at World Cup after FIFA red-card verdict offers probation Cristiano Ronaldo will likely avoid missing any Portugal games at the World Cup despite his red card in a qualifying game last week for elbowing an Ireland opponent.

This is quite a verdict from FIFA. An astonishing 12 days in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo.
apnews.com/article/worl...