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FIFA Meeting: 64-Team World Cup Expansion Dominates Talk

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FIFA held talks Tuesday on expanding the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams after receiving a pitch from South American leaders.

 

The delegation, led by CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez, included Paraguay’s president Santiago Pena, Uruguay’s Yamandu Orsi, and football chiefs from Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Argentina’s president Javier Milei was absent due to a meeting with Donald Trump.

The proposal, first floated in March by Uruguay’s FA chief Ignacio Alonso, aims to mark the centenary of the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. Dominguez described it as a one-off celebration, urging FIFA to “do something the world is waiting for.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Mattias Grafstrom welcomed discussion, though Grafstrom stressed no decisions have been made.

The tournament has steadily grown: 16 teams in 1982, 24 in 1998, and 48 for the 2026 World Cup in North America. A 64-team format would involve nearly a third of FIFA’s 211 members. Critics include UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani, who argue it would harm competition and devalue qualifiers.

The 2030 edition is already unique: six nations across three continents will host, with opening games in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina before play shifts to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. South America, which last hosted in Brazil 2014, fears minimal involvement could exclude it from future World Cups under FIFA’s rotation rules.

At the New York meetings, Dominguez suggested each South American host a group stage. Videos shared online showed Pena declaring Paraguay “ready to be a protagonist,” while Infantino encouraged leaders to “work together to make history.” FIFA said it has a duty to study all proposals but has not committed to expansion.

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Transfer News: Chelsea Sets Price Tag For Argentina Star

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Chelsea are prepared to sell their Argentine star and they have set a price tag.

 

Chelsea have placed a €50 million valuation on Alejandro Garnacho, with the Argentina international winger linked with a departure from Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the West London club have established a dual-pricing structure for the 22-year-old. If a Premier League rival expresses interest, Chelsea will demand a £45 million fee. However, the club are willing to accept a slightly lower figure of around €50 million (£42.6 million) from foreign clubs.

Garnacho is not in the plans of newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso. The winger failed to report for the first day of pre-season training, staying away to actively explore an exit strategy alongside his representatives.

The impending transfer concludes a 12-month tenure in West London. Garnacho originally joined Chelsea from Manchester United in the summer of 2025 for a reported €46.2 million (£39.4 million) fee. He signed a long-term contract tying him to the club until June 30, 2032.

Despite the financial investment, he never established himself in the starting lineup. During the 2025/26 season, he registered eight goals and four assists across 43 appearances in all competitions. His domestic output was poor, starting just 14 Premier League matches and three in the UEFA Champions League and scoring only one league goal throughout the campaign

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W/C: Messi Sets For First England Meeting

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There are very few things Lionel Messi has not done on a football pitch.

 

But the semi-final meeting between Argentina and England on Wednesday in Atlanta will provide the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner with an altogether new experience.

Despite making more than 200 appearances and scoring 125 goals for Argentina, Messi has never faced the Three Lions on the international stage.

It looked for a spell that the 39-year-old may be denied his first meeting with Thomas Tuchel’s side when Switzerland appeared to be holding the momentum in Saturday’s quarter-final tie – but Argentina eventually ran out 3-1 winners in extra time.

Messi failed to score for the first time this tournament in that victory, though he still leads the Golden Boot race alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe having scored eight times, and is the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer.

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Brentford Promote Super Eagles Defender To First Team

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Premier League club, Brentford, have promoted Nigerian defender to their first-team squad after handing the Super Eagles star a new four-year contract ahead of the Premier League season.

 

The 21-year-old centre-back has signed a new deal that will keep him at the Gtech Community Stadium until 2030, with the club holding an option to extend the contract by an additional year.

Fredrick, who has been training with head coach Keith Andrews’ senior squad during pre-season, is now expected to become a permanent member of Brentford’s first-team setup.

Speaking on the defender’s promotion, Andrews expressed confidence in the Nigerian’s ability to develop into a key player for the Bees.

“We’re delighted that Benji has signed a new deal and is going to be part of the group this season. We see a lot of potential in him and where we can bring his game to,” Andrews said.

The Brentford boss also praised Fredrick’s international experience, noting his growing importance to the Super Eagles.

He added, “He’s already played senior international football and was a big part of Nigeria’s team in their World Cup qualifying campaign.”

Fredrick’s football journey began at Simoiben Football Academy in Kaduna before he spent a season with Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC. His impressive displays earned him a move to Nasarawa United, where he featured as both a centre-back and right-back.

He joined Brentford B on loan in August 2023 and immediately impressed the coaching staff with his commanding performances.

His rapid development earned him places on the bench for Premier League and FA Cup fixtures before Brentford completed his permanent transfer in April 2024.

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