FIFA

Warai to deliver FIFA Course

Jimmy Warai will be facilitating two courses in Honiara from September 25 -29th and in the Cook Islands from October 3 – 4th, 2023. 

Warai has also been scheduled to conduct FIFA Women Courses for PNG from November 1 – 5th to round up his FIFA training duties.

This is history for PNG Football and it is something to cherish. Warai admitted that he is grateful for the opportunity. He is equally excited at the opportunity and looks forward to the challenge.

Swedes secure historic top spot

Indeed, La Roja could have even clinched pole position had they not missed out on the 35 points at stake in their heavy 4-0 defeat to Japan in their final group-stage game.

As a result, it is Sweden who sit at the top of the pile for the first time ever (1st, up 2). The Scandinavians dethrone the USA (3rd, down 2), whom they squeezed past in the round of 16 before ultimately being edged out in the semis and then recovering to overcome joint hosts Australia in the match for third place.

PNGFA expects ‘soft penalty’ from FIFA

When responding to media speculation that PNG’s participation in the FIFA sanctioned tournaments would be terminated because of not making it on time for its match in New Zealand and possibly missing out entirely on the tournament, PNGFA president John Kapi Natto said, the PNG’s participation won’t be terminated.

He said there are definitely going to be penalties for not turning up at the tournament on time and it’s up to FIFA to make the decision. However, Kapi Natto stated that there is no way PNG’s participation in the FIFA tournaments will be terminated.

FIFA president visits OFC member associations

He made this known during his address to the Oceania Football Confederation Congress in Auckland, New Zealand, on 19 July 2023.

To date, Infantino has visited Tahiti, Cook Islands, American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga, with plans to visit other OFC members over the next couple of weeks.

 OFC President Lambert Maltock says the FIFA President’s visits to the MAs are more than just symbolic.

FIFA tells Oceania to step up

“In order to have a chance to qualify for a World Cup, this will grow the game immensely in Oceania. We need to embrace the opportunity but the responsibility is on us to earn the spot. So this is a big year for the women and also the year of the Oceania where we put ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, in the centre of the world,” said Infantino.

Infantino re-elected FIFA president

Speaking immediately after the re-election to serve from 2023 to 2027, President Infantino said:

“Being FIFA President is an incredible honour, an incredible privilege, and it is also a great responsibility. I am truly humbled and touched by your support, and I promise you that I will continue serving FIFA, serving football all over the world and serving all 211 FIFA member associations.”

For the first time in its history, an elective FIFA Congress took place in Africa. The proceedings were opened by His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.

Inter Rapidísimo expands FIFA partnership

Last year, Inter Rapidísimo became the first Colombian company to be named Official Regional Supporter of the FIFA World Cup™, and will now extend this cooperation to the elite women's tournament.

Celebrating 35 years of business this year, the company will benefit from stadium perimeter advertising as well as the use of official archive content and designations.

Record-breaking revenue in football

It also outlines the USD 11 billion (K39bn) that is expected to be earned during the 2023-2026 period.

“FIFA’s unprecedented investment in football is the result of our solid financial transparency and stands as a concrete example of how we are aiming to make football truly global,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Aust’s first FIFA match moved

Co-host country Australia is now facing the Republic of Ireland at the tournament’s largest venue, Stadium Australia, in Sydney/Gadigal.

Stadium Australia was due to host knockout matches only, but given the significant interest in tickets, FIFA has taken the decision to move Australia’s first match to Sydney’s largest stadium.  

The kick-off time and date of the Australia v. Republic of Ireland match will still be on Thursday, 20 July at 8pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time).

Climate Change Partnership Strengthened

Key activities will include employing FIFA Legends to raise climate change awareness and adapting existing infrastructure in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to make it more climate proof.

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and the PIF Secretary General, Henry Puna, signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combat climate change during the FIFA Congress in Doha, Qatar, in April.