Gianni Infantino believes there should be "way more" football as he defended FIFA's expansion of the World Cup and new Club World Cup proposal.
Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president at the FIFA Congress on Thursday after running unopposed.
FIFA confirmed earlier this week that the 2026 World Cup will consist of 48 teams, up from 32, split into 12 groups of four, while plans were also confirmed for an expanded Club World Cup containing 32 teams.
Speaking at the Congress in Rwanda, Infantino said: "When I hear there is too much football, yes, maybe in some places, but not everywhere. In fact, in most parts of the world there is not enough football played.
"We need way more and not less competitions, we want football to develop worldwide.
"We are discussing organising a women's Club World Cup and a FIFA World Series in March every two years, when teams are free from playing qualifiers."
He also later pointed to the English football calendar as well as the Super Cup tournaments in Italian and Spanish football, believing that there is less criticism of others from the media than there is of FIFA, which was a theme of the president's closing remarks.
Infantino also addressed previous controversial comments he believed had been falsely reported, including at the World Cup where he accused reporters of racism for criticising the host country of Qatar.
"I think I called racists those who were qualifying fans who had different skin colour of fans who were cheering European teams as not real fans, that's when I used the word 'racist', and I stick to that," he said.
He had also appeared to compare his refusal to give up on becoming FIFA president with Rwandan genocide in his opening remarks on Thursday, but was quick to quash this suggestion when it was put to him by The Athletic's Matt Slater at the closing press conference.
"I find it really incredible that you can interpret what I say as making an association with one of the most terrible tragedies that happened with anything that happened in my life," he said.
"I would never make a comparison with a tragedy and my life. What I want to say is that this country is so inspiring for so many people that when we come with our little problems, we should just be a bit more humble about things. That's all that I said."
'I want to be a number one' – Kelleher eyes Liverpool departure
Caoimhin Kelleher is ready to leave Liverpool in search of first-team football.
Kelleher, 25, has been Alisson's back-up for several seasons at Anfield, though did play in some big games during Jurgen Klopp's time in charge.
That included starring in the EFL Cup final against Chelsea in 2022.
However, with Liverpool having signed Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will join next season, Kelleher believes the time is right to move on.
And the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper suggested he could have left this summer, if Liverpool had not rejected offers.
"I made it clear in the last few years I want to go be a number one and play week in, week out," said Kelleher ahead of Ireland's Nations League clash with Greece.
"The club made the decision to get another goalkeeper.
"From the outside looking in, it looks like they have made a decision to go in another direction.
"My ambition has always been clear the last few seasons that I want to be a number one, playing week in week out.
"At times it is not always in my hands. My mission was to go out and play, and be a number one.
"It has been reported that Liverpool had rejected a few bids as well. It is not always in my hands to make the decision. My ambition is to prove I am good enough to play week in, week out."
Kelleher made seven saves from nine shots against England on Saturday, and could do little to prevent either Declan Rice or Jack Grealish scoring to hand the Three Lions a 2-0 win.
El Salvador and St Vincent and the Grenadines earn victories in CONCACAF Nations League B
El Salvador and St Vincent and the Grenadines emerged victorious in their respective matches on Sunday as the 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League B continued at Stadion Antonio Trenidat in Rincon, Bonaire. Both teams solidified their positions at the top of Group A, with El Salvador maintaining their perfect start to the campaign and St Vincent and the Grenadines picking up their first win.
St Vincent and the Grenadines earned a crucial 2-0 victory over Montserrat, marking their first win of the current campaign. Cornelius Stewart opened the scoring in the 15th minute after receiving a long ball from Bishon Richards, calmly slotting the ball past the Montserrat goalkeeper. Stewart, the Vincy Heat’s all-time scorer in the CONCACAF Nations League, continues his impressive form, having scored in every edition of the tournament.
Montserrat had a golden opportunity to equalize in the 60th minute when Brandon Barzey stepped up for a penalty kick. However, St Vincent and the Grenadines goalkeeper Lemus Christopher made a crucial save to maintain his team’s lead. Diel Spring sealed the win in the 88th minute, with Stewart providing the assist for the second goal.
Christopher’s five saves ensured a clean sheet for St Vincent and the Grenadines, as they secured all three points to stay in contention for promotion.
El Salvador retained their spot at the top of Group A with a 2-1 victory over Bonaire. The Salvadorans, who are eyeing a return to League A, finished September with two wins from two matches for a perfect six-point start.
The first half looked set to end goalless until an own goal by Bonaire’s Quincy Hoeve off a Nelson Blanco corner gave El Salvador the lead in the 45th+3 minute. El Salvador doubled their advantage in the 60th minute with a well-executed passing sequence that set up Emerson Mauricio for a simple finish, his second goal of the tournament.
Bonaire pulled one back in stoppage time, with Jort van der Sande heading home a corner in the 90th+1 minute, but it wasn’t enough to deny El Salvador the win.
With these results, El Salvador remains on top of Group A with six points, while St Vincent and the Grenadines sit second with four points. Bonaire follows in third with one point, and Montserrat is in fourth place without a point after the September matches.
Belize, Barbados, and St Kitts and Nevis secure wins in CONCACAF Nations League C
The 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League C saw exciting action on Saturday, with Belize, Barbados, and Saint Kitts and Nevis emerging victorious in their respective group encounters. All three teams secured first place in their groups with strong performances that marked winning starts to their campaigns.
Belize delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Turks and Caicos Islands at the TCIFA National Stadium in Providenciales, securing the top spot in Group B. The visitors opened the scoring early, with Orlando Velasquez netting a header in the 12th minute off a free kick from Nahjib Guerra. Jordy Polanco doubled the lead in the 43rd minute, converting a free kick from midfield, and Michael Palacio added a third in the 66th minute from the penalty spot.
Polanco completed his brace in the 73rd minute, slotting home a left-footed shot after receiving a cross from Gabriel Ramos. Belize goalkeeper Charles Tillett preserved his clean sheet by denying Billy Forbes from the penalty spot in the 76th minute, sealing an emphatic victory for the visitors.
With the win, Belize took first place in Group B, holding the edge on goal difference.
Barbados earned a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Bahamas in a tightly contested Group A match at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands. Zachary Applewhite gave Barbados the early lead in the 10th minute with a strike from outside the box, but the Bahamas leveled the match in the 42nd minute through Brandon Adderley, who headed home a corner from Jordan Cheetham.
Adderley then put the Bahamas in front with a left-footed finish in the 66th minute, but Barbados rallied late. Ethan Taylor equalized in the 80th minute with a header from a corner, and two minutes later, Andre Applewhaite scored the match-winner with a strike from the left side of the box.
Barbados now sits atop Group A with three points, while the Bahamas remain on one point following their earlier draw with the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Saint Kitts and Nevis secured a dominant 4-1 win over the Cayman Islands at the Truman Bodden Complex in George Town, moving to the top of Group C. Kimaree Rogers opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a left-footed finish after connecting with a long cross from Malique Roberts. Tiquanny Williams doubled the lead in the 19th minute with a well-placed shot from the right side of the box and earned his second goal of the match in the 37th minute, capitalizing on a through ball from Gvaune Amory.
The Cayman Islands pulled one back in the 51st minute through Mason Duval, who headed home a cross from Joshwa Campbell, but Dionis Stephen restored Saint Kitts and Nevis' three-goal lead in the 72nd minute with a left-footed strike inside the box.
Saint Kitts and Nevis took first place in Group C, edging out the Cayman Islands on goal difference, with both teams sitting on three points.
These wins mark strong starts for Belize, Barbados, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, who now lead their respective groups as the 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League C continues.
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