Fifa's World Cup roadblock

GM football fans. It’s Thursday, Dec. 12, and we’re covering Fifa’s World Cup roadblock, Man United slashing staff bonuses and much more. First time reading? Sign up here.

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FIXTURES

Europa League: Rangers vs Tottenham, 20:00 / 15:00. Spurs are unbeaten in six matches versus Scottish clubs, but Rangers are on a four-game win streak in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and conceding zero. Ajax vs Lazio, 20:00 / 15:00. Ajax have two wins from two at home in the Europa League this season, scoring nine goals and conceding zero. All four of Lazio’s defeats this season come away from home. Plzen vs Manchester United, 17:45 / 12:45. United have never won on Czech soil (2D 1L), while Plzen have won six and drawn one of their last seven games across all competitions.

Results…

• Champions League: Dortmund 2 - 3 Barcelona | Juventus 2 - 0 Man City | Arsenal 3 - 0 Monaco | Atletico 3 - 1 Slovan (Full results / Table standings)

• Women’s UCL: Galatasaray 0 - 6 Lyon | Wolfsburg 6 - 1 Roma | Celtic 0 - 3 Real Madrid | Chelsea 6 - 1 Twente (Round-up)

• Championship: Cardiff 0 - 2 Preston | Hull 1 - 1 Watford | Millwall 0 - 1 Sheff Utd | QPR 2 - 0 Oxford | West Brom 2 - 0 Coventry (Table)

TOP TALKING POINTS

FIFA World Cup Roadblock

The 2034 men's football World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, while Spain, Portugal and Morocco will be joint hosts for the 2030 tournament. The 2030 competition will also have opening games played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the 100th anniversary of the tournament. Unusually, nations gave their votes for both tournaments by ‘acclamation’ – clapping in front of their cameras via their video links.

Fifa’s plan to host the 2034 World Cup in the winter – due to extraordinary heat in Saudi Arabia during the summer – is being met with resistance. European leagues – including the Premier League and La Liga – are against plans that would see their domestic leagues pause during this period. But Fifa insists the international calendar has not been decided beyond 2030.

Fifa have reportedly not consulted the major leagues or players unions about their plans to stage a winter tournament. The governing body requires agreement from both parties to move the tournament from its traditional summer slot. While leagues did pause for the 2022 finals in Qatar, the expanded 48-team format would disrupt domestic competitions for up to eight weeks.

Pep’s Last Job

Pep Guardiola has said that he won’t start again at another club once he leaves Manchester City. Instead, the six-time Premier League champions will consider a national team role.

“I wouldn’t have the energy. The thought of starting somewhere else, all the process of training and so on. No, no, no! Maybe a national team, but that’s different,” Guardiola told celebrity chef Dani Garcia in an interview. The Catalan has just signed a two-year extension to his City contract. This will take him through to 2027, and over a decade in charge at the club.

He has won 15 major trophies with City, including six league titles in seven years and the Champions League.

Man Utd Slash Staff Bonus

Manchester United have replaced its staff’s £100 Christmas bonus with a £40 voucher for Marks & Spencer. The club’s Christmas party has also been cancelled this year. These decisions are part of the new INEOS-led regime to cut costs at the club.

United's motivation is that it has posted losses before tax totalling £312.9mn over the past three seasons, leaving the club in a difficult position to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR). It’s estimated that United’s annual player wage bill is £185.5m.

After a period of cost-cutting and 250 redundancies at Old Trafford, reports suggest that staff morale has been on the decline.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Manchester United have internally agreed that over half of their players are candidates for sale in the winter or summer window (More) | Police arrest United fans after planned brawl with Twente fans (More) | Reports say Wolves have made a £5m bid for Jose Mourinho (More)

> Kylian Mbappe will undergo tests to determine the extent of an apparent thigh injury (More) | Hansi Flick suspended for two La Liga matches and will be forced to watch Barcelona from the stands (More)

> The Irish Football Association is moving ahead with plans to restructure the men’s football pyramid in Northern Ireland (More) | Jose Mourinho says he wants ‘justice’ over Man City’s 115 charges (More)

Americas

> Eligible and protected players for the MLS Expansion Draft (More) | The 2025 MLS Adidas Ball has been leaked (More)

> The United States is being considered as host for 2029 Club World Cup; possibility to host back-to-back iterations (More) | USMNT to play in a friendly against Costa Rica on Jan. 22 (More)

Rest of the World

> Saudi Arabia are confirmed as 2034 World Cup hosts (More) | See a guide on the futuristic stadium plans (More) | Spain, Portugal and Morocco to co-host the 2030 World Cup (More)

> FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 dates have been confirmed (More)

> The Intercontinental Cup and Derby of Americas trophies have been released (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: Do you think that short-form football competitions (5-aside, 7-aside, etc) can rival 11-aside football?

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🤩 Absolutely... (14%)

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅 Nope... (84%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (write in!)... (2%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🙅 B.D: “It's not tactical enough to make it interesting over a long period, ok for a one-off or short-period entertainment.”

• 🙅 L.E: “They are just a novelty, like esports.”

• ✍️ JMc: “Too many gimmicks and changes to ‘proper’ football rules. I’m happy to see this as a different entity but to market it as football is disingenuous.”

EXTRA TIME

The forgotten story of the world’s first football club.

Barca’s former sponsor launches The Beatles football shirt collaboration.

Mystery FPL ‘Assistant Manager’ chip announced.

The Champions League (and European Cup) all-time league table.

Maradona’s creativity from throw-ins is unmatched.

Day 12 of the Premier League advent calendar quiz.

Everton’s new stadium has unusually steep seats. (video)

Monaco’s academy keeps churning France’s biggest stars.

The birth of a new type of goalkeeper.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Aged 37 years and 332 days, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy became the second-oldest player in Premier League history to both score and assist a goal in a single match, after who?

Clue: 672 Apps.

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Europa League

• Plzen vs Manchester United (17:45)

• Malmo vs Galatasaray (17:45)

• Olympiakos vs Twente (17:45)

• Rangers vs Tottenham (20:00)

• Lyon vs Frankfurt (20:00)

• Ajax vs Lazio (20:00)

• Full list of fixtures here.

Women’s Champions League

• Bayern Munich vs Juventus (17:45)

• Valerenga vs Arsenal (17:45)

• Hammerby vs Barcelona (20:00)

• Manchester City vs St. Polten (20:00)

*All time in UK. ET -5. CST -6. PST -8. MST -7. CET +1.

Answer

Ryan Giggs vs Fulham in December 2011 (38y 22d).