Round-the-clock breaking news from Malaysia.
FIFA has opened an inquiry into racist abuse targeting popular streamer IShowSpeed at World Cup matches in the United States. The 21-year-old content creator, who has over 57 million YouTube subscribers, attended matches under a special FIFA partnership arrangement.
UEFA has sharply criticised FIFA for suspending rather than enforcing US striker Folarin Balogun's World Cup red card ban after US President Donald Trump intervened, saying the decision crossed ethical lines and threatened the sport's credibility.
The 2026 World Cup has become football's most-attended tournament ever, drawing 3.6 million spectators and surpassing the 1994 benchmark. With nearly half the matches still pending, final numbers could nearly double the previous record.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended mandatory three-minute hydration breaks introduced at the World Cup, stating they are purely sporting measures driven by player welfare concerns rather than commercial considerations.
Malaysia's Football Association has launched a FIFA-backed training initiative to develop management and administrative skills among women's football leaders, recognising that sustainable growth requires robust off-field structures.
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FIFA reports over 1 million fans attended the opening 16 matches of the World Cup in North America, with stadiums operating at 99.34% capacity, though concerns persist over ticket access and fan segregation.
Iran's national team manager has described his squad as the "most repressed" at the World Cup, alleging authorities instructed them to abandon their Los Angeles base immediately after their opener against New Zealand and relocate to Mexico.