Julián Quiñones fights for a place in the World Cup Ideal XI

Criticism of La Liga towards FIFA

The president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, considered on Tuesday that Gianni Infantino should resign as president of FIFA. According to Tebas, the Swiss leader is “destroying the football industry” by expanding international competitions. It is not the first time that Tebas criticizes Infantino for the congestion of the calendar and for evaluating the possibility of expanding the 2030 men’s World Cup from 48 to 64 teams.

“Increasing the number of teams does not make sense. The football industry is not just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around the World Cup,” Tebas told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Regarding Infantino’s continuity, he was forceful:

“In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up. However, he has the support of the system and the federations, so there is not much more to add. This is the system and it is rotten from the roots.”

CONMEBOL presented an official proposal for the 2030 World Cup, which will already be the largest with six host countries on three continents, to include 64 teams. Tebas insisted that the priority must be different:

“It is the national competition that sustains this sport. They are destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and in which a minority of players participate.”

The Spanish leader also attacked the hydration breaks implemented in the recent World Cup. Although they were introduced to mitigate the heat at venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico, critics point out that they broke the rhythm of the game and allowed tactical adjustments. Thebes was direct:

“Hydration breaks are a lie. We have them in La Liga, but only when it’s really hot. Here, the fields in Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta had air conditioning. It was a publicity break.”

Infantino already announced his candidacy for a fourth term in April. Voting for the period 2027–2031 will take place on March 18 in Morocco.

Liverpool explores a new financial stage. The English club is holding talks with Indian investors, including the Mittal family, for a minority stake that values ​​the institution at more than $6 billion, according to the Financial Times.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), owner of the club since 2010 and also owner of the Boston Red Sox, confirmed the negotiations in a statement to the British newspaper.

“An investment consortium led, managed and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a minority strategic investment in Liverpool Football Club,” FSG said.

Bhatia, married to a daughter of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, separated this Tuesday from his co-ownership in Queens Park Rangers, an English second division team, where he served as president from 2018 to 2023.

FSG paid $400 million for Liverpool in 2010. Under his management, the club broke a 30-year drought without a league title in 2020 and repeated it in 2024, matching Manchester United with 20 English championships. In addition, they won the Champions League in 2019 and reached two other finals under the direction of Jürgen Klopp.

The possible investment by Bhatia and his consortium would mark a milestone in the shareholder structure of the club, which seeks to maintain its competitiveness in the elite of European football.

Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine team, runner-up in the world, arrived in his native Rosario on Tuesday to rest for a few days after the final against Spain. Coach Lionel Scaloni, for his part, arrived in Pujato, the town where he grew up, amid signs of affection.

A bittersweet return

Messi’s private plane landed at 6:27 in the morning at the Fisherton terminal, from Fort Lauderdale. Dozens of fans were waiting for him with signs and flags, although the player did not show up. They only observed the passing of the truck that took him to a residential neighborhood of Funes, near Rosario. The star would have traveled with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three children. His father, Jorge Messi, 68, awaits him in Rosario, who according to his family is undergoing medical treatment for an undetailed illness.

Some fans arrived at the airport as early as 3:30 in the morning. Two girls wearing albiceleste shirts displayed posters. One said: “Messi: you are great. Thank you for gladdening our hearts. A country loves you!”

On Instagram, Messi wrote: “The pain is very great and it will be difficult to close this wound. But I also keep all the good things… With the games that we turned around, leaving everything behind and that will remain forever in memory.”

Fifteen of the 26 members of the squad, with Scaloni at the head, arrived at the Ezeiza international airport on Monday.

Scaloni in Pujato

The coach’s arrival in Pujato, in the province of Santa Fe, was an event. Neighbors gathered to receive him. Scaloni, who lives in Mallorca, left the house, signed t-shirts and took photos with his fans.

“We were not winners but it is enough to be satisfied. It hurts not to have been able to give them joy,” he declared. “We lost because they were better… maybe we came just right; it’s good to recognize; that’s going to make us better.”

Faced with cries of “Lio is not leaving!”, Scaloni confirmed that he is fulfilling his bond with the AFA until December 31, although he avoided confirming whether he will continue. “I’m here until December guys… let’s not make noise.”

Messi has not commented on his continuity. The Albiceleste will play again between September 21 and October 6 in a friendly window. The former Barcelona player is expected to spend a few days in Rosario before rejoining Inter Miami at the end of July or beginning of August.

Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final in East Rutherford on Sunday. The goal was scored by Ferran Torres in extra time. Messi reached his third world final as a starter (2014, 2022, 2026) and finished second in the scoring table with eight goals, behind Kylian Mbappé’s 10. Mbappé leads the all-time table with 22 goals; Messi follows him with 21.