INFANTINO DEFIES FIFA VICE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST TO STAY AWAY FROM CARIBBEAN YOUTH TOURNAMENT

FIFA president Gianni Infantino made a rare public appearance in the Caribbean despite a request from vice president Victor Montagliani to abstain as pressure mounts over his failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

File photo: FIFA president Gianni Infantino is seen prior to the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. © Eric Gay, AP

Gianni Infantino defied a request by one of his FIFA vice presidents to stay away from an Under-14 soccer event in the Caribbean and instead made a rare public appearance during the global furor over his failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

On Saturday, Infantino posted photos on his Instagram account showing the FIFA president meeting political and soccer officials from the Dominican Republic on the sidelines of a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) youth tournament in the Punta Cana resort.

On Friday, Infantino had been asked not to go by Victor Montagliani, the Canadian president of Miami-based continental soccer body CONCACAF, to avoid being a distraction from the soccer games.

“I believe that considering the governance crisis surrounding FIFA as a result of your controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, the media will focus on this situation,” Montagliani wrote in an emailed letter seen by The Associated Press, “which will unfortunately significantly take away from the technical nature of the CFU youth competition.”

“As such, I respectfully ask you in the name of football to reconsider your attendance as it will unfortunately undermine the technical nature of this important youth development activity,” Montagliani wrote.

FIFA declined to comment on the Montagliani request, though noted it directly funds regional bodies like the CFU with up to $5 million from each four-year World Cup cycle.

Montagliani has aligned with fellow FIFA vice presidents Aleksander Ceferin from European body UEFA and Asian Football Confederation president Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in seeking to end Infantino’s increasingly executive presidency now in its 11th year.

They accused Infantino two weeks ago of “deception” in secretly planning over the past year to spin off FIFA’s multi-billion dollar commercial activities to a subsidiary 20% owned by investors led by Joshua Kushner.

FIFA declined to comment on the Montagliani request, though noted it directly funds regional bodies like the CFU with up to $5 million from each four-year World Cup cycle.

Montagliani has aligned with fellow FIFA vice presidents Aleksander Ceferin from European body UEFA and Asian Football Confederation president Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in seeking to end Infantino’s increasingly executive presidency now in its 11th year.

They accused Infantino two weeks ago of “deception” in secretly planning over the past year to spin off FIFA’s multi-billion dollar commercial activities to a subsidiary 20% owned by investors led by Joshua Kushner.

Infantino withdrew the project on Aug. 1 amid a global backlash by soccer leaders and fans, and hours after his own chief operating officer published stinging criticism of the proposal and his leadership style in a statement to the AP. The Zurich-based COO, Kevin Lamour, was fired this week.

Caribbean member federations are seen as potential supporters for Infantino to peel away from their CONCACAF leadership. South American body CONMEBOL has backed Infantino as its best path to hosting more games at the 2030 World Cup it wants expanded from 48 teams to 64.

The FIFA leader has not taken questions publicly since the $20 billion FFE project was revealed July 28 by British daily The Times, and on Friday in Punta Cana he evaded a reporter from British broadcaster Sky News.

Asked by Sky reporter James Matthews if he had betrayed the sport and should resign, Infantino said “Thank you so much” and made quips about both men being bald.

Infantino is aiming to be re-elected for a fourth and final term in office through 2031 at the FIFA election congress next March in Rabat, Morocco. FIFA has set Nov. 18 as a deadline for would-be candidates to enter the race.

- FRANCE 24 with AP

UEFA POINT FINGER AT ARGENTINE FA AS LA FINALISSIMA CANCELATION CONFIRMED

 UEFA have confirmed the unfortunate news that the 2026 La Finalissima, which was due to be played between Spain and Argentina, has been cancelled with immediate effect.

The match, which was scheduled for later this month, was originally set for Doha, but due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, it was moved. Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium had been proposed as the new venue, but the Argentinian Football Association turned this option down, as UEFA have now confirmed in their statement announcing the cancellation of La Finalissima.

“After much discussion between UEFA and the organising authorities in Qatar, it is announced today that due to the current political situation in the region, the Finalissima between UEFA EURO 2024 winners Spain and CONMEBOL Copa América 2024 champions Argentina cannot be played as hoped in Qatar on 27 March.

“With strong determination to save the important fixture, and despite the understandable difficulties of relocating a match of such importance at extremely short notice, UEFA explored other feasible alternatives but each ultimately proved unacceptable to the Argentinian Football Association.

“The first option was to stage the match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on the original date with a 50:50 split of supporters in the stadium. This would have provided a world class setting, befitting of such a prestigious event, but Argentina refused.

“The second was to stage the Finalissima over two legs – one at the Santiago Bernabeu on 27 March and the other in Buenos Aires during an international window before UEFA EURO and Copa America 2028, again offering a supporter split of 50:50 for the match in Madrid. This option was also rejected.

"Ultimately, UEFA sought a commitment from Argentina that, if a neutral venue in Europe could be found, the game could go ahead on 27 March, as planned and announced on 18 December 2025, or on the alternative date of 30 March. This proposal was also rejected.

“Argentina made a counter suggestion to play the game after the World Cup but, as Spain has no available dates, that option had to be ruled out. Finally, and contrary to the original agreed plan that the match would take place on 27 March, Argentina declared its availability to play exclusively on 31 March, a date which proved to be unworkable.

“As a result, and to UEFA’s regret, this edition of the Finalissima has been cancelled.”

Spanish Football Federation react to cancellation

In their own statement, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have since acknowledged the news that La Finalissima has been cancelled.

“From the first minute, the Federation has expressed its absolute interest in this match being maintained, considering that it gives prestige and international reputation in an essential window in a World Cup year. And, in addition, he has worked intensely for it.

“Spain was willing to play as has always been pointed out. We have not set conditions. From the first moment we have gone hand in hand with UEFA to reach an agreement and all the possibilities have been offered:

• To host the match in our country, given that there is a key organizational capacity that would allow it to be held successfully in a short space of time.

• Hold the match at a neutral venue.

• Celebrate the match in a different format.

“Spain has offered, hand in hand with UEFA, all the possibilities, despite which, and given the situation, the Finalissima has been cancelled.

URUGUAY'S BIELSA: LUIS SUÁREZ COMMENTS AFFECTED MY AUTHORITY

 

Uruguay national team head coach Marcelo Bielsa has admitted his authority as manager has been impacted by the public accusations made by Luis Suárez earlier this month.

The former Uruguay forward called out Bielsa for implementing what he called problematic work conditions during the 2024 Copa América, before detailing the lack of communication between the coaching staff and players.

Suárez later revealed he felt hurt over the manager's actions, and urged fans not to turn on the players if "something goes wrong" moving forward.

Bielsa publicly addressed the matter for the first time after Uruguay's 1-0 loss to Peru in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.

"I am not unaware of what happened and I know that my authority is affected in some way," Bielsa said. "But I prepared for the match with the utmost seriousness and the players' response was the same as when I started working here. It did not alter the conviction with which the match was prepared in any way."

Prior to the defeat, Uruguay Football Association president Ignacio Alonso pledged his full support to Bielsa and reiterated that the coach remains a key part of the project leading into the 2026 World Cup, just as he did upon arriving in May, 2023.

"Correct, what Luis said is true, he has told me things, and Jorge [Giordano] as well," Alonso told the De fútbol se habla así show on DirecTV.

URUGUAYAN DEFENDER IZQUIERDO DIES AFTER COLLAPSING DURING MATCH

Nacional defender Juan Izquierdo, who collapsed on the pitch after suffering an irregular heartbeat last week, has died, his Uruguayan club said on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old had been undergoing medical treatment since collapsing during Nacional's Copa Libertadores game against Sao Paulo on Aug. 22.

Izquierdo fell to the ground unconscious in the 84th minute without coming into contact with another player. He was taken off the pitch in an ambulance before being treated at the intensive care unit of Albert Einstein Hospital.

The hospital said in a statement Izquierdo had died as a result of brain death following a cardiopulmonary arrest associated with cardiac arrhythmia.

"It is with the deepest sorrow and shock in our hearts that the Club Nacional announces the death of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo," Nacional wrote on X.

"We express our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. All of Nacional is in mourning for his irreparable loss."

Uruguay suspended all football activity last weekend due to concerns over Izquierdo's health.

Alejandro Dominguez, the president of CONMEBOL, also extended his condolences to Izquierdo's family and friends.

"South American football is in mourning," he added.

Uruguay national team players and former Izquierdo teammates also expressed their condolences.

"Pain, sadness, it is hard to explain," Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez said. "May he rest in peace. I wish a lot of strength for his family and friends."

Izquierdo's career included spells at Cerro, Peñarol, Wanderers and Liverpool in Uruguay. He also played for Liga MX's San Luis.

The Uruguayan Football Association said the news was deeply painful, while the national governing bodies of Argentina, Peru, Paraguay and Colombia extended their condolences to Izquierdo's family and friends.

Brazilian Football Federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues said a minute's silence would be observed in every match organised by the federation on Wednesday.

Sao Paulo said they were deeply saddened by the news, calling it a "sad day for football."

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

- ESPN News Services

INJURED AND LOCKED OUT FANS FILE FIRST LAWSUITS OVER COPA AMÉRICA STAMPEDE AND MELEE

AP Photo

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The first lawsuits have been filed in connection with last weekend's melees that broke out when fans without tickets forced their way into the Copa America soccer tournament final at Hard Rock Stadium, with one person citing serious injuries and some ticket holders saying they were denied entry.I 

Miami-Dade County and federal court records show that as of Friday morning, at least four lawsuits had been filed against the stadium and CONMEBOL, South American soccer’s governing organization, over the chaos that broke out at the admission gates before Sunday's game between Argentina and Colombia.

Attorney Judd Rosen, who represents an injured woman, said stadium and CONMEBOL officials should have hired more police officers and security guards, but they put profits above safety.

“This was a cash grab,” Rosen said. “All the money they should have spent on an appropriate safety plan and adequate safety team, they put in their pockets.”

Stadium officials declined comment Friday beyond saying they will refund unused tickets bought directly from organizers. They previously said they hired double the security for Sunday's final compared to Miami Dolphins games and had exceeded CONMEBOL's recommendations. The stadium will be hosting several games during the 2026 World Cup.

CONMEBOL, which is based in Paraguay, also did not specifically comment on the lawsuits. In an earlier statement, the tournament organizers put blame for the melees on stadium officials, saying they had not implemented its recommendations.

Rosen's client, Isabel Quintero, was one of several ticket holders injured when they were knocked down or into walls and pillars. Police arrested 27 people — including the president of Colombia's soccer federation and his son for a post-game altercation with a security guard — and ejected 55.

Rosen said his client, who works in finance, had flown her father to Miami from Colombia to see the game as a belated Father's Day present, spending $1,500 apiece for the two tickets.

He said Quintero, who is in her 30s, was in line when security closed the admission gates to prevent unticketed fans from entering. As the crowd built up and game time approached, people were being dangerously pushed up against the fences. Security guards opened the gates “just a little bit to let one person in at a time," Rosen said.

That is when some in the crowd pushed the gates completely open, causing a stampede, Rosen said. Quintero got slammed into a pillar, causing soft tissue damage to her knee and shoulder and a chest injury that is making it difficult to breathe, he said. Her father was knocked down, but he wasn't hurt.

“He never once watched the Colombian national team in person because he thought it was too dangerous in Colombia,” Rosen said. ‘So he flew over here as a Father’s Day present to watch his national team play and this is the result, something they never thought would happen in the States."

He said he expects to file several more lawsuits, having spoken to one person who had teeth knocked out and another who suffered a broken arm.

Attorney Irwin Ast filed lawsuits in state and federal court for fans who had tickets but weren't admitted because the hundreds of unticketed fans who pushed their way inside filled the stadium past capacity.

He said these fans had come from all over the United States and the Americas, spending thousands for admission, air fare and hotel rooms. They also experienced fear and emotional distress when they were caught up in the stampede and melee, which could have been prevented if the stadium and CONMEBOL had a better security plan, he said.

“People bring their kids — this is a once-in-a-lifetime deal to a lot of people,” Ast said. “This was a terrifying situation.”

- TERRY SPENCER

COPA AMÉRICA FINAL START DELAYED AFTER FANS RUSH GATES

Police put a man in handcuffs after fans rushed the gates at Hard Rock Stadium ahead of the Copa final. Getty Images

 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The start time for the final of the 2024 Copa América between Argentina and Colombia was delayed for over 75 minutes on Sunday following a security breach in which fans broke through one of the main entry gates.

The game, which was originally scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET, kicked off at 9:22 p.m., and after 120 minutes of regular and extra time Argentina pulled out a 1-0 victory to win the Copa América -- their third consecutive major tournament title and a record 16th trophy in the South American tournament.

The delays before kickoff began when, earlier in the day, video on social media showed fans breaking through the southwest gate at Hard Rock Stadium, with some being tackled or otherwise apprehended by police and security personnel. A security guard manning an interior entrance to the stadium confirmed to ESPN that the southwest gate at the venue had been locked down because of a breach.

Both teams were taken off the field during their respective warmups as the chaos brewed outside.

The stadium briefly went on lockdown, before Hard Rock Stadium issued the following statement: "In anticipation of tonight's Copa America Final, thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security and law enforcement officers at extreme risk. Security has shut the gates in order to control the entry process at a much slower rate and ensure everyone is kept safe.

"As a result, tonight's match start time has been delayed until further notice to accommodate for ticketed fans to be able to safely enter the stadium."

Organizers ultimately reopened gates to allow fans to enter the stadium as people at the front of lines were beginning to get crushed by those in behind them. A Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson told reporters: "In collaboration with CONMEBOL and law enforcement officers, the decision was made to open the stadium gates for a short period of time to all fans in order to prevent stampedes and serious injury at the perimeter. There was serious concern of fans being crushed in an attempt to enter."

Earlier in the day an officer for the Miami-Dade Police Department told ESPN that all gates were locked down after the initial rush of fans, while another officer said it kept changing, describing the situation as "very fluid."

Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister's mother Silvina said she needed her son's assistance to enter the stadium and described the situation outside as "inhumane." She said the two were in constant communication as Mac Allister waited in a Hard Rock Stadium tunnel to assist his family inside.

"Alexis had to leave the locker room to help us get in because he was worried. I thought [the game] couldn't continue," she said in a post on social media. "I thought the game wouldn't be played because if the players thought they would resolve this, impossible that it would be played. It was inhumane. We are okay.

"We were in communication with Alexis the whole time, but he said he would stay outside until we would come in. he waited for us until we came in. We hugged him once inside, left him to be calm and told him to win."

Reports said that an estimated 7,000 people without tickets gained entry to the stadium, and prior to kickoff, fans were crowding the aisles and walkways. Security personnel were seen clearing those areas once the game had begun and checking to see if fans without seats had tickets.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and chief public safety officer James Reyes released a statement during the game expressing outrage at what they had seen and saying the county assigned more than 550 police officers to the stadium detail, plus other personnel from neighboring departments.

"Let's be clear: This situation should have never taken place and cannot happen again," read the statement. "We will work with stadium leadership to ensure that a full review of tonight's events takes place immediately to evaluate the full chain of events, in order to put in place needed protocols and policies for all future games."

The Miami-Dade Police issued the following statement after the initial lockdown of the stadium occurred: "We have had several incidents prior to the gates opening at Hard Rock Stadium for the COPA America final game. These incidents have been a result of the unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium.

"We are asking everyone to be patient, and abide by the rules set by our officers and Hard Rock Stadium personnel."

Video and images taken by ESPN showed fans crowding around the southwest gate waiting to be let in. Fans have been congregating at Hard Rock Stadium since well before the planned kickoff at 8 p.m. ET, with one parking lot attendant saying he had been called to work early given that fans started to arrive as early as 6 a.m.

A handful of people could be seen receiving medical treatment and asking for water in the sweltering South Florida heat. Officers were able to push the crowd behind black gates and lock down the entrance so that no one could get inside, although plenty of fans had already made it to their seats before then.

A sellout crowd of more than 65,000 was expected for the championship match of the South American tournament, with Argentina looking to defend its title.

It was unclear which of the fans who gained entrance during the rush had tickets to the match. CONMEBOL, South America's governing body, released a statement a day before warning that fans must have tickets to enter the venue.

The Copa América has been plagued by organizational and planning issues almost from the moment the tournament started, with teams complaining about field conditions, field sizes, the state of training fields, as well as crowd control issues.

At the conclusion of Wednesday's semifinal when Colombia beat Uruguay, Uruguayan players Darwin Núñez and Ronald Araújo went into the stands at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, when they thought family members were in danger from opposition fans.

ESPN writer Lizzy Becherano contributed to this story, while information from The Associated Press was also used.

- Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent

URUGUAY'S MARCELO BIELSA RIPS U.S., COPA AMÉRICA ORGANIZERS AFTER FIGHT

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa angrily defended his players following clashes at the end of their semifinal loss to Colombia. Omar Vega/Getty Images

 Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa defended his players' involvement in clashes with Colombia fans following their Copa América semifinal match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, before criticizing the U.S. and CONMEBOL over the organization of the competition.

Following Uruguay's semifinal loss, players could be seen climbing into the stands to fight with opposing fans. Darwin Núñez and Ronaldo Araújo were among those involved, while captain José María Giménez said the players were simply trying to defend family members.

However, South America soccer's governing body, CONMEBOL, has announced an investigation into the incidents, which also saw players from Colombia and Uruguay involved in a confrontation on the field after the final whistle.

"One has to speak thinking about all the threats he will receive if he speaks," an angry Bielsa said in a prematch news conference on Friday. "So, the only thing I can tell you is that the players reacted the same way any human being would.

"If you see what happened happen and there's [no other process to escape] and they are attacking their girlfriends, their mothers, a baby, their wives, their mothers -- what would you do?"

The former Leeds United manager went on to attack media coverage of the incidents.

"Are you asking if there's going to be sanctions to the ones that went to defend?" he said. "It's a level of complicity, because the questions also act as a way to accomplice, I don't know if all of you think the same way, if the question you ask wouldn't be made by someone else, but this is what you journalists should be saying, not what I should be saying, with the risk of opening my mouth.

"When you see that there's an overreaction, when you see a violent action, of course no one is going to be in favor of a violent reaction. But the first thing you have to see is what are they reacting to? And if there was any other way to do it differently, and you all know this, but you want us on this side to open our mouths about it so it's not you who point what happened and then are affected in any way."

Bielsa said that his players were owed apologies, adding that "we are in the United States, the country of security."

The Uruguayan football association (AUF) also said there was a lack of security in the stands which led to "an unjustified but humanly understandable reaction" by the players.

"This event took place in a context in which the proportion of Uruguayan fans was very small. Most of them were families, and there were insufficient security measures in place," the AUF said in a statement.

"Given these facts, the players' behaviour was inevitable and natural," it said, adding though that it "strongly condemned" their aggression.

The coach went on to criticize CONMEBOL and the U.S. over the organization of the tournament, specifically calling out the lack of security and the conditions of the fields at stadiums regularly used by NFL teams.

Argentina, which will face Colombia in Sunday's final, slammed the conditions of the field at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the tournament's opening game.

"They knew seven months ago that we'd play here and they changed the field two days ago," Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said following that game. "It's not an excuse, but this isn't a good field. Sincerely, the field is not apt for these players."

CONMEBOL defended the conditions of the fields following the criticism, saying that the process of installing the temporary pitches for Copa América started a year ago and that "aesthetics can give the wrong perception."

- Lizzy Becherano

BRAZIL PICKED BY FIFA TO GET SOCCER'S WOMEN'S WORLD CUP, A FIRST FOR SOUTH AMERICA

AP Photo 

 BANGKOK (AP) — Brazil will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup after a vote of FIFA’s full membership chose the South American bid over a joint proposal from Belgium, Netherlands and Germany.

The FIFA Congress on Friday voted 119-78 for Brazil in the reduced field of two candidates to host the 2027 tournament after a joint bid by the United States and Mexico was pulled late last month, and South Africa withdrew its candidacy in November.

It will be the first time the global women's tournament, first played in 1991, is staged in South America .

Brazil was strongly favored to win since October when FIFA brokered deals for the men's World Cups of 2030 and 2034. It left South American neighbors Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay getting just one game each of the 104 in the 2030 tournament that will be mostly co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

AP Photo 

A key point for FIFA was clearing the way for its close ally Saudi Arabia to get the 2034 World Cup uncontested in a fast-track process. South American soccer body CONMEBOL's agreement to take a small part of the 2030 tournament removed it from the subsequent bidding.

The US-Mexico decision to opt out and focus on bidding for the 2031 World Cup — that decision is due next year — was another indicator of Brazil's expected win.

The Brazilian bid team hugged and celebrated on the podium after the result was announced, and described it as a victory for women's soccer, for their country and for South America.

“We are a South American country that achieved the victory for women’s soccer,” Brazil's soccer federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues said before reflecting on recent flooding that has devastated parts of the country. “After the things that impact all Brazilians — a catastrophe due to the climate change — our achievement today, the first Women’s World Cup in South America, will help strengthen us."

AP Photo 

It was the first time that all of FIFA’s member associations had the opportunity to weigh in on the host of the women’s tournament. Previously, it was decided by the FIFA Council, the governing body’s decision-making committee.

There were 207 of the 211 members eligible to vote in the electronic ballot which gave three options: Brazil, BNG or abstain.

Brazil was even more favored to win the contest after ranking higher in an evaluation report by a FIFA-appointed panel.

The next World Cup votes, to endorse the 2030 and 2034 hosts, will be on Dec. 11 in an online congress held remotely.

- LERPONG AMSA-NGIAM

WORLD'S SIX FOOTBALL CONFEDERATIONS

 

LIONEL MESSI BEATS ERLING HAALAND TO BEST FIFA MEN'S AWARD

 

Lionel Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 © Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

LONDON -- Lionel Messi won his third FIFA The Best men's award on Monday, beating Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé to the prize.

The timeline for the award was between Dec. 19, 2022 -- the day after Messi led Argentina to win the World Cup in Qatar -- and Aug. 20, 2023.

Messi won the award mostly for his work at PSG and Inter Miami, having helped the French giants to another Ligue 1 title before moving to MLS in July and inspiring Miami to their first-ever trophy, the Leagues Cup.

At the international level, Messi helped Argentina to top CONMEBOL's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification table after six games.

Messi was not in attendance in London to collect the award.

The three nominees for the award were compiled, FIFA said, in collaboration with its "football stakeholders," with short lists determined by two separate panels of former players and coaches. The winner of the award was then voted between journalists, fans, national team captains and managers.

MESSI DOUBLE GIVES ARGENTINA 2-0 WIN OVER PERU

Lionel Messi become the all-time top scorer in South American World Cup qualifying on Tuesday after netting both goals in Argentina's 2-0 win over Peru in Lima.

Messi, who was included in the squad despite having been sidelined in recent weeks with a muscle problem, came on as a substitute in Thursday's 1-0 win over Paraguay but was on the pitch from the start of the game in Lima.

The 36-year-old put the world champions ahead in the 32nd minute with a superb shot after an assist from Nicolas Gonzalez, and made it 2-0 10 minutes later with a fierce finish from Enzo Fernandez's pass.

Messi, who was denied a hat-trick in the second half when he had a goal disallowed for offside following a VAR review, became CONMEBOL's leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers with his double taking his tally to 31, breaking a tie with Uruguay's Luis Suarez.

FORMER CONMEBOL PRESIDENT NAPOUT TO BE REALEASED FROM U.S. JAIL - LAWYER

 

Reuters 

Former South American soccer boss Juan Angel Napout, who was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2018 for his role in the FIFA corruption scandal, could be released next week, one of his lawyers said on Thursday.

FIFA: FIFA CONFEDERATIONS

 

COPA SUAMERICANA: CHAPECOENSE AWARDED SUDAMERICANA CUP

Chapocoense football club has been awarded the Copa Sudamericana Cup by South American  football confederation CONMEBOL in respect to their football team that perished in a horrific plane crash in Colombia...

CONMEBOL WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: NEYMAR HAD TO BE SENT OFF DUE TO A BLOODY HEAD

Brazil outclassed Bolivia and won 5-0 in a CONMEBOL Word Cup qualifier game in Nataal, Brazil...Brazil star Neymar Jr. could not make it past the 69th minute as his head was oozing blood from and elbow foul...

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING: BRAZIL STOPS COLOMBIA THE HARD WAY

Brazil managed to win the tough World Cup qualifying game against a strong Colombia 2-1 in Manaus...Neymar Jr., was the main man for Brazil because he netted the winner almost 16 minutes to time....Brazil stared well after scoring way early in the 2nd minute but Colombia came back the same first half through an own goal by Marquinhos...

After the win Brazil is eaqual to Argentina at 2nd place in the CONMEBOL standings and Uruguay lead the pack...