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This document lays out a plan to further modernise the football world, make it increasingly inclusive and pave the way to a landscape in which, one day, we will have around 50 national teams and 50 clubs from all continents at a top competitive level. This is a vision to make football truly global.
Chile
“It was a big blow for all of us.”
Chile’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifying campaign should be well under way by now. La Roja were due to visit Uruguay and host Colombia in their opening two matches in March, only for the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to put international football on hold and leave Reinaldo Rueda and his men sitting on the sidelines.
“I hope football comes back. We need it,” said the Colombian coach. Yet despite the layoff, the man they call ElProfe has been keeping busy with his coaching staff during lockdown. He fills his days planning; keeping tabs on his players and their fitness and personal circumstances; taking part in football forums and workshops; and even taking up some old hobbies.
He has also had the time to sit down and talk to FIFA.com about Chile’s need to return to the World Cup following their painful absence from Russia 2018, the generational handover that is already under way in the team, and his favourites to qualify for Qatar 2022. An expert in breathing new life into teams, Rueda has an exciting challenge ahead of him and gave us an exclusive interview to discuss it.
“It was a big blow for all of us.”
Chile’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifying campaign should be well under way by now. La Roja were due to visit Uruguay and host Colombia in their opening two matches in March, only for the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to put international football on hold and leave Reinaldo Rueda and his men sitting on the sidelines.
“I hope football comes back. We need it,” said the Colombian coach. Yet despite the layoff, the man they call ElProfe has been keeping busy with his coaching staff during lockdown. He fills his days planning; keeping tabs on his players and their fitness and personal circumstances; taking part in football forums and workshops; and even taking up some old hobbies.
He has also had the time to sit down and talk to FIFA.com about Chile’s need to return to the World Cup following their painful absence from Russia 2018, the generational handover that is already under way in the team, and his favourites to qualify for Qatar 2022. An expert in breathing new life into teams, Rueda has an exciting challenge ahead of him and gave us an exclusive interview to discuss it.
The first thing we had to do was deal with the psychological wounds so that both the players and the fans could start believing again. What we’re trying to do here is restore the status Chile has had over the last few years.
Women's Football
"Football is what I like the most. It's up to me to work as hard as I can to hopefully make a living from it and play for a very long time at the highest level."
The words, which Ada Hegerberg told FIFA.com in 2012, showed that - even then - she knew precisely where she wanted to go and how she was going to get there.
Eight years later, she is one of the best players in the women’s game. Unsurprisingly, her philosophy has not changed one iota. The Lyon striker continues to demonstrate formidable determination and an enviable work ethic to remain at the highest level season after season.
It is this mentality that is enabling Hegerberg to overcome the first major setback of her career, a cruciate ligament injury to her right knee suffered last January. "My ambition is to come back even stronger," she told FIFA.com in an interview, in which she also spoke about the vital efforts required of each player to develop women's football.
"Football is what I like the most. It's up to me to work as hard as I can to hopefully make a living from it and play for a very long time at the highest level."
The words, which Ada Hegerberg told FIFA.com in 2012, showed that - even then - she knew precisely where she wanted to go and how she was going to get there.
Eight years later, she is one of the best players in the women’s game. Unsurprisingly, her philosophy has not changed one iota. The Lyon striker continues to demonstrate formidable determination and an enviable work ethic to remain at the highest level season after season.
It is this mentality that is enabling Hegerberg to overcome the first major setback of her career, a cruciate ligament injury to her right knee suffered last January. "My ambition is to come back even stronger," she told FIFA.com in an interview, in which she also spoke about the vital efforts required of each player to develop women's football.
You're not just playing for yourself – we're playing for a world in which all girls would have the same opportunities.
Peru
In an exclusive interview with FIFA.com, Jefferson Farfan told us how he was coping with quarantine in Russia, where he plays for Lokomotiv Moscow. At the time we spoke, the Peruvian idol was unaware that he had tested positive for COVID-19, as confirmed by a club statement just a few hours later.
The footballing hiatus in Russia had allowed the 35-year-old additional time to prepare for a return to action following a knee injury suffered at the last Copa America, which kept him on the sidelines for over six months.
Having been looking forward to a return on 21 June, the date the Russian Premier League is scheduled to restart, Farfan will now only resume training "in three or four weeks" according to his club.
During his chat with FIFA.com, the player spoke about his preparations for a return to action and the Peruvian national team, for which he is the second-highest scorer (27 goals) and the sixth-most capped player (95 internationals).
In an exclusive interview with FIFA.com, Jefferson Farfan told us how he was coping with quarantine in Russia, where he plays for Lokomotiv Moscow. At the time we spoke, the Peruvian idol was unaware that had tested positive for COVID-19, as confirmed by a club statement just a few hours later.
The footballing hiatus in Russia had allowed the 35-year-old additional time to prepare for a return to action following a knee injury suffered at the last Copa America, which kept him on the sidelines for over six months.
Having been looking forward to a return on June 21, the date the Russian Premier League is scheduled to restart, Farfan will now only resume training "in three or four weeks" according to his club.
During his chat with FIFA.com, the player spoke about his preparations for a return to action and the Peruvian national team, for which he is the second-highest scorer (27 goals) and the sixth-most capped player (95 internationals).
Peru used to be the ‘ugly ducklings' of the World Cup qualifiers, a period I lived through. Those days are over.
Ranking remains static as the world fights Covid-19
Discover
Belgium
Pts. 1765
France
Pts. 1733
Brazil
Pts. 1712
England
Pts. 1661
Uruguay
Pts. 1645
Croatia
Pts. 1642
Zambia soar as tournaments, qualifiers make their mark
Discover
USA
Pts. 2181
Germany
Pts. 2090
France
Pts. 2036
Netherlands
Pts. 2032
Sweden
Pts. 2007
England
Pts. 1999
As the world’s number one sport, football is uniquely placed to strengthen initiatives that can improve the lives of young people around the world.
The Football Association
Mental health takes centre stage in England
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
Men's Ranking #4
Women's Ranking #6
