In this bulletin:
1. RUGBY — New Samoa Rugby Football Union launched
2. RUGBY — Samoa captain and coach urge resolution for their country’s ‘best interests’
3. COMMONWEALTH GAMES — Tarona Taafaki earns tiny Tuvalu first-ever Games medal
4. COMMONWEALTH GAMES — Rose misses discus medal as Pacific athletes wrap up Glasgow campaign
5. RUGBY — Fijian Drua head coach Mooar looking to build on strong foundations
6. RUGBY LEAGUE — Potter keeps things simple
7. RUGBY — 2026 Force Academy Awards winners revealed
8. RUGBY — Lomax still in Wallabies World Cup selection frame
9. RUGBY LEAGUE — Unwanted slice of Tigers history beckons for Benji
10. FOOTBALL — FIFA president ‘has lost the confidence’ of football community
11. RUGBY — Full-scale tour will benefit All Blacks, says coach Rennie
SAMOA – RUGBY: TALAMUA MEDIA PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
New Samoa Rugby Football Union launched
APIA, 03 AUGUST 2026 (TALAMUA MEDIA) — A new rugby union, the Samoa Rugby Football Union (SRFU) was launched in Apia last Friday reviving the old Samoa Rugby Union logo, and claiming to take over the administration and management of Samoan rugby as negotiations with World Rugby are in progress after the Samoan Government withdrew recognition and support of Lakapi Samoa last Wednesday.
SRFU is led by former Manu Samoa representative, Matafeo George Latu as Chairman, and supported by 16 Sub-Unions who were represented by their respective Presidents at the launch.
Registered on 29 June 2026, Matafeo said the new Union was initiated due to the current status of the sport that is impacting negatively on the future of Samoan rugby, the lack of innovation by the Board and management, the lack of trust by district rugby unions of Lakapi Samoa and the lack of accountability.
With the presence of former Manu Samoa players, the lawyer and former front-rower spoke of a distant past of the Manu Samoa golden days where they competed at the top against teams such as Australia, Wales, France and New Zealand.
Some of these games were held in Samoa.
“Those days are gone and we doubt if Samoa will ever see their beloved Manu Samoa play on home soil again in the next five years.”
“Something is very wrong with Samoa rugby,” Matafeo said.
He said there is no secret about the poor performances of Samoas Manu Samoa 15s, the Manu Samoa 7 and U20 teams.
Currently Manu Samoa ranks 20 in the world behind Tonga, Chile and Spain.
“Chile and Spain are soccer countries and here they rank higher than Samoa and I just can’t believe it,” said Matafeo.
He pointed to the thrill when the Manu Samoa 7 team who captured the world when they won the Hong Kong 7s in 2010 and became world champions a few years later.
“There are now three tiers of the World Rugby Sevens Competition and Samoa is not even in the third tier.”
Although Samoa is qualified to compete in the World Cup 2027, it was luck that they won by points when they drew with Belgium.
Samoa now plays in the Tri-Nation Championship with teams such as Spain and Hong Kong for the next 5 years.
“No more games against France or Fiji because those teams are in the first tier and those teams are making millions,” he said.
“Samoa is not making any money because no one goes to an empty stand,” he said.
Matafeo said the real danger that contributed to the demise of Samoan rugby is having politicians involved in rugby as board members.
“Sports and politics do not mix because they can and have used sports to further their own political agenda,” said Matafeo.
“The politicians’ playing field is Tiafau, and for rugby, it is Apia Park. As the Rock said, Stay in your lane,” he said.
He also referred to the frustration raised by district rugby unions who have been left to fend for themselves without resources because of the lack of interest and support from the rugby union Board.
“The districts have been neglected for too long,” he said.
Matafeo said with the poor state of affairs in Saman rugby, the Board and management have always put the blame on someone else.
“They blame the players, the coaches and the Government for the lack of funding support,” he said. “Not once have I heard the Board and Management owning up and claiming responsibility for the dire strait situation Samoan rugby is in.”
The sub union presidents then approached the Prime Minister for assistance who then called for the removal of politicians from rugby and according to Matafeo, the Government is entitled to do so because they have been providing funds for rugby for a long time.
“When the Government made the call for change and reform, the districts felt that their voices had finally been heard,” Matafeo said.
“For so long, no one paid any attention to the district unions.”
Matafeo believes the time for change has arrived where all districts come under one union and with the support of the District Development Project where they can carry out competitions for development of rugby at the grassroots level.
Matafeo also emphasized the importance on partnership with the Government and Samoa being a very small nation, there is a need for such partnership.
“The truth is, the Government had funded Samoa rugby for many years and with the current situation with the $150 million (US$105 million) proposed by Australia for Tonga, Fiji and Samoa, this partnership is essential,” he said.
He said sports need access to international financial support, and such assistance can only be made possible when it comes through the Government.
He is not sure where the $150m (US$105 million) issue stands now but he is certain that the Government can easily decline such an offer.
He said rugby has to partner with the Government and take advantage of the funds rather than choosing to alienate the Government.
“Not good for rugby,” he said.
Reverend Tonu Mauafu, President of Faasalelelaga Rugby Union, led the launch with a spiritual encouragement. Other than a reverend, he is a strong rugby supporter who sees value in using rugby and sports as a platform for the development of young people at the village level.
As President of the Faasalelelaga Rugby Union, they founded the Iva Sevens Tournament and know first-hand, the difficulties faced by sub unions in the development of rugby and relations with the mother union, Lakapi Samoa.
Quoting from Mathew, and the story of a Canaanite woman’s faith who asked Jesus to heal her daughter possessed by a demon, he said “Great needs, require greater faith.”
The line became the quote of the night and offered spiritual encouragement to the new union as they embark on a huge challenge to rebuild Samoan rugby.
The highlight of the launch was the unveiling of the Samoa Rugby Football Union’s logo that revives the old rugby unions logo before the name was changed to Lakapi Samoa and using the Teuila flower as its emblem.
Then video clips of congratulatory messages from former Manu Samoa 15s and Manu Samoa 7s players including former Manu Samoa coach Su’a Peter Schuster were played.
A video compilation of Manu Samoa’s glorious past, and since breaking into the global stage against Wales in 1991, also drew quiet emotional reactions from those present…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – RUGBY: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Samoa captain and coach urge resolution for their country’s ‘best interests’
APIA, 03 AUGUST 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) —Samoa’s national rugby team captain and coach have written to the prime minister, appealing to him to resolve the current crisis affecting Lakapi Samoa, the governing body for Samoan Rugby.
The government announced last Wednesday that it was pulling its support of Lakapi Samoa due to “unresolved internal issues and division” at the national rugby union.
In a letter seen by RNZ Pacific, Manu Samoa captain Theo McFarland and head coach Lemalu Tusiata Pisi addressed prime minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt.
“Our greatest concern is the possibility that the current situation could result in sanctions from World Rugby,” the letter said.
“Such an outcome could deny Samoa the opportunity to compete at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, despite the years of sacrifice, commitment and hard work that have earned our qualification.”
McFarland and Pisi said they are not taking sides.
Instead, they appealed for a pathway that would address the government’s concerns while protecting Samoa’s place in international rugby.
“For us, the Rugby World Cup is about far more than rugby,” they wrote.
“It is an opportunity to represent our flag, our families and our people on the world stage, while inspiring the next generation of Samoan players.”
The letter said the appeal is made “not for any individual or organisation, but for the players, the future of Samoan rugby, and the best interests of Samoa”.
The captain and coach said they remained proud to represent Samoa and hoped a solution could be found.
Tensions developed earlier this year following concerns raised by La’auli about the administration and governance of Lakapi Samoa, going so far as to state that he would establish a rival rugby union.
Lakapi Samoa board chairman Namulauulu Sami Leota told local media at the time the launch of a rival rugby union could spell disaster for the sport in Samoa.
He said Lakapi Samoa remained the constitutionally established governing body for rugby in the country and was recognised internationally by World Rugby.
The Samoa Observer reported World Rugby representatives met with the prime minister last Friday, before holding separate talks with representatives of the rival Samoa Football Rugby Union.
A spokesperson for World Rugby told RNZ Pacific: “We are in active and constructive dialogue with all parties and remain focused on a positive resolution.” …. PACNEWS
PAC – COMMONWEALTH GAMES: AAP/AP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Tarona Taafaki earns tiny Tuvalu first-ever Games medal
GLASGOW, 03 AUGUST 2026 (AAP/AP)—Tarona Taafaki has put Tuvalu on the sporting map by winning the tiny South Pacific nation’s first-ever medal at the Commonwealth Games.
And the beauty of it all is the 20-year-old southpaw, who competed in the women’s 75-kg category, achieved the feat in Glasgow without winning a fight.
Taafaki lost her only bout to Lovlina Borgohain, with the judges awarding all three rounds to the Indian.
But with only five entrants, Taafaki received a bye to the last four – guaranteeing her a spot on the podium.
The medal, nevertheless, will be celebrated with much pomp and glory in Tuvalu – an island south-east of Tonga – where athletes use the airport runway as their training base.
Taafaki knew the odds would be against her in Glasgow, but was determined to match it with some of the world’s best to make her nation proud.
“It’s a small country but we get a chance to take it on the world stage so we can represent the people that don’t usually go to international events like this with pride,” Tarona told the Oamaru Mail before the Games.
“I’m looking to inspire our fellow Tuvaluan community. I’d say we’re kind of like the underdogs going into this competition and I’m excited to prove what we’re made of.”
Nobody was more proud than her dad Badi Taafaki.
“For the people of Tuvalu, this medal means everything,” he told the Press Association. “We’re one of the smallest nations in the world, so a medal like this is hugely significant.
“We have worked so hard to get here.”
Baadi Tafaaki is also Tuvalu’s boxing coach.
His son Pasoni also competed at the Games and lost his only bout at 70kg.
Tarona and Pasoni are the oldest of eight children, all of whom are boxers. They are based in New Zealand in order to take advantage of better facilities.
“My children are very fortunate,” Badi said. “They have opportunities and facilities that I never had. Boxing is our whole life. Strength is in our bloodline.
“Yes, we train on the airport runway. When a plane comes in, everyone moves aside. As soon as it leaves, we go back on the tarmac, because there is nowhere else to train.
“If we can win medals, more people around the world will recognise Tuvalu and begin to understand the challenges we face because of climate change.”
Threatened by rising sea levels, climate experts predict half of the nation’s capital, Funafuti, could be submerged by 2050.
“It is very real for us. The coastal erosion is unbelievable, and the countdown is now measured in years, not decades.
“Some islands have lost half their land. At high tide the sea comes right through. People living on the coast can’t sleep if there’s a storm, because the waves can come straight through their homes.”
Tarona Taafaki is not the first boxer to win a Commonwealth Games medal without winning a fight.
Australia’s Taylah Robertson picked up bronze in the women’s flyweight category on the Gold Coast in 2018 despite losing her bout to England’s Lisa Whiteside…..PACNEWS
UK – COMMONWEALTH GAMES: PMN PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Rose misses discus medal as Pacific athletes wrap up Glasgow campaign
GLASGOW, 03 AUGUST 2026 (PMN)—-Sāmoa’s Alex Rose has narrowly missed another Commonwealth Games medal, finishing fourth in the men’s discus as Pacific athletes closed out a busy day of competition in Glasgow.
Rose threw 63.32 metres to finish just outside the medals in one of the final athletics events involving Pacific competitors.
Tonga’s Penisimani Taeiloa also featured in the final and was placed 11th with a best throw of 41.65m.
There were encouraging performances elsewhere on the track. Papua New Guinea’s Jerome Bunge produced a personal best of 9.05m to finish ninth in the men’s shot put.
Fiji distance runner Yeshnil Karan also ended his campaign on a high, clocking a season’s best 14:35.76 to finish 21st in the men’s 5000m final.
Solomon Islands teammates Leonu Pusua and Geejay Junior crossed the line in 24th and 25th respectively, with Pusua recording a personal best 16:16.18.
Papua New Guinea women’s 4x100m relay team finished fifth in their heat in 47.42 seconds, missing qualification for the final, while the men’s relay team did not finish.
In the judo competition, Sāmoa’s Peniamina Percival enjoyed the Pacific’s best result of the day, defeating Gibraltar’s Adam Stevens 3-0 in the men’s under-81kg elimination round.
His medal hopes ended with a loss to South Africa’s Timothy Mewwsen in the quarter-finals before he bowed out in the repechage against India’s Harsh Tokas.
Elsewhere, Solomon Islands judokas Alister Sukhamana and Georgina Samo George were eliminated in their opening contests while Nauru’s Hamray Temaki also exited in the first round.
Lawn bowls continued to provide positive results for the Pacific with Tonga’s men’s pairs opening their campaign with a win over Pakistan.
In the women’s singles, Fiji’s Elizabeth Moceiwai shared the points with Kenya’s Eunice Wambui Mbugua while Tonga’s Milika Nathan defeated Namibia’s Diana Viljoen to continue her strong tournament.
Attention now turns to the final day of competition with Tonga’s Paula Monta and Fiji’s Gerard Takayawa both chasing places in the men’s over-100kg judo draw.
Monta faces Seychelles’ Alexander Quilindo in his opening bout while Takayawa meets Northern Ireland’s Adam Hall.
Away from the Pacific teams, Jamaica produced one of the biggest upsets of the Games by edging defending champions Australia 46-45 to book a place in the women’s netball gold medal match against New Zealand’s Silver Ferns.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony will be held on Monday 03 August , bringing the 11-day sporting celebration to a close after another memorable campaign for Pacific athletes….PACNEWS
FIJI – RUGBY: FBC SPORTS PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Fijian Drua head coach Mooar looking to build on strong foundations
NADI, 03 AUGUST 2026 (FBC SPORTS)—Fijian Drua head coach Brad Mooar believes the club is already in a strong position and is determined to build on the foundations laid by former coaches Mick Byrne and Glen Jackson.
Mooar said the Drua’s existing strengths, particularly the quality of its players, provide an ideal platform for future success.
“I always start from a position of strength, and this privilege of the role that I’m now in comes off the back of Mick Byrne and Glen Jackson doing some excellent work with the Drua already.”
The New Zealander described the Drua squad as one of the most naturally gifted groups in Super Rugby Pacific and says his role will be to help maximise that talent.
“We have wonderful athletes, strong, fast, skilful, powerful athletes. What we need to do is make sure we bring them together and give them real clarity of role and clarity of what we’re about as a team.”
While maintaining Fiji’s trademark attacking flair, Mooar says strengthening the team’s set piece and defence will be key priorities.
“Ensuring that we have a really strong set piece and an aggressive, strong defence that is built on defending our people, defending our village, will be key roles for us to get right going forward.”
He believes those areas will complement the natural attacking ability already within the squad as the Drua looks to become a consistent Super Rugby Pacific contender….PACNEWS
FIJI – RUGBY LEAGUE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Potter keeps things simple
SUVA, 03 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji Bati head coach Mick Potter believes unity and strong preparations would boost their chances of upsetting either Australia or New Zealand during the pool games of this this year’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC).
This is nothing new to Potter as he has guided the Bati to upset New Zealand 4-2 during the quarterfinal of the 2017 RLWC in Wellington.
“I’ve spoken to most of the players and we’re working through our plans,” Potter told SUNsports.
“At the moment the players are committed to their clubs, so we’ll bring the squad together once their competition finish and prepare them for the World Cup.”
Potter said his message to the players would be simple.
“I want them to give 100 per cent and do their best,” he added.
Potter also welcomed the appointment of assistant coaches Wes Naiqama, Kevin Naiqama and Jarryd Hayne, saying their experience would strengthen the national side.
“Wes has spent a long time in the NRL and Jarryd has outstanding rugby league knowledge. Kevin will bring leadership, cultural understanding and physicality to training. Together they give us a good balance.”
Potter said he told the players awaiting eligibility clearance that it would become available before the tournament.
“There are three players we’re still waiting on. If they get the green light, they’ll be great additions to the squad.”
He added that building strong connections within the team would be a major focus.
“I want the players to stay close, work together and develop the way they want to play within our game plan. We have talented players and an experienced coaching staff, so I’m confident we’ll put together a strategy capable of challenging the tier-one nations.”
Fiji has been drawn alongside Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands in Pool B.
Potter said he was eager to return to the Bati environment and that the Bati would need to upset at least one of the two rugby league heavyweights to reach the knockout stage.
“We know it’s possible because Fiji has done it before. The players have to believe they can do it, and we’ll do everything we can to make that happen,” he added…. PACNEWS
AUST – RUGBY: RUGBY.COM.AU PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
2026 Force Academy Awards winners revealed
PERTH, 03 AUGUST 2026 (RUGBY.COM.AU)—The Western Force celebrated the Club’s next generation of emerging talent with the second-ever Force Academy Awards at Clancy’s Fish Bar in City Beach on Saturday night.
Cottesloe tighthead prop Regin Pratt was crowned as the Academy MVP for 2026, having made an impressive impact at club level and during the Super Rugby Next Gen series in February.
Queensland-raised Pratt only joined the Force Academy last year, but impressed quickly, earning the award voted by staff and players.
Kalamunda back Fatani Fatanitavake claimed the Academy Rookie of the Year gong, following an impressive 12 months within the program.
Fatanitavake has come through the RugbyWA pathway, being part of the Force Under-19s last year.
Wanneroo scrum-half Tamarangi Tunui was voted by staff and players as the Maali Man, awarded for upholding the values of the Academy….PACNEWS
AUST – RUGBY: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Lomax still in Wallabies World Cup selection frame
SYDNEY, 03 AUGUST 2026 (AAP)—Zac Lomax will remain a crucial Rugby World Cup selection consideration for the Wallabies despite being about to desert the code, Les Kiss has confirmed.
The Wallabies coach was unfazed by news of the code-hopping winger doubling back to NRL to play for the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
Kiss said previously that Lomax at full throttle would put competitive pressure on an already souped-up Australian back line that would invigorate the squad in the months ahead.
And as he prepares for his maiden Test outing against Japan in Osaka next Saturday, the coach confirmed the thinking around the livewire winger had not changed.
“Competitive pressure in the right way makes everyone better,” Kiss told reporters in Sydney last Friday before their departure.
“He’s a pretty good footy player, he’s a pretty good athlete too. He’s hungry to try and do what he can in the game.”
The former St George Illawarra, Parramatta and NSW Origin talent is sidelined with a groin injury, but Kiss hoped to get some mileage out of him during the Super Rugby AUS tournament starting in September.
“He’s in the system,” Kiss said.
“He’s closer to being ready, and unleash him in Super AUS to get a few games and see where he is.
“I think he wants to find out where he is as well, and he’s going to go gung-ho for it.”
Lomax was still professing his dream to play for the Wallabies while in PNG this week to lock down his 2028 signing.
He declared his heart and soul was dedicated to rugby union and the task of getting fit in preparation for donning the gold jersey.
A utility back famed for his aerial prowess, Lomax faces stiff competition for a place in the Wallabies rear guard.
He will likely be jostling with starters Harry Potter, Dylan Pietsch, Filipo Daugunu and Max Jorgensen who have earned their stripes on the wing for Australia, while Mark Nawaqanitawase and Jordan Petaia will both push their cases in Japanese club rugby next season.
Angus Crichton, likely to play in the centres, will also cross codes next season which could shift current No.13 Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii into the backline and create a bigger log-jam for spots.
Kiss affirmed the abundance of talent was not a setback.
“It makes it hard to make selections there, which I need, I need it to be tough,” Kiss said on Friday.
“We’ve got a lot of good men in the back three, and if he gets better and better and puts pressure on those guys to be better, then I’m all for it.”
Kiss takes over a Wallabies team currently ranked eighth in the world that’s won just two of its last 11 Tests ahead of next year’s World Cup on home soil.
But skipper Harry Wilson, who played under Kiss at the Queensland Reds, insisted the men in gold were with the new coach all the way.
“We’re all buying in,” Wilson said.
“He’s had such good energy coming in, and you can see his excitement and passion for coaching his country.
“All the boys have loved that and they’ve really jumped on that passion.””
Kiss said flyhalf Carter Gordon, back in the squad after missing the last two Tests with a leg injury, had trained fully and would be available to face Japan…..PACNEWS
AUST – RUGBY LEAGUE: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Unwanted slice of Tigers history beckons for Benji
SYDNEY, 03 AUGUST 2026 (AAP)—Benji Marshall will consider whether to use the final four rounds of Wests Tigers’ season to look to the future as he aims to avoid finishing 2026 with the worst win rate of any permanent head coach in the club’s history.
Marshall’s side slumped to a 16-13 loss to Parramatta on Sunday and sit 16th, and after a run of seven consecutive defeats are only being kept off bottom by St George Illawarra.
The Tigers, who are out of finals contention and boast the worst defence in the NRL, are on a bye this week before finishing with games against the Dragons, Sydney Roosters, North Queensland and Penrith.
But if his side fails to show signs of life, Marshall is in danger of surpassing Terry Lamb as the worst permanent coach in the club’s history.
Lamb won just 32 percent of his 50 games at the helm in the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
After Sunday’s loss, Marshall has just 22 wins from 67 games in charge for a win rate of 32.8 percent.
Marshall, who signed an extension until 2030 last December, was given public backing from Tigers chair Barry O’Farrell last week.
Asked if he would use the four remaining games of the Tigers’ season to blood players on the fringes of his NRL squad with an eye to 2027, Marshall said: “We’ll have a conversation with what it looks like again this week.
“The bye gives us a good chance to just take a breath and have a look at the final four weeks and what the priorities are moving forward and make a plan accordingly.
“To be honest with you, I want to win as many games as possible to finish the season. That’s the first priority. How that looks, we’ll see.”
One of player who might come into consideration for some time off is fullback Jahream Bula, who has been playing the back half of the year with a shoulder issue and hasn’t scored since May.
Jarome Luai will leave next year to join Parramatta on a one-season deal before heading off to be the face of the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
Luai was quiet in the defeat to the Eels and shouldered the blame for the Tigers’ rudderless attack.
Marshall’s men have scored just 45 points in their past six games.
“We’ve got to block out the noise and I think within our four walls, we’ve got a lot of trust in what we’re doing and what we’re building,” Luai said.
“I think we’re getting a lot of good looks there and when your confidence is a bit down, the execution’s not quite there,” he said……PACNEWS
SWITZ – FOOTBALL: INSIDE THE GAMES PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
FIFA president ‘has lost the confidence’ of football community
ZURICH, 03 AUGUST 2026 (INSIDE THE GAMES) —FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s authority has come under renewed scrutiny after UEFA issued what amounted to an unprecedented vote of no confidence, even as the embattled chief scrapped plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup.
“No option should be off the table,” said the European governing body, hinting at possibly ending Infantino’s term.
“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”
The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean football called for accountability, saying: “A proposal of this magnitude does not reach that stage by accident. It is a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first. This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour. A full review of this leadership must now take place.”
While the controversial deal may not have reached the negotiation stage by accident; it seems that Infantino left football’s stakeholders in the dark. The project, creating a multi-billion dollar commercial entity called FIFA Forward Enterprises to capitalise on football’s premier event, surfaced through the press on Tuesday and took members and senior staff by surprise.
Unions expressed their “deep concerns about the lack of due process”, while FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, confirmed to the Associated Press that it was a “project of one person.” Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, an adviser on the White House Task Force for the 2026 World Cup, went as far as to resign, stressing that he cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling stakes in the World Cup. “Let me be clear. I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally,” Cordeiro said, while calling the proposal ‘a bad deal for football”.
While the football community made it clear that the game was not Infantino’s to sell, deeper concerns emerged over the commercial entity’s proposal to invite “third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments”, earmarking Thrive Eternal as the leading proposed investor group. The venture capital firm was founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared, Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Infantino’s close relationship with the U.S President has already come into question several times, beginning with the FIFA president’s other seemingly ‘solo project’ — the FIFA Peace Prize— which he awarded to Trump in December 2025.
A few months later, Infantino would join Trump in the inaugural meeting of the ‘Board of Peace’ to announce a comprehensive recovery programme for Gaza, Palestine, through football. The Swiss administrator’s actions brought criticism from both the sporting world and human rights activists. FairSquare submitted an official complaint to the International Olympic Committee, which was later backed by the Norwegian Football Federation, on whether Infantino “breached the rules on political neutrality by awarding this Peace Prize.”
The United States’ co-hosting of the 2026 World Cup brought Trump and Infantino together, who first met in 2018 to discuss the event. While football’s flagship event could have highlighted the benefits of their close collaboration, the tournament —which unfolded between June and July of this year— painted a different picture.
Despite FIFA being assured that the U.S State Department had promised that all eligible athletes, officials and fans from qualified nations would be permitted to attend, visa issues prevented not only supporters from entering the North American nation, but also a referee, support staff, and even made it difficult for the players themselves.
Then came the call that made the football world see red. Team USA forward Folarin Balogun was sent off during the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. The red card carried a one-match suspension and would have ruled him out of the next match against Belgium, but FIFA later suspended the ban for a one-year probationary period, without overturning the dismissal, after Trump personally called Infantino and asked to review the sanction. FairSquare added the incident to its list of complaints, which the IOC rejected as ‘outside its scope’.
With the fallout of the World Cup incidents far from dying down, the busy FIFA president took the time to address the criticism. Infantino told social media warriors “spreading hate and false rumours” that while they criticised the organisation, FIFA was working hard “delivering the best show on earth”.
“While you hide, we are exploring the streets of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, talking with fans, engaging with people, and ensuring everyone’s safety — While you divide, we unite,” the FIFA president underscored.
Only days after his message of unity, Infantino would create one of the biggest rifts yet, with his breakout enterprise, which he neither consulted nor engaged anyone about. Failing to garner backing from the 211 member federations and the 37-member Council, Infantino scrapped the plan, saying “it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.”
The lucrative project may not have been supported by the federations, but Infantino did manage to unite the community — against his leadership.
“It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations and with the long-term stewardship of football at its heart,” the English Football Association said.
The Dutch Football Association said the episode had created a ‘fundamental breach of trust in the leadership’ of Infantino, while Lise Klaveness, the president of the Football Association of Norway, explained that “the entire framework of international football cooperation was unnecessarily put at risk in pursuit of individual interests rather than the best interests of the game.”
“In the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again. That review should be thorough and fundamental,” the continental pledged……PACNEWS
S/AFRICA – RUGBY: AFP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 03 Aug 2026
Full-scale tour will benefit All Blacks, says coach Rennie
CAPE TOWN, 03 AUGUST 2026 (AFP)—New Zealand’s first full-scale rugby tour of South Africa in 30 years will have significant benefits for them, head coach Dave Rennie said in Cape Town next Friday.
He was speaking on the sidelines of an All Blacks welcome event at Cape Town Stadium, the venue for the team’s opening match against the Stormers on Friday.
The All Blacks will play against South Africa’s four major professional franchises as well as four Tests against the world champion Springboks.
South Africa edged the All Blacks 12-11 in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final to win the competition a record fourth time.
After three Tests in South Africa from 22 August, the teams will travel to Baltimore in the United States for the final clash on 12 September.
“It’s completely different from a World Cup,” said Rennie. “We’ll be playing the same team four times, so you review and preview and hopefully learn a few things and hopefully do things better in the next game.
“We’ve got midweek games so everyone gets a chance to play. Sometimes when you’re away on tour some guys will train but never get a chance to wear the jersey. So playing the provincial sides is great for the whole squad.”
Rennie, 62, said he was pleased with the form of the All Blacks since becoming head coach in March. Like the Springboks, the All Blacks took full points from their first three matches in the new Nations Championship.
Their wins included an impressive victory against a powerful Ireland team, but Rennie downplayed their achievement.
“We’re building, we’re a new side. We’ve got a lot of new staff and we’ve got a lot of new young players. It was a good performance, but we’re well aware of how tough this challenge is.” Rennie said he was impressed with the depth of the Springboks.
“The team they put out against Scotland had a lot of changes,” said Rennie. “Scotland are an excellent side, but they (South Africa) won convincingly.”
The only member of the 44-man squad not yet in Cape Town is Test captain Ardie Savea, who has been given time off after “a massive workload”
The loose forward will arrive before the first Test in Johannesburg on 22 August.
Hooker Codie Taylor, the tour captain until Savea arrives, said he was surprised by the number of All Blacks supporters who turned up for the welcome event.
A crowd of more than 2,000, many wearing All Blacks jerseys, gave the New Zealanders a raucous welcome.
“I knew we had fans here, but I didn’t expect this much support,” said Taylor.
It is the first full tour involving rugby’s two leading nations since the All Blacks visited South Africa in 1996, and became the first New Zealand team to win a series in the republic.
The upcoming series renews a tradition of reciprocal tours which started when South Africa toured New Zealand in 1921.
There have been six series in New Zealand and six in South Africa.
Touring teams have won only one series each on foreign soil — South Africa in New Zealand in 1937 and the All Blacks in South Africa in 1996….PACNEWS
