Serbia, Sweden Follow Wales in Withdrawing Support for Infantino Re-Election

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. (AFP)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. (AFP)
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Serbia, Sweden Follow Wales in Withdrawing Support for Infantino Re-Election

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. (AFP)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. (AFP)

The national football federations of Serbia, Sweden and Wales withdrew their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino's re-election bid on Monday and England's is expected to do the same. 

The backlash against the head of world football's ruling body has intensified following his failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. 

FIFA's proposal to unlock up to $4.2 billion from private investors by selling a roughly 20% stake in a new entity overseeing competitions including the World Cup ended in retreat on Friday after fierce resistance from stakeholders. 

"The Football Association of Serbia has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino for a new term as President of FIFA," the federation said in a statement. 

"We remind that we ‌provided Mr. Infantino ‌with our support on May 25 of this year in written form, but ‌after ⁠carefully reviewing the ⁠events that, in the recent period, have seriously damaged the image and reputation of both FIFA and its President, this is the only logical and rational decision." 

Sweden followed suit. 

"At an extraordinary board meeting on Monday, SvFF has chosen not to support FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the upcoming re-election," the Swedish federation said. 

"This is after a long-term assessment of the development within FIFA and the organization's leadership. The decision is based on recurring shortcomings in governance, transparency and management, which means that trust in Gianni Infantino's leadership no longer exists." 

Earlier, Wales became the first national federation ⁠to formally withdraw its support for Infantino. 

"The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms ‌its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr. Gianni Infantino, ‌for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027 to 2031 term," the Welsh FA said in a statement. 

"The recent failures ‌in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a ‌position where Mr. Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football. 

"Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept."  

England's FA will also withdraw its support for Infantino, a source familiar with the organization said. 

INFANTINO SEEKS SUPPORT OF TRUMP 

Infantino has sought support from US President Donald Trump, ‌the New York Post reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter. 

The Post said Infantino had repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump by phone ⁠since the proposal collapsed ⁠on Friday, and that the FIFA chief felt "isolated" by an avalanche of negative media coverage. 

FIFA had no immediate comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. 

Infantino is under unprecedented pressure after regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF said on Saturday they had lost confidence in his leadership. 

European soccer's governing body, which led the backlash to Infantino's plans and welcomed the decision to scrap them, did not confirm media reports that it was preparing to take legal action against FIFA over the issue. 

UEFA said it had sent a document preservation order, which stops the destruction of emails, files, or data when an investigation is expected. 

Infantino said in April that he intended to seek re-election for a fourth term as FIFA chief. Since taking over from his Swiss compatriot Sepp Blatter in 2016, Infantino has been re-elected unopposed twice. 

While his re-election for the 2027 to 2031 term had appeared a formality, experts told Reuters the fallout from the failed proposal exposed dissatisfaction among FIFA members and could complicate his path before the Congress in Morocco in March. 



Formula 1 to Return to Africa with Rwanda Grand Prix in Early 2030s

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands leads the field after the start of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race in Singapore, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands leads the field after the start of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race in Singapore, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
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Formula 1 to Return to Africa with Rwanda Grand Prix in Early 2030s

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands leads the field after the start of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race in Singapore, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands leads the field after the start of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race in Singapore, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Formula 1 announced on Tuesday that Rwanda will host a race from “the early 2030s” when the series returns to Africa after about 40 years.

The African Grand Prix will have a 10-year contract and take place at a track in Bugesera, southeast of the capital Kigali. F1 said the purpose-built track will be ready “early in the next decade.”

"Today is a landmark moment for Formula One," F1 president Stefano Domenicali said in a statement.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said at a launch event in Kigali that it was "a success and a milestone for the entire continent, especially for the African fans,” adding he hoped it could lead to more F1 events in Africa.

Racing in Africa will fulfil a long-held ambition for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the only Black driver in F1. The 41-year-old British driver has said he has been “fighting in the background” for years to have a race in Africa.

"With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade our sport will race in every inhabited continent, bringing the world championship closer than ever to fans around the globe,” said Domenicali.

“Africa has always been part of Formula 1’s future, and from the beginning we were determined to return in the right way, with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact,” he added.

Rwanda will become the third African country to host a round of the championship that started in 1950, with Morocco putting on a race outside Casablanca in 1958.


Swiatek Aiming to End Year on a Positive Note as WTA Finals Spot Hangs in Balance

Poland's Iga Swiatek serves to Belgium's Elise Mertens during their women's singles quarter-final match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 9, 2026. (Photo by Greg Baker / AFP)
Poland's Iga Swiatek serves to Belgium's Elise Mertens during their women's singles quarter-final match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 9, 2026. (Photo by Greg Baker / AFP)
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Swiatek Aiming to End Year on a Positive Note as WTA Finals Spot Hangs in Balance

Poland's Iga Swiatek serves to Belgium's Elise Mertens during their women's singles quarter-final match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 9, 2026. (Photo by Greg Baker / AFP)
Poland's Iga Swiatek serves to Belgium's Elise Mertens during their women's singles quarter-final match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 9, 2026. (Photo by Greg Baker / AFP)

Iga Swiatek has played at every edition of the WTA Finals since 2021, but with the Pole running out of time to claim a place at this year's season-ending tournament she knows the importance of going deep at her few remaining events.

The six-time major champion has won only one tournament this year at the Canadian Open in August and failed to advance beyond the quarter-final stage at all four Grand Slams.

The 25-year-old, who won the WTA Finals in 2023, is 10th in the qualifying table for the November 8-15 tournament ⁠at Indian Wells ⁠with only four of the eight spots still up for grabs.

She sits on 3,799 points, 111 behind Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in 9th place. Karolina Muchova, on 4,615 points, is the lowest-ranked player not to have sealed qualification.

"Obviously I'm aware of the situation and it would be great to ⁠get into the Finals, for sure it's our goal," Swiatek told reporters on Monday ahead of the Wuhan Open, according to Reuters.
"It's the first time I've faced a situation like that, to get into the finals.

"It's a challenge, but I feel like it's a positive one and I'm really motivated ... There are still a few tournaments ahead."

Swiatek said she had made some positive changes to her game under coach Francisco Roig, whom she appointed in April after parting ways with Wim ⁠Fissette.

"I needed ⁠to change some stuff, and Francisco has a really great idea for my game, and I feel like we're developing my game on the practice court quite a lot, and it's been good progress," she added.

"The US Open swing, for sure, was the most positive part of the season, so that shows that I'm going in the right direction."

Swiatek, who faces compatriot Magdalena Frech in her opening match in Wuhan on Wednesday, is also scheduled to compete at WTA 500 events in Ningbo and Tokyo before the WTA Finals slots are wrapped up.


Al-Nassr Defeats Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in AFC Champions League Elite

Al-Nassr defeated visiting Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite. (SPA)
Al-Nassr defeated visiting Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite. (SPA)
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Al-Nassr Defeats Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in AFC Champions League Elite

Al-Nassr defeated visiting Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite. (SPA)
Al-Nassr defeated visiting Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite. (SPA)

Al-Nassr defeated visiting Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana 3-1 at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite, the Saudi Press Agency said Monday.

Ângelo Gabriel opened the scoring for Al-Nassr in the 33rd minute, before Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, giving the Saudi side a 2-0 advantage at halftime.

Early in the second half, Alisher Odilov pulled one back for the Uzbek side in the 51st minute. Anvarjon Gofurov then scored an own goal to restore Al-Nassr’s two-goal cushion, securing a 3-1 victory.

The result earned Al-Nassr its first three points in the league stage, following a 4-0 defeat to the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain in the opening round. Neftchi Fergana remained on three points after opening its campaign with a 1-0 win over Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.