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      World Cup final venue revealed with never-seen-before element for showpiece after beating rival stadiums

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      THE 2026 World Cup final is now set to be played indoors — after Fifa chiefs agreed Dallas’ AT&T Stadium will host the biggest game in football.Tournament chiefs will confirm more details about the first 48-team World Cup next month following a meeting in London this week.
      The 2026 World Cup will take place in America, Canada and MexicoCredit: AP
      The final of the tournament will take place at the AT&T Stadium in DallasCredit: GETTY
      SunSport has been told that the home of the Dallas Cowboys has beaten New York’s MetLife Stadium to host the showpiece.
      The Texan city will also be the main base for Fifa — rather than the other options of New York and Miami.
      Fifa is aiming to complete the 72-game group phase in 15 days, meaning up to five matches back to back in the first two rounds of games, with all teams guaranteed four days’ rest.
      But it remains unclear if identifying the eight third-place sides to go through to the knock-out phase will see Fifa split the tournament into two distinct halves to ensure sufficient rest for all teams.
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      The revised World Cup will feature a whopping 104 matches.
      The controversial and drastic change to the tournament format – which will be held in Mexico and Canada as well as the USA- was revealed by Fifa chiefs.
      A statement said: “Based on a thorough review that considered sporting integrity, player welfare, team travel, commercial and sporting attractiveness, as well as team and fan experience, the Fifa Council unanimously approved the proposed amendment to the Fifa World Cup 2026 competition format from 16 groups of three to 12 groups of four.
      With the top two and eight best third-placed teams progressing to a round of 32.
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      Gianni Infantino has claimed the 2026 World Cup will ‘change the balance in football’Credit: GETTY
      “The revised format mitigates the risk of collusion and ensures that all the teams play a minimum of three matches, while providing balanced rest time between competing teams.”
      After the confirmation of the hosts for the competition, Fifa bigwig Gianni Infantino said: “Congratulations for the qualification of Mexico, Canada and the United States, who already qualified for this [FIFA] World Cup last week through the FIFA Council’s decision.
      “But in addition to those three, three more Concacaf teams will qualify for sure, and possibly even five.”
      President Infantino added: “This next World Cup in North America is going to be the World Cup of America.
      “It’s going to be the World Cup that will change the balance in football, because we are going to focus our work in this part of the world.” More

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      How captains voted at Fifa The Best awards with Cristiano Ronaldo’s team-mate typically snubbing Lionel Messi

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      LIONEL MESSI scooped Fifa’s The Best Men’s Player award for 2023 last night after captains, coaches and media voted him as the winner.And the Argentina superstar took home the prize in spite of a few snubs including one from Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal team-mate Pepe.
      Lionel Messi was voted The Best Fifa Men’s Player of 2023Credit: AFP
      The star wasn’t at the awards ceremony to collect his trophyCredit: Getty
      National team captains from every nation get to cast their vote for who they think had the best campaign in 2023 – choosing their top three candidates in order.
      And Messi narrowly came out on top over second place Erling Haaland.
      Messi himself chose Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and compatriot Julian Alvarez as his top three candidates.
      While Mbappe – who finished third – voted for Messi in first place alongside Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
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      Haaland was unable to cast a vote as he isn’t the captain of his national team, Norway.
      However his Norwegian skipper and Premier League rival Martin Odegaard made sure he voted for the City striker in first place.
      While Cristiano Ronaldo was nowhere to be seen in the voting, the awards or at the ceremony.
      But his Portugal team-mate Pepe still made a nod to Ronaldo’s feud with Messi by omitting him from his three votes for the award.
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      Pepe instead cast his votes for Bernardo Silva, Haaland and Victor Osimhen.
      Elsewhere other big names in world football made sure their votes counted with England captain Harry Kane choosing Messi, Haaland and Bernardo Silva.
      While Virgil van Dijk chose Messi, Haaland and De Bruyne for his votes as captain of the Netherlands.
      National team managers were also able to put forward their choices for the best three players with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate choosing Man City trio Haaland, Rodri and Bernardo Silva ahead of any of his own players.
      The awards evening saw Aitana Bonmati win the Fifa Best Women’s Player of the year while England boss Sarina Wiegman won the Fifa Best Women’s Coach of 2023.
      Pep Guardiola was honoured with the Fifa Best Men’s Coach while his Man City Goalkeeper Ederson won the award for the Fifa Best Men’s Goalkeeper for 2023.
      And there was even more success for English football as Mary Earps won a second consecutive Fifa Best Women’s Goalkeeper.
      How the captains voted
      Lionel Messi: Haaland, Mbappe, Alvarez
      Kylian Mbappe: Messi, Haaland, De Bruyne
      Martin Odegaard: Haaland, Messi, Mbappe
      Harry Kane: Messi, Haaland, Bernardo Silva
      Pepe: Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Osimhen
      Casemiro: Haaland, Messi, Mbappe
      Son Heung-Min: Messi, Haaland, Mbappe
      Virgil van Dijk: Messi, Haaland, De Bruyne
      Andy Robertson: Messi, Haaland, Mbappe
      Luka Modric: Messi, Rodri, Marcelo Brozović
      Mohamed Salah: Messi, De Bruyne, Haaland
      Jonny Evans: Messi, Mbappe, Haaland
      Seamus Coleman: De Bruyne, Haaland, Messi
      Robert Lewandowski: Messi, Ilkay Gundogan, Haaland
      Granit Xhaka: Messi, Haaland, Mbappe

      Read the full list of who voted for who here.
      Cristiano Ronaldo’s international team-mate Pepe snubbed a vote for Lionel MessiCredit: Sunday Times
      Aitana Bonmati received The Best Fifa Women’s Player awardCredit: AFP
      Pep Guardiola was named as the best men’s coach for his treble winning campaign with Man CityCredit: Getty
      Mary Earps has won back-to-back awards for the best women’s keeperCredit: Getty
      Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman was named as the best women’s coachCredit: Getty More

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      Fans claim Fifa Best Award is ‘rigged’ as Real Madrid legend Casillas says organisers ‘are not doing things fairly’

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      REAL MADRID legend Iker Casillas has hit out after former rival Lionel Messi won Fifa’s The Best award.The Argentine was rewarded for winning the World Cup and the MLS Leagues Cup.
      Lionel Messi picked up Fifa’s The Best award for a third timeCredit: Getty
      Iker Casillas claimed Messi’s win was unfairCredit: AFP
      He picked up his eighth Ballon d’Or gong in October and clinched Fifa’s The Best prize despite finishing level on points with Erling Haaland.
      The pair each scored 48 points but Messi takes home the award for the third time as he got more captain votes than Manchester City star Haaland.
      Casillas, 42, felt that was unfair and slammed the award organisers while coming up for an alternative name for the prize.
      He tweeted: “You create some nice prizes and you are taking them away by not doing things fairly. ‘The Smile’ more like. Anyway, goodnight!”
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      Fans largely agreed with the Spaniard and accused Fifa of “rigging” the award.
      One reacted to Messi’s win saying: “Messi rigged another trophy what a surprise.”
      Another added: “Haaland robbed.”
      A third wrote: “How does a guy who scored a couple useless goal make it ahead of a serial winner who has won with club and country.”
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      And another commented: “All rigged for Messi.”
      Haaland scored 50 goals in 2023 and helped City to a historic Treble in his first season at the club.
      Kylian Mbappe also had a memorable year, finding the net 52 times as Paris Saint-Germain won Ligue Un. More

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      Arsenal legend Thierry Henry brutally trolls Tottenham at Fifa The Best awards as fans say ‘gotta love The King’

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      ARSENAL legend Thierry Henry brutally trolled Tottenham with a cheeky dig at the The Best Fifa Football Awards. The Gunners icon hosted the event alongside presenter and Spurs fan Reshmin Chowdhury.
      Thierry Henry and Reshmin Chowdhury hosting The Best Fifa Football AwardsCredit: EPA
      And Henry was on hand to accept the Best Men’s Player of the Year award on behalf of his ex-Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi.
      But it soon turned into the chance to aim a dig Tottenham’s way.
      Henry said: “Someone is going to have to take the trophy. I actually have two reasons for taking it. I never won it, so I’ll keep it.”
      Henry then turned to Chowdhury and asked: “You are a Tottenham fan right?’ To which his co-host confirmed.
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      He then cheekily added: “That’s the other reason, as you do not usually get your hands on a trophy, so I’ll take this one.”
      Henry’s comment soon went viral with dozens of Gooners hailing the Premier League great.
      One said: “Gotta love the King.”
      Another added: “Long live the King. Once a Gunner always a Gunner.”
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      One gushed: “Absolute Legend.”
      Henry won a pair league titles and FA Cups at Arsenal before leaving the club for Barca in 2006 after eight years, 377 games and 228 goals.
      With Messi in Spain, they won the LaLiga title twice and in 2009 became Champions League winners together.
      The Argentine superstar is still goig strong and took home the night’s prestigious player of the year award and also made World 11 for the 17th year in a row. More

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      Lionel Messi only won Fifa The Best gong thanks to little-known rule after finishing level on points with Erling Haaland

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      LIONEL MESSI pipped Erling Haaland to Fifa’s The Best award thanks to a little-known rule.The pair finished with the same number of votes from national team captains, managers, a media panel and fan vote for the gong.
      Lionel Messi beat Erling Haaland to Fifa’s The Best award thanks to a little-known ruleCredit: Getty
      Haaland finished on the same number of points as Messi after the votes were talliedCredit: Reuters
      However, it was Messi who won The Best men’s player trophy for a record third time.
      Both he and Haaland scored 48 points once the votes had been tallied, ahead of third nominee Kylian Mbappe on 35 points.
      Of his votes, though, Messi had more from the national team captains to see him named winner on the tiebreak.
      England skipper Harry Kane was amongst those to pick the World Cup winner ahead of Haaland.
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      Messi was not present at Monday’s ceremony to collect his award, though, with host Thierry Henry collecting the trophy on his behalf.
      The 36-year-old started 2023 with Paris Saint-Germain before a summer move to MLS side Inter Miami in the summer.
      He scored nine goals for PSG as they won Ligue 1 last season, which he followed with 10 strikes in seven games to inspire Inter Miami to the inaugural Leagues Cup.
      As for Haaland, the Norwegian’s 36 Premier League goals in 2022-23 saw him win the European Golden Boot.
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      Across all competitions, the City striker scored a club-record 52 goals as he helped power Pep Guardiola’s side to the treble.
      Elsewhere at Monday’s ceremony, Spain’s Aitana Bonmati was named the best women’s player.
      City’s Pep Guardiola and Ederson picked up the men’s coach and goalkeeper gongs.
      Meanwhile, Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman claimed the best women’s coach award, with Mary Earps named best goalkeeper. More

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      Alessia Russo & Ella Toone stun in see-through outfits as Lionesses dominate Team of the Year XI at Fifa The Best awards

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      ALESSIA RUSSO and Ella Toone both rocked see-through outfits at Fifa’s The Best awards on Monday night.The England duo stunned on the green carpet as the Lionesses dominated the Fifpro Women’s World XI at the glitzy bash.
      Alessia Russo stunned in a see-through outfit at Fifa’s The Best AwardsCredit: AP
      Ella Toone also rocked a see-through look as she posed on the green carpetCredit: Getty
      Russo and Toone were both named in the Fifpro Women’s World XICredit: Rex
      Russo and Toone were pictured in striking black outfits at The Apollo Theatre.
      Arsenal forward Russo wore her hair in a bun as she posed in a glittering all-in-one dress.
      Meanwhile, best pal Toone’s sleeveless look featured feathered shoulders, which she paired with a matching bag.
      Fans praised their style choices on social media, with one writing: “Alessia Russo. That’s the tweet.”
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      Another added: “Alessia Russo, you’re everything.”
      A third fan also commented: “Ella Toone looks absolutely stunning tonight.”
      Both players were included in the Fifpro Women’s World XI alongside five of their England team-mates.
      Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh and Lauren James were also rewarded for their Women’s World Cup heroics.
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      Fans hailed Toone’s ‘stunning’ outfit at Monday’s awards ceremonyCredit: Getty
      Russo was dubbed ‘everything’ by one fan on social mediaCredit: Getty
      Spain’s Olga Carmona and Aitana Bonmati, as well as forwards Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr completed the line-up.
      The Lionesses reached the final last summer before a heart-breaking defeat to Spain.
      Russo scored three times during England’s campaign, whilst Toone opened the scoring in the semi-final win over co-hosts Australia.
      Manager Sarina Wiegman was also rewarded by being named best women’s coach for a fourth time.
      As for Earps, she won best women’s goalkeeper ahead of Spain’s Cata Coll and Australia keeper Mackenzie Arnold.
      The Manchester United stopper picked up the award for the second year running after saving a penalty in the World Cup final.
      Meanwhile, Manchester City dominated the Fifpro Men’s World XI with six of their stars making the team.
      John Stones, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland – beaten to the main individual prize by Lionel Messi – were all included from the treble winners.
      Real Madrid trio Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr also featured alongside Kylian Mbappe and Messi.
      Mary Earps was named best women’s goalkeeper at the awards showCredit: Getty
      Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman also picked up the best women’s coach awardCredit: Getty More

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      Erling Haaland’s dad looks furious as Lionel Messi beats Man City superstar and Kylian Mbappe to Fifa The Best award

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      ERLING HAALAND surprisingly missed out on Fifa’s The Best Men’s Player award to Lionel Messi – leaving his dad clenching his jaw.Haaland led City to a stunning Treble triumph last season with a staggering total of 52 goals and nine assists in 53 appearances.
      Man City superstar Haaland missed out on Fifa’s The Best Men’s Player awardCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi beat Haaland to the award much to the surprise of manyCredit: Reuters
      Haaaland’s father Alf-Inge looked furious by the outcomeCredit: FS2
      The star striker’s incredible performances saw him finishing as top scorer in the Premier League as well as the Champions League.
      However, Messi still beat the Norway international to the prestigious award, even though he now plays in the MLS for Inter Miami.
      The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also bested a prestigious list of candidates, including Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.
      Haaland’s City team-mates Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Bernardo Silva were also nominated.
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      The list also included Marcelo Brozovic, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Ilkay Gundogan, who played with the 23-year-old at the Etihad last season.
      And Haaland’s dad – ex-City ace Alf-Inge – couldn’t hide his frustration after the Argentina international was handed the award.
      The camera caught the former City ace looking stony faced with furrowed brow as other attendees applauded the Barcelona legend.
      And some football fans agree with the ex-Leeds star’s reaction in the capital.
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      One supporter tweeted: “Feel bad for Haaland man. His dad was even p****d….”
      Another posted: “Haaland not winning a single award after winning all this has to be one the biggest robberies in football history.”
      A third said: “I’ll say it again. Haaland should be winning these awards. Messi is a legend but Haaland came to a new league, smashed its goal record, and won a Treble.”
      This fan wrote: “What more does Haaland have to do?”
      And that one wondered: “If Erling Haaland had won the World Cup with Norway in December 2022 while Messi won the treble, who would have won both the Ballon d’Or and The Best Awards?”
      It wasn’t the only controversial moment of the evening, either – after Pep Guardiola accidentally dropped an F-bomb after an awkward grilling from Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
      Fifa The Best awards
      Men’s Player: Lionel Messi
      Men’s coach: Pep Guardiola
      Men’s XI: Thibaut Courtois; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias; Bernardo Silva, Jude Bellingham, Kevin de Bruyne; Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylina Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
      Goalkeeper: Ederson
      Women’s player: Aitana Bonmati
      Women’s coach: Sarina Wiegman
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      Women’s XI: Mary Earps; Lucy Bronze, Olga Carmona, Alex Greenwood; Keira Walsh, Alessia Russo, Lauren James, Ella Toone; Aitana Bonmati; Alex Morgan, Sam Kerr
      Women’s goalkeeper: Mary Earps More

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      Kyle Walker speaks ‘personally’ on stage at Fifa awards after being dumped by wife Annie Kilner over Lauryn Goodman baby

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      KYLE Walker last night spoke “personally” on stage at a Fifa awards show – after being dumped by his wife Annie Kilner over his baby with Lauryn Goodman.The Manchester City defender appeared at the Best FIFA Football Awards at the Apollo Theatre in London.
      Kyle Walker spoke ‘personally’ at a Fifa awards showCredit: .
      He appeared on stage with Pep Guardiola and Ruben DiasCredit: .
      Kyle Walker is attending the Best FIFA Football Awards at the Apollo TheatreCredit: ©Karwai Tang
      The star posed for an official photo portrait before the galaCredit: Getty
      Walker has been dumped by his long-suffering wife Annie KilnerCredit: Getty
      The Manchester City defender fathered a second love child with Lauryn GoodmanCredit: Getty
      He arrived alongside his son Roman, whom he shares with his estranged wife Annie Kilner.
      Walker was named in the FIFA FIFPRO’s Men’s World 11 alongside teammates Ruben Dias, John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.
      Manager Pep Guardiola was honoured as The Best FIFA Men’s Coach
      Walker went on stage to collect his award with fellow City defender Dias and Guardiola.
      Read More Kyle Walker
      He said: “First of all good evening everyone.
      “It’s a great honour to be here. Obviously personally, for me, for Ruben. We’re representing everyone. To honour the boss.
      “He doesn’t like me to call him boss, he likes me to call him Pep.
      “To work with Pep day in, day out for seven years now has been a great honour.
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      “He’s taught me a lot on the field. The player I was when I joined from Tottenham to now Man City is I’d say a great thing.
      “For me to be here on this stage with this trophy in my hand is a big success to him as well.”
      Before the event Walker posed for stylish snaps at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel in nearby Mayfair.
      It came hours after Annie was spotted for the first time since discovering Walker fathered a second love child with Lauryn Goodman.
      The long-suffering wife, 30, was pictured smiling behind the wheel of her luxury Mercedes 4×4 driving through Cheshire this morning.
      And yesterday, Walker and Annie – who is six months pregnant – were pictured together for the first time since the split as Annie handed over Roman in Prestbury, Cheshire.
      The bombshell Boxing Day revelation saw the love rat Manchester City defender, 33, turfed out of the family’s sprawling £2.5million pad.
      In an online statement Annie revealed the pair, who share three sons together, were splitting.
      She wrote: “I am posting this in response to growing recent media enquiries about my marriage to Kyle and in an effort to protect my family against the intensity of the media spotlight.
      “Sadly, after many years of marriage and three wonderful children together; I have decided to take some time away from Kyle.
      “I do not wish to comment on the position any further. For now, I ask that the privacy of myself and our three young children is respected during this difficult time.”
      And, her fuming dad has also begged her not to go back to the footballer – or he will disown her.
      Annie is considering divorce and has even hired Coleen Rooney’s victorious Wagatha Christie lawyer, Paul Lunt.
      It comes as Lauryn spoke in an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, and said she revealed the truth so they could all “live their lives like adults”.
      The emotional 32-year-old said: “I kept saying to Kyle, ‘You need to tell her.
      “You need to tell Annie that you are our daughter’s father and you are having a relationship with your children.
      “‘We need to start 2024 out in an open way. If everyone knows where they stand they can make their own adult choices in life’.
      “I didn’t want to cause any more heartache for Annie or be a b***h but I had to tell her because Kyle was too weak to do it.
      “There were hearings coming up surrounding our daughter, there was paperwork flying around and legal meetings had taken place and Annie needed to know the truth before something went public.
      “Kyle was happy hiding the truth because he was having two families and was scared about what would happen when Annie knew but I kept saying to him, ‘Our daughter can’t be a secret, she is a human’.
      “I didn’t want them to split up or cause harm but it had to be out in the open for all of our sakes.
      “When I told Annie, she was cool and calm.”
      But, now fresh text messages from Lauryn Goodman’s phone in July 2022 revealed she was “ready to finish” Walker’s marriage.
      She texted a pal: “Ready to finish them” — then added laughing and heart emojis.
      Another message read: “Ask him if he wants to go with me again? I’m down for baby number 2 [five laughing emojis].”
      A pal who sent the text messages to The Sun said: “Lauryn is insisting that she never interfered in their marriage, but I beg to differ — these messages to me say the complete opposite.”
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      Lauryn became pregnant three months later after a secret rendezvous with Walker in London and gave birth to a girl in July last year.
      The influencer also has a three-year-old son with Walker, from a brief relationship while he and Annie were apart.
      Walker dressed in a stylish black suitCredit: Getty
      The photoshoot took place at a fancy hotelCredit: Getty
      Walker was in London for an awards show in the West EndCredit: Getty More