FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the opening match of the U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland amid the increasing pressure he faces due to his plans to privatize the commercial rights to the World Cup.
Infantino appeared in the stands, and was speaking with the President of the Polish Football Association, Cezary Kulesa, during Poland's match against Argentina, on Saturday, at the opening of the tournament.
Infantino has kept a low profile in the past few weeks after his plan to privatize World Cup rights faltered due to strong opposition from many countries and some FIFA officials.
European countries, which make up 25 percent of the teams participating in the Women's World Cup, backed off their threat to boycott the International Federation tournaments after assurances from FIFA that it would back down from its investment plans.
Infantino ignited the flames of anger against him on the part of senior football officials in July after the end of the 2026 World Cup, when the British newspaper The Times revealed his plan to create a $20 billion subsidiary that would control FIFA’s commercial rights, most notably the World Cup.
Infantino backed away from this plan after only 4 days after a severe attack by the European Football Association (UEFA), supported by the Asian Football Confederation and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF).
The plan to privatize World Cup rights was also subjected to sharp criticism from prominent FIFA officials.
Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic had chances to leave in the summer, but chose to stay to work with Ruben Amorim.
The Serbian international player, who is in his third season with Milan, wants to extend his contract, and reports indicate the possibility of reaching an agreement on a new contract in the coming weeks.
Pavlovic told Tuttosport: “Opportunities are always available, every summer, and they are available to all players, but I did not want to leave.”
He added, according to what was reported by the British News Agency: “When I spoke with Amorim for the first time, I realized that I was an important player for him. Renewal? “I am happy here and I want to stay.”
He continued: “He is still a young coach, and I admire him because it is clear that he understands what the players are thinking and feeling.”
Mercedes driver George Russell proved that he is the strongest competitor by recording the fastest time in the final free trials of the Italian Grand Prix in the Formula 1 World Championship on Saturday, while his title rival and former teammate Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari, the team that enjoys the encouragement of the local fans.
Russell, who is second overall and level on points with Hamilton but 2-1 ahead of him in wins, set the fastest time of 1 minute 22.219 seconds on the fastest track on the calendar and one of its most historically valuable.
As for Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, who is seeking to achieve his sixth victory in the Italian Grand Prix in Monza to set a record, he was 0.226 seconds slower in the “Temple of Speed”, which is an aerodynamic circuit where drivers seek to take advantage of the air drag of other drivers to increase their speed.
Russell's teammate Kimi Antonelli, the first Italian in 73 years to lead the championship at Monza, finished fourth. Max Verstappen, the race winner for Red Bull in 2025, came in third.
Antonelli, who has a 59-point lead over Russell and Hamilton, is scheduled to start from the end of the grid due to engine-related penalties, giving his rivals a great opportunity to close the gap with the leaders.
Russell was also fastest on Friday after Ferrari occupied first and second places in the first tests.
Lando Norris, the current world champion and McLaren driver and winner of the last two races, finished fifth, 0.406 behind the fastest, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was sixth.
Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad finished seventh followed by McLaren's Oscar Piastri, while Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto completed the top ten.
Hamilton and Verstappen almost collided in an accident at the end of testing after Hamilton overtook a Red Bull at the Parabolica corner before the Ferrari eventually veered off the track, causing stewards to take notes.
"He's the one who caused this," Verstappen said via the team's communication service. “Max held me back,” Hamilton said.
The top 12 drivers were all less than one second ahead of Russell.
