Although the World Cup is still far from over, Gianni Infantino is already ‘in talks’ with the US government over a huge change to the Club World Cup, which looks set to be hosted by dear friend Donald Trump’s nation in 2029 as things stand.

This summer’s tournament – which has been co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico – has been seen as a major success, and that has certainly prompted FIFA to look into improvements for other tournaments they organise in the future.

Last summer, Chelsea won the reformatted Club edition at MetLife Stadium. But if the Blues are to replicate their success again in three years’ time, then it will come in very different circumstances given the sweeping changes that are planned.

The Two Huge Changes FIFA Are Looking to Make For Club World Cup

As per the Guardian, FIFA’s desire to expand the Club World Cup to 48 teams in 2029 – reportedly supported by major European clubs – is a potential complicating factor for any other host bidders and could strengthen any US bid.

That huge change would reflect the expansion that the World Cup underwent this year, with the likes of Cape Verde and Curacao not only managing to make their tournament debuts, but also contributing to some special footballing narratives along the way after the former pushed Argentina to the wire in the Round of 32 before needing extra-time to be knocked out.

A more controversial call, however, could see the tournament moved from summer to winter, reflecting the unpopular Qatar 2022 edition. This would certainly go down poorly with clubs, who will want to keep their players as fit as possible in an already-congested football calendar.

It would also not go down with players, who are already considering a boycott if they are forced to play any more matches after UEFA expanded the Champions League two seasons ago.

FIFA Benefits From Allowing USA To Host 2029 Club World Cup

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

As per the same report, another North American tournament would also be the most lucrative option for FIFA, which has been vindicated in its aggressive pricing strategy for this World Cup, with most matches selling out. The governing body trialled the controversial dynamic ticking pricing model at last year’s Club World Cup, which generated revenue of $411m (£307m) from ticket sales and hospitality despite fluctuating demand.

It is unclear whether there has been any involvement in the discussions from the White House or ­Donald Trump’s World Cup taskforce, chaired by Andrew Giuliani, who on Wednesday hailed the success of this summer’s tournament. “Soccer is no longer a future American story,” Giuliani said. “It’s happening right now. There’s just so much demand to come to the United States to watch the World Cup.”

FIFA has almost doubled its sales record by selling 6.5m tickets for this World Cup, and is expected to exceed its revenue target of $11bn (£8.2bn), so it would welcome the US hosting another tournament, not least given its ties with the White House, which has raised questions throughout.

Irish superstar Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon for the first time in five years on Saturday night.

The Notorious hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in his loss to Dustin Poirier in their lightweight collision at UFC 264 in July 2021.

However, when he makes his comeback against Max Holloway in Las Vegas at UFC 329, he will do so with a markedly different physique to the last time he competed.

Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway at UFC 329

Saturday’s bout will be a rematch of the pair’s August 2013 fight, which McGregor won by unanimous decision. Both men, though, have been through a lot since they met in that featherweight contest 13 years ago.

In the time that separates their two fights, McGregor and Holloway have each won multiple UFC championships. Conor won both the featherweight and lightweight titles, while Max raised the featherweight and BMF titles.

This time around, the fight will take place in the welterweight division, meaning that the two combatants will weigh approximately 25lbs more.

McGregor had been due to make his UFC return against Michael Chandler two years ago, only for a broken toe to rule him out of the contest with just days to go. That fight, too, was contracted to happen at welterweight. As a result, McGregor has been preparing to compete at 170lbs for years, and it shows in his fight week physique ahead of UFC 329.

Speaking in the days before the fight, McGregor’s long-time coach, John Kavanagh, has gone on record as stating that his fighter will never return to 155lbs. It’s easy to understand why that might be the case when comparing images of McGregor’s current physique to that which he sported before his loss to Poirier five years ago.

The Change in Conor McGregor’s Physique Since His Last UFC Fight

The two-division UFC champion had always insisted that he would be taking his return to competition seriously and his fight week physique certainly backs that up. Now 37-year-old, McGregor has added noticeably more muscle to his frame for the leap of 15lbs up to welterweight.

Most believe he will need to make his power tell in the early rounds in order to be successful against Holloway and his body composition certainly appears to reflect this. McGregor has won 10 career bouts in the UFC, but only two of those victories have come after the second round.

Although he looks in magnificent condition ahead of his comeback, McGregor enters Saturday’s bout as a sizeable underdog. That tag is understandable given the length of time he has been away from the sport.

However, no matter the result of his bout with Holloway, it is tough to argue that the controversial star hasn’t put in the work in the gym to give himself every chance of success.

Former Arsenal star Samir Nasri has reportedly been arrested as part of a police investigation over alleged links to jailed drug trafficking kingpin ‘Wild Boar.’

Nasri has been working as a pundit for French channel Canal Plus since hanging up his boots in September 2021. He spent three years with the Gunners before spells at fellow Premier League clubs Manchester City and West Ham United.

The 39-year-old has been questioned by the French authorities at the offices of the Financial Investigation and Research Brigade (BRIF) of the Paris judicial police over alleged links to an individual named Hakim Berrebouh. The Marseille trafficker has been behind bars since 2021 and Nasri’s involvement stems from allegations over “organised money laundering.”

Nasri Arrested For Alleged Money Laundering

French outlet Le Parisien claims that Nasri was arrested and questioned by police for 10 hours on Thursday. He was released in the evening without charge, and no legal proceedings will be brought against him.

The major investigation surrounds suspected drug importation, criminal conspiracy and organised money laundering of drug trafficking proceeds. French police are said to have examined Nasri because he is a shareholder in XS nightclub in Ivry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne.

Nasri’s alleged involvement is through ‘organised money laundering ‘, and investigators claim that jailed trafficker Berrebouh suggested Nasri take a financial stake in XS. This agreement had reportedly been verbal and never formally recorded.

The former Premier League star is thought to have invested a few hundred thousand euros while still at City in 2016. He later became the co-owner of the nightclub alongside a loyal client named Bilele Z, who was also in police custody on Thursday.

Berrebouh’s wife is alleged to have visited the venue several times to withdraw large sums of money while her husband was imprisoned. Nasri and the Berrebouh family have been connected since childhood in Marseille and the former France footballer reportedly held a close relationship with the drug kingpin’s older brother.

Nasri insisted in his police interview that he believed he’d sold all his shares in the nightclub to Berrebouh. The ex-Gunners star was questioned in late June as part of the investigation, which focuses on the years 2021 to 2023.

Nasri’s Past Issues With The Law

While Nasri has been released, he might face further questioning over a potential formal indictment. It’s not the first time he’s been in trouble with the law; he served an 18-month doping ban in February 2018.

UEFA banned Nasri from playing for six months for breaching WADA rules after receiving an intravenous drip of 500 milliliters of water containing nutrients. This ban was increased by an extra 12 months after UEFA’s ethics and disciplinary inspector appealed.

Nasri blamed the ban for curtailing his career, which was constantly shrouded in controversy. He enraged Arsenal fans when he left for City in 2011, joining the Etihad club for £25m.