FIFA have been forced to release a statement this week after another World Cup accusation was made against Gianni Infantino. The Swiss millionaire’s walls are closing in this week after a failed attempt to sell stakes in the major tournament sparked fierce backlash.

Infantino’s biggest opponents throughout the saga have been UEFA and CONMEBOL, European and South American football’s governing bodies. Aleksander Ceferin’s series of statements – which have read more like written attacks – has prompted England and several other nations to withdraw their support for the 56-year-old, while it appears increasingly likely that Infantino will either resign or lose power at March’s election.

That was once seen as unthinkable. Having held the position since 2016, Sepp Blatter’s successor had no serious challengers for the role and enjoyed the written backing of 200 nations following the hugely profitable 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

But the mood has changed dramatically. More and more countries have come out against him, and desperate times often call for desperate measures. With his grip on power appearing to slip away, Infantino has now reportedly made an offer to Morocco in the hope that it will throw its support behind him and help him keep his job, though his colleagues deny that.

Claim That Gianni Infantino Made An Eye-Opening Offer to Nation in Exchange for Support

REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier

As many as five nations have come out in support of Infantino while the majority of others have shot down his money-grabbing schemes, and while close friend Donald Trump is reported to be ready to do ‘everything in his power’ to help the FIFA chief cling on to his position, he was alleged to have turned to 2030 World Cup hosts Morocco for even more backing.

The Mirror reported that the 56-year-old had offered Morocco the chance to host the World Cup final in 2030 in exchange for the nation’s support. It had previously been suggested that Real Madrid’s Bernabeu was going to be the stage, but multiple outlets alleged otherwise.

Morocco have been one of Infantino’s biggest supporters over the course of his decade in charge of FIFA, and the city of Rabat was chosen as the destination for Wednesday’s World Cup crisis meeting amid the pressure Infantino is finding himself currently suffocated by.

The new 115,000-seat Hassan II stadium in Casablanca (as seen above), which will be the largest football stadium in the world when it is built, wants to host the next final, but a new statement by FIFA suggests no contact was made between Infantino and Morocco to suggest a deal out of desperation was made.

FIFA Issue Fresh Statement After Claims Of Infantino’s Morocco Plea

REUTERS/John Sibley via Action Images

However, FIFA officials have now released a statement denying any such deal from taking place, with the final location not yet being determined. As per Ben Jacobs, it read:

That said, multiple Royal Moroccan Football Federation sources have confirmed to talkSPORT that talks with Infantino over staging the World Cup final in Casablanca have taken place.

Spain hope to stage the final, as initially suggested they would, while Portugal are yet to make a public comment on their role in discussions as the third host.

Manchester United have been exploring a potential deal for Lewis Hall and have reportedly now learned Newcastle United‘s stance over the English left-back.

Hall has been linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer following an impressive season at St James’ Park. He is viewed as the long-term successor to Luke Shaw and could even take his compatriot’s spot in Michael Carrick’s team immediately.

The 21-year-old will have the chance to continue playing in the Champions League if he were to join the Red Devils. The Magpies failed to qualify for Europe altogether last season, and as a result, many of their star players have headed for the exit door.

Bruno Guimaraes is set to become the latest high-profile name to move after Newcastle accepted a £75 million offer from Arsenal for the Brazilian. He follows Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon out of Tyneside.

Newcastle Don’t Want to Sell Man Utd-Linked Hall

via Reuters

With Guimaraes now on his way to the Emirates, all eyes are on Hall and whether Manchester United make a concrete move for the Englishman. He still has three years left on his contract and is an important member of the Newcastle squad.

Eddie Howe’s shock departure had raised doubts over Hall’s future ahead of Matthias Jaissle’s appointment as Howe’s replacement. It appears the club aren’t prepared to let a fourth top star leave this summer.

According to Mark Douglas of the i Paper, the Magpies believe their major sales are now over and they regard Hall as ‘untouchable’. He is said to be eyeing a new contract which could come to fruition once the summer transfer window closes in September.

Hall, dubbed “terrific” last season, has grown at St James’ Park since arriving from Chelsea back in August 2023, initially on loan, before joining in a permanent £28 million deal. He put in superb performances last season and earned huge praise from Wayne Rooney after keeping Lamine Yamal quiet against Barcelona.

Man Utd Have Made a Big Mistake

via Reuters

Manchester United are eyeing a long-term heir to Shaw and Hall ticks all the boxes. But it seems to be an extremely difficult deal to do this summer unless the player pushes to make the move.

It must be said that INEOS have taken a somewhat bizarre approach to pursuing the England international. They waited until Newcastle had sold Tonali and Gordon and Arsenal closed in on Guimaraes to start exploring his potential signing.

Had they shown intent to sign Hall at the start of the window, they may well have had a much better chance of landing him. With just weeks until the new season, Carrick will have wanted more than Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, given he achieved Champions League qualification.

When it comes to football, predicting the future can be tough – and this is no better emphasised than by The Sun’s attempt to name an ‘England XI of the future’ back in 2007. The publication came up with a team of stars who they believed were destined for successful England careers, but barely any of the players mentioned managed to make an impact at international level.

While all of us have been guilty of over-hyping certain players, particularly those who play for one’s own domestic team, the XI selected by The Sun has mustered just 60 caps between them – 47 of which came from one player. And with many of the team now retired or in the latter stages of their playing days, it’s safe to say that the tally won’t be rising.

Goalkeeper: Ben Amos

England Caps – 0

Once of Manchester United, Ben Amos was tipped for big things during his youth and even voiced his desire to become the club’s first-choice in the future. The Macclesfield-born stopper was just 21 years old when he made his Premier League bow, which ended in a clean sheet during a 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

However, it was always going to be tough to dislodge the likes of Edwin van der Sar and then David de Gea, who are both considered Premier League greats. Amos was forced to settle for a number of loan spells instead and now plays for Port Vale in the England fourth tier, League Two.

Right-back: Sam Hutchinson

England Caps – 0

Sam Hutchinson is one of a plethora of former Chelsea youngsters who were never afforded a real chance at first-team level given the array of talent they bloat the squad with from overseas. The defender and multiple other talents are seldom given a fair shot at emerging into the first team.

To add more salt to the wound, injuries have blighted the defender’s career somewhat, and he signed for National League Farnham Town in 2026 after a stint with Reading and AFC Wimbledon. Despite never getting a senior call-up to the England national team, the now 37-year-old did manage to tot up four England Under-19 appearances back in the day.

Centre-back: Gavin Hoyte

England Caps – 0

Arsenal fans may remember the name Gavin Hoyte from back in the day, despite him making just four appearances for the north London club, having come through the club’s academy ranks. Incredibly, the London-born defender was involved in Arsenal’s youngest-ever fielded XI – which may come as a surprise given his lack of minutes at the capital club.

Hoyte did go on to play international football, although sadly, this was with Trinidad & Tobago instead of England, given he decided to switch allegiances. The now right-back is still only 36 and currently plays for Sittingbourne, who compete in the Isthmian League South East Division (the eighth tier of English football).

Centre-back: Micah Richards

England Caps – 13

One of a few half-decent shouts. As Micah Richards has told everyone on Sky Sports, he ‘burst onto the scene’ as a youngster and looked to be a world-beating prospect when he made his England debut as a fresh-faced 18-year-old. Enjoying a ten-year stint at Manchester City, in which he won two Premier Leagues, Richards went on loan to Serie A side Fiorentina between 2014 and 2015 as a means of getting regular senior minutes under his belt.

Sadly, similarly to Hutchinson, a string of injuries stopped him from kicking on, and the pundit was forced into retirement at the age of just 31 following a substandard spell at Aston Villa. But, alas, he’s become a much-loved man in front of the cameras, having his say on the weekend’s drama, and is easily among the best pundits out there.

Left-back: Robbie Threlfall

England Caps – 0

Robbie Threlfall was a vital cog for a Liverpool youth side that won back-to-back FA Youth Cups in 2006 and 2007. Unfortunately for the left-back, that was arguably the peak of his career with him not making the grade in the senior set-up – just like many, many other bright-eyed youngsters.

With no space for him in their star-studded senior squad, the Reds loaned him out several times before selling him to Bradford on a permanent basis in 2010. He stepped down to play semi-professional football at Marine during the 2016/17 season, but then left the club in January 2017. He is now retired.

Centre midfielder: Dean Parrett

England Caps – 0

Dean Parrett started his career at Tottenham Hotspur, but failed to make the step-up to making a senior appearance, unfortunately for him. Touted to become one of the north Londoners’ future stars with him wearing the armband during the NLD final in 2008/09, it’s safe to say that he failed to live up to expectations.

After bobbing between League One and League Two, Parrett wound up at Wealdstone before signing for Barnet on a short-term deal in January. Upon that contract expiring, he signed for Biggleswade Town in the Southern League – but now, aged 34, is retired.

Centre midfielder: Michael Johnson

England Caps – 0

Hailed as a youngster who never filled their huge potential, Michael Johnson showed plenty of promise while at Manchester City and looked to be more than capable of making the step up to the senior international level after featuring for the Under-21 side. During his seven-year stint at the Etihad Stadium, he totted up three goals and six assists in 45 senior outings – an impressive feat for someone in that age bracket.

Yet, he called time on his promising career at the age of just 24 due to depression. A terrible shame for such a talented asset, destined to achieve great things – especially given Dietmar Hamann even claimed he was the best young midfielder he ever played with.

Centre midfielder: James Henry

England Caps – 0

Despite not managing to reach the Premier League, Reading-born and bred James Henry has enjoyed a solid career in the lower leagues after failing to make a mark at his boyhood club, having played more than 500 professional matches for the likes of Millwall, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Oxford United, Aldershot Town and now Basingstoke Town.

Leaving Reading in 2010 was a huge jump but was the right decision to make after a quartet of loan spells during his three-year stint in Berkshire. Perhaps Henry never reached the heights that were laid before him back in 2007, with him never receiving that sacred phone call from the England boss, despite starring at Under-19 level on seven occasions.

Right-winger: Theo Walcott

England Caps – 47

Theo Walcott is one of the only players in the team who has gone on to play a substantial amount of international football for England – having amassed just shy of a half-century caps for the Three Lions, plundering eight goals in the process. The London-born gem became England’s youngest-ever senior player in 2006 and was selected for England’s World Cup squad that year – albeit much to many people’s shock.

Emerging through Southampton’s academy, the lightning-quick wide man piqued the interest of Arsenal, a club at which he racked up nearly 400 games over a 12-year period. Walcott, now 37, retired in the summer of 2023 after a two-year stint with Southampton and can often be spotted on television – just in a neatly-steamed suit rather than a muddy football kit.