Hello! Gianni Infantino has made headlines again. Christian Pulisic keeps on scoring. And remember Ayoub El Kaabi’s bicycle kick for Morocco at AFCON? He loved it so much, he scored it again.
FIFA president attempting to justify World Cup tickets
There are two days left until 2026, the long-awaited new World Cup year. So, fittingly, we’ve got FIFA president Gianni Infantino talking some more while Christian Pulisic — the poster boy of the United States, one of the tournament’s three host countries — can’t stop scoring.
Let’s start with Infantino (above). It is no secret that FIFA, the game’s global governing body, has come under scrutiny in recent weeks for its astronomic ticket pricing, which will ensure next summer’s tournament is the most expensive World Cup ever. Want a ticket to the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, just outside New York City? They are on sale for as much as $8,680 (£6,420) — nearly $2,000 more than the original price from a couple of months ago.
The backlash on pricing led FIFA to introduce the “supporter entry tier”. This offers around 1,000 tickets per game for $60 to supporters of the two competing teams. And still that doesn’t feel like enough.
“What’s crucial is that the revenues generated from this are going back to the game all over the world,” Infantino said on Monday. “Without FIFA, there would be no football in 150 countries in the world. There is football because (of), and thanks to, these revenues we generate with, and from, the World Cup, which we reinvest all over the world.”
Surely football would exist in the majority of those countries with or without FIFA, Gianni? Fans being priced out of a World Cup are unlikely to think of all the money they could have spent to help invest in the world’s game. It seems a lot like a cheap way to justify such extortionate ticket pricing.
Now for the “LeBron James of calcio”. No, this is not something we’ve just come up with, but what Milan’s official X account labelled Christian Pulisic after another ruthless finish by him (above), this time against Verona on Sunday.
James Horncastle is calling him “prime Pulisic”, which feels more apt. He is not an NBA legend, nor is he a “Captain America” superhero. But he is a very good footballer, and one who is hitting the peak of his powers at an ideal time. With his eighth goal of the Serie A season, Pulisic is hot property. He’s averaging a goal every 74 minutes in the top division of Italian football and his goals-per-shot ratio is the best across Europe’s big five domestic leagues.
Pulisic is not the only USMNT player currently firing for their club. Brenden Aaronson came up with the goods for Leeds United against Sunderland, providing the assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw, also on Sunday. Aaronson told reporters it was some of the best football he has played this season.
The United States found some form in their most recent batch of friendlies and, of the three World Cup co-hosts, they might be the ones generating the most momentum before the big show begins in June.
They have won eight league games on the trot, but Aston Villa are not too happy with their fixture list. The men from the Midlands play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium tonight, three days after their previous away trip in London, when they came from behind to beat Chelsea. Villa have had a word with the Premier League.
England women’s head coach Sarina Wiegman has been awarded a damehood in the King’s New Year Honours list, following back-to-back European Championship wins. Captain Leah Williamson and other key members from the squad have also been honoured.
Falling head over heels for El Kaabi and Morocco… again
Do not adjust your screens, you are really seeing this. Morocco striker Ayoub El Kaabi has only gone and scored another bicycle kick at the Africa Cup of Nations (second video above). If it were me, I would still be dining out on scoring what will surely end up as the goal of the tournament in its opening match against Comoros (top video above). But not El Kaabi, he just really wanted to do it again — so he did, in Morocco’s 3-0 win against Zambia.
Talk about taking your chances. El Kaabi, who also scored a header in last night’s victory, was only promoted to the starting line-up a couple of weeks ago following an injury to the host nation’s first-choice striker, Lille’s Hamza Igamane.
El Kaabi left school at 15 to become a carpenter and dare I say the Olympiacos forward, now 32, has carved out quite the career for himself.
Our Jay Harris, who is out in Morocco covering the tournament, has attempted to pick which of El Kaabi’s overhead finishes was the best. For me, nothing will beat the beauty and feeling of that first goal. Morocco are safely through to the knockout stage — just imagine if he completes a unique AFCON hat-trick.
And speaking of glorious goals, this tournament has been stacked with them. Zimbabwe forward Tawanda Maswanhise also produced a dazzling finish yesterday, dancing his way through South Africa’s defence (below). It was not enough to save his side from elimination, as they lost 3-2 and finished bottom of Group B, while South Africa went through to the round of 16.
Seeing a goalkeeper assist a goal is considered a rare collector’s item, but at Manchester City, it became the norm during the Ederson era. The Brazilian, who joined Fenerbahce in the summer, had a knack for it. He left the Premier League having contributed seven assists in his eight years with City — last season alone, he registered four (above).
That’s one of the intriguing numbers from The Athletic’s stat pack review of 2025. It might enlighten you, and will certainly make you feel old, thanks to James Milner and Luka Modric. Did you know Modric has played for Croatia alongside one player born in 1971 and another born in 2007? Talk about longevity.
Around TAFC 🔄
Last week, we discussed poverty chanting following Arsenal fans singing at Everton. It is still happening at grounds around the country, so Nick Miller has written an open letter to his fellow Nottingham Forest supporters telling them why it’s important they stop ahead of Everton’s visit this evening.
And tonight’s match between two of those contenders, Arsenal vs Aston Villa, has the potential to be the biggest of the season. A win for Villa in north London could put them level on points with the leaders. Where can you watch it? Scroll on…
Catch a match 📺
Selected games (all 3pm ET/8pm UK time unless stated)
AFCON (all on beIN Sports, Fubo/Channel 4):Tanzania vs Tunisia(Fubo),Uganda vs Nigeria(Fubo), both 11am/4pm; Benin vs Senegal(Fubo),Botswana vs DR Congo(Fubo), both 2pm/7pm.
Premier League (all 2:30pm/7:30pm and Peacock Premium/Sky Sports unless stated):Burnley vs Newcastle United; Chelsea vs Bournemouth(USA Network in U.S.);Nottingham Forest vs Everton; West Ham United vs Brighton & Hove Albion; Arsenal vs Aston Villa, 3:15pm/8:15pm (also NBC in U.S.);Manchester United vs Wolves, 3:15pm/8:15pm.
Scottish Premiership: Motherwell vs Celtic, 3pm/8pm — CBS/Premier Sports.
Coventry ended up losing the game 2-0, but they remain well clear at the top of the second-tier Championship, with Rushworth key to their success. The 24-year-old went 613 minutes without conceding a goal this season and if Frank Lampard’s side return to the Premier League after 25 years away, he will have more than played his part in getting them there.
