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Category: Sport & Tourism
FIFA has scrapped one of its most controversial projects. Following a wave of criticism and threats of a boycott from major soccer federations, the organization decided against involving private investors in the commercial rights to the World Cup.
For the first time in a long while, Turkey’s tourism industry has faced a decline in revenue. In the second quarter of 2026, tourism revenue fell by 2.6% year-over-year to $15.9 billion. At the same time, the number of foreign visitors declined, while Turkish residents themselves began traveling abroad for vacations significantly more often.
UEFA and all 55 of its member national soccer associations have stated that they will not participate in tournaments organized by FIFA, including the World Cup, until the international federation abandons its plans to involve private investors in the commercial rights to its competitions.
Paris has unexpectedly topped the global ranking of cities with the best street food. It surpassed traditional culinary destinations and took first place thanks to its wide variety of dishes and the high ratings of its establishments. These are the findings of a study by Radical Storage, which surveyed 6,897 street food vendors in the world’s 100 most popular cities.
Zinedine Zidane has officially been named head coach of the French national team, putting an end to years of anticipation surrounding one of the most coveted positions in world soccer. The former national team captain has replaced Didier Deschamps, who, over the course of 14 years, transformed Les Bleus into one of the most successful national teams of modern times.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has found himself at the center of an investigation launched by Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has demanded that the head of world soccer provide documents detailing FIFA’s contacts with U.S. President Donald Trump, his administration, and his family’s business.
For the first time, Italy will extend the hours of operation for its most-visited landmarks during the peak of the tourist season. From August 1 through 31, the Colosseum and the Pantheon in Rome, as well as Sforza Castle in Milan, will remain open until late in the evening as part of a pilot program designed to reduce lines, redistribute tourist flows, and make visiting these attractions more comfortable during the summer heat.
An advisory group to the Council of Europe identified seven instances of suspicious activity in the betting market during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA, however, states that its monitoring found no evidence of match-fixing or other forms of manipulation.
Bucharest’s two airports handled a record 8.46 million passengers in the first half of 2026. Aurel Vlaicu Bucharest-Băneasa Airport, in particular, exceeded last year’s total passenger traffic in just six months. This was reported by the Bucharest National Airports Company (CNAB).
U.S. President Donald Trump is considering supporting FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for the position of UN Secretary-General following the end of António Guterres’s term.
The first-ever World Cup featuring 48 national teams made history not only by crowning a new champion, but also for its record-breaking scale, high scoring, and a string of individual achievements by the top players.
U.S. President Donald Trump presented the Spanish national team with the World Cup trophy amid boos from the stands. He walked onto the field at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the final whistle. According to the White House press pool, the background noise in the stadium was about 78 decibels, and when Trump appeared on the field, the whistling and roaring raised it to 84—the level of a diesel truck driving by.
The World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico over the course of a month, drew mixed reviews in the international press. While the American media calls the tournament a historic success that has changed the country’s attitude toward soccer, Mexican publications note that the festivities in the stadiums ultimately failed to translate into an economic breakthrough. RBC has compiled a selection of the most notable media reactions.
The Spanish national team won the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Argentina in a dramatic final match. The decisive match of the first-ever World Cup featuring 48 teams took place at a packed MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford and ended with a 1–0 victory for the Europeans after extra time.
The heat that accompanied the World Cup in the United States brought to light the issue of whether sports infrastructure is prepared for climate change. After the tournament, experts urged stadium owners to move away from relying on air conditioning and focus on modernizing the venues to make them safer for players and fans.
The English national team won the bronze medal at the 2026 World Cup, defeating France 6–4 in the third-place match. For England, this medal was their first at the World Cup since their championship victory in 1966.
For the first time in history, the winner of the 2026 World Cup will receive not only the trophy and gold medals, but also special championship rings. FIFA has decided to introduce a tradition into soccer that has long been a part of American professional sports.
The winner of the 2026 World Cup will receive a record $50 million in prize money—8% more than the champion of the previous World Cup. If Spain defeats Argentina in the final on July 19 in New York, the national team players will split 45% of that amount in accordance with an agreement with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Tourists in Bucharest are booking apartments in buildings that Romanian authorities consider the most dangerous in the event of an earthquake. An investigation revealed more than 200 listings on Airbnb and Booking.com in buildings where renting out units is prohibited due to high risk.
Celebrations marking the Argentine national team’s advancement to the World Cup final could result in disciplinary action against the country’s soccer federation. After defeating England, the players unfurled a banner on the field with a political message supporting Buenos Aires’ territorial claims to the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, which may violate FIFA rules.
