Governing Bodies
Ahead of World Cup Draw: Behold clashes that have never happened
This is the first FIFA World Cup draw that will take place in April and on a date universally believed to be ‘all-fools day’. But more importantly, the draw could produce matches that the World Cup has never seen before. The list of potential unprecedented meetings includes duels between European heavyweights
With nearly all the qualification places at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 having now been filled, expectation is mounting ahead of Friday’s Final Draw. Every team going into the hat could be drawn against nations they have never faced in the world finals before. FIFA has drawn up a list of these potential first-time encounters, starting with a meeting between two European giants.
France-Netherlands
The reigning two-time world champions head into their 16th World Cup as one of the eight teams in Pot 1, which contains the highest-ranked sides. Surprisingly, France have never been drawn against three-time runners-up Netherlands, who have ten World Cup appearances to their name.
The Dutch are in Pot 2, and a potential duel with the French would be one of the most eagerly-awaited games of the group phase. This is a fixture with some history to it.
Runners-up at the two previous world finals, Netherlands missed out on a place at Spain 1982 altogether when they finished behind France and Belgium in Group 2 of the European qualifiers. History repeated itself in the race to Russia 2018, when the Dutch again failed to progress after placing third behind France and Sweden in Group A of the preliminaries.
Argentina-Denmark
Qatar 2022 will be World Cup number 18 for Argentina, who could find themselves in the same group as Denmark, who will be making their sixth appearance in the competition. Many had hoped the two would meet in the semi-finals at Mexico 1986 following the Danes’ impressive showing in the group stage.
As it turned out, however, Denmark went down 5-1 to Spain in the Round of 16. The two did meet in the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1995, with the Europeans winning 2-0.
Brazil-Korea Republic
A Seleção, who have never missed a World Cup, and are preparing for their 22nd in a row, are another side who could be facing new opposition in Qatar, namely Korea Republic, soon-to-be 11-time participants.
Germany-Japan
Lurking in Pot 2 will be Germany, a team that every Pot 1 side will be anxious to avoid. With 19 World Cups already under their belts, the Germans could be pitched against Japan, who are in Pot 3, having qualified for a seventh time
Belgium-Cameroon
One of the eight top seeds, Belgium might find themselves drawn against Cameroon for the first time ever. The Africans are in the finals for the eighth time, while the Europeans are making their 14th appearance.
Uruguay-Poland
Qatar 2022 is also World Cup number 14 for two-time winners Uruguay, who are in Pot 2. Potentially awaiting them are Poland from Pot 3, who have never faced the Uruguayans before, despite this being their ninth world finals.
Old foes
The Final Draw could also throw up a latest installment or two in some of the World Cup’s most frequent fixtures, with Germany facing the prospect of taking on Argentina or Serbia for the seventh time in the competition. Netherlands could cross swords with Argentina or Brazil for the sixth time in World Cup history, while mouth-watering encounters such as Brazil-Serbia and England-Germany could also be on the menu again, also for a sixth time.
Most frequent clashes
* Only involves nations qualified for Qatar 2022.
Game Number Argentina-Germany 7 Germany-Serbia 7 Argentina-Netherlands 5 Brazil-Mexico 5 Brazil-Netherlands 5 Brazil-Serbia 5 England-Germany 5
World football governing body, FIFA, today clocks its 122nd anniversary, celebrating more than a century of overseeing and expanding the global game.
Founded on May 21, 1904, in Paris, France, FIFA began with just seven member associations — France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
From that modest beginning, the organisation has grown into the most influential sports governing body in the world, with 211 member associations spread across all continents.
Over the decades, FIFA has transformed football into a truly global phenomenon through competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, Women’s World Cup, Club World Cup, youth tournaments, and developmental programmes aimed at growing the game worldwide.
The organisation has also witnessed remarkable milestones, including the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 13 teams in 1930 to 48 teams beginning from the 2026 edition to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA’s journey has equally reflected football’s growing influence beyond sport, with the game becoming a major tool for diplomacy, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and economic development across the world.
As FIFA celebrates 122 years of existence, attention is now focused on the future of the game, technological innovations, expanded competitions, women’s football growth, and the continued globalisation of football.
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UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced on Tuesday.
Czech media reported that the coach was convicted in May 2025 and initially received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban for filming FC Slovacko’s players in changing rooms, the youngest of whom was 17.
In a statement, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) said it had decided to ban Vlachovsky “from exercising any football-related activity for life” following the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate allegations of potential misconduct.
“The CEDB further decided to request FIFA to extend the abovementioned ban on a worldwide level and to order the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Mr Petr Vlachovsky’s coaching licence,” the statement added.
FC Slovacko did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Football players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban as well as UEFA’s request for world soccer governing body FIFA to impose an international ban on Vlachovsky.
“This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behaviour has no place in football and that safeguarding the well-being of players must remain a priority at every level of the game,” FIFPRO added in a statement.
Vlachovsky had also previously served as coach of the Czech women’s Under-19s team.
RELATED STORY: https://sportsvillagesquare.com/2026/04/08/outrage-as-male-coach-who-secretly-filmed-women-players-still-free-to-work-in-football/
-Reuters
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Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship playoff final after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton on aggregate in the semi, have been reinstated and will face Hull City on Saturday in what is dubbed the world’s richest soccer match.
Promotion to the Premier League, even with an immediate relegation, is estimated to be worth in the region of 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons.
Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season.
They have also been deducted four points from the start of next season in England’s second tier.
“An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training,” the EFL said.
“Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.
“The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 play-offs and will proceed to the play-off final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.”
The EFL confirmed that Southampton could appeal against the decision and that “parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday 20 May.
“Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday’s fixture,” the statement said.
‘BORO CALLED FOR SOUTHAMPTON EXPULSION
Middlesbrough had called for Southampton’s expulsion after having a training session at their Rockliffe Park site filmed 48 hours ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton which ended 0-0.
The north-east club said they welcomed the decision.
“We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct,” the north Middlesbrough said in a statement.
“As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.”
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season and were struggling in the early part of this campaign until a storming finish in which they went unbeaten in 19 league games to finish fourth and enter the playoffs.
The south-coast club are the first to fall foul of the Football League’s regulation 127 — brought in after Leeds United were found guilty of spying on Derby County seven years ago, an offence for which they were fined 200,000 pounds.
-Reuters
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