CORNERFLICK
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is considering a new under-15 World Cup after the collapse of his controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise project, according to The Athletic.
New tournament idea
The 56-year-old Swiss-Italian has spent the past year in talks with private investors about developing and commercialising a youth World Cup modelled in part on the Little League Baseball world series, the report says.
The idea under discussion would involve all 211 FIFA member associations. In its first year, the tournament would be for boys only.
Backers and venue talks
The proposal was put together by businessmen including Juan Carlos Rodriguez, a former commissioner of the Mexican Football Federation. He has reportedly secured backing from Eldridge Industries, the global holding company founded and led by Todd Boehly, Chelsea chairman and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Those involved have also held talks with ESPN about hosting the event at ESPN Wide World of Sports, the complex near Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
The report adds that one opening match concept would pit Palestine against Israel. Infantino had previously tried to engineer a handshake between the heads of the Palestinian and Israeli football federations at a FIFA congress before the 2026 World Cup, but the Palestinian side declined and walked away.