Football live: Championship, Fifa, Community Shield
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The gist
Championship kicks off Friday, Community Shield set for Sunday, and Fifa faces civil war.
Why care: football's new season begins amid political turmoil and transfer drama.
Background
The 2026-27 English football season begins with the Championship starting on Friday, followed by the Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City on Sunday. Meanwhile, Fifa is embroiled in a political conflict after Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation demanded president Gianni Infantino's resignation over an abandoned World Cup sell-off plan. Oceania has declared support for Infantino, but New Zealand broke ranks.
How it unfolded
- recentlyOceania Football Confederation declared support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, while New Zealand withdrew backing and called for an independent review.
- Aug 14, 2026The Championship season kicks off with Wolves hosting Blackburn, where Raúl Jiménez may face jeers from travelling fans.
- Aug 16, 2026Arsenal and Manchester City meet in the Community Shield at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, broadcast on TNT Sports and Prime Video.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- OFC praised Fifa's progress over the last decade and backed Infantino, while New Zealand called for an independent review of the Fifa Forward Enterprise plan.
- Caution
- Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation have demanded Infantino's resignation, highlighting world football's civil war.
Still unverified
Rumours of a swap deal involving Gabriel Martinelli and Victor Osimhen, with Ethan Nwaneri potentially included, are unconfirmed.