Football Notes: UEFA President Says Europe Lacks Countries Able To Host World Cup

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said that "only a few European countries would be able to host a 48-team World Cup." In January, FIFA decided to "expand the tournament from 32 to 48 teams" for the '26 tournament. Čeferin said, "I think maybe two countries, three countries in Europe, not more. Nobody in Africa, maybe China, maybe U.S. and that's it" (AP, 3/21).

Scottish Premiership side Rangers will return to the Hong Kong Football Club Soccer Sevens in May "after an absence of two years," while defending champion League Championship side Aston Villa and EPL side Leicester City are among the English teams participating in the tournament from May 26-28. The Scottish side has "always been popular at the tournament among local Old Firm fans" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 3/21).