MOSCOW (AP) — The Latest at the World Cup, including the FIFA Congress vote for the 2026 hosting rights, (all times local):
1:10 p.m.
Lopetegui was let go a day after Real Madrid announced him as its new manager beginning after the World Cup.
A replacement was not immediately announced.
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12:50 p.m.
FIFA member federations have rejected a Palestinian proposal to amend world football’s statutes with a stronger stance against human rights abuses.
FIFA members voted 156 to 35 against the motion which was formally supported by the Iraq and Algeria football bodies.
FIFA advised voters it already fulfilled all commitments to human rights in reforms passed over the past three years.
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11:35 a.m.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have praised each other’s work preparing for the World Cup.
Putin says Infantino “stood at the helm of FIFA in very complicated times but he is very good as our frontman, as a true fighter.”
The FIFA president has “always positive sentiment toward our country,” Putin says.
With hundreds of thousands of fans expected to travel to the World Cup, Putin says visitors should “feel the hospitality and welcoming nature” of Russia.
Infantino praises Putin for “making us feel part of the same team” and thanks him “from our hearts.”
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11:15 a.m.
FIFA’s head of finance says he “anticipates strong revenues” leading to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The extra income lets FIFA promise $1.5 million annual grants to each of its 211 member federations. That’s a 20 percent increase.
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10:25 a.m.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino says under his watch football’s governing body has transformed from “clinically dead as an organization” to being “alive and well.”
The Swiss lawyer was elected in February 2016, nine months after American and Swiss federal prosecutors unsealed sweeping investigations of bribery and corruption linked to senior FIFA officials.
The next FIFA election is June 5 next year in Paris. Infantino, who succeeded Sepp Blatter, is yet to confirm his candidacy for a new four-year term.
This was achieved “despite the worst crisis FIFA has experienced,” he says.
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10 a.m.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to speak to global soccer leaders before the vote to select the host of the 2026 World Cup.
Eight years ago at the last World Cup hosting vote, Putin flew in to Zurich to host a news conference celebrating Russia winning the right to stage the 2018 tournament.
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9:45 a.m.
Blatter, who was ousted from power at FIFA in 2015 over financial misconduct, has publicly backed the Morocco bid.
He says “I was fighting for Morocco and for Africa because at a certain time (FIFA) wanted to eliminate Morocco before going to the vote, and now, they are at the vote and I think it’s a victory also of my intervention, especially.”
In April, Blatter had tweeted: “Just recall a fundamental principal in FIFA: Decision taken in 2011: the congress shall decide on the attribution of the World Cup 2026 – and not any sub-committee or task-force. Each candidate must have the right to make a presentation at the congress.”
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9:35 a.m.
More than 200 national football federations are to set to vote at around midday local time in Moscow (0900 GMT) at their annual meeting one day before the 2018 World Cup kicks off.
Mexico has twice hosted the World Cup, in 1970 and 1986, the U.S. hosted in 1994, while Morocco has lost in four previous bid campaigns.
