March 15, 2023
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Over 1 million signatures have been collected in protest of FIFA’s treatment of migrant workers and their families at 2022’s Qatar World Cup. We break down what that means for FIFA going forward on the latest episode of Front Office Sports Today — then talk to Adam Jones about playing for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic.
Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].
World FIFA Expands 2026 World Cup With 104-Game Format [[link removed]]
Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports
The World Cup is already set to expand to 48 teams when it comes to North America in 2026, and now FIFA has updated the tournament’s format — a change that will make it longer and add games to the schedule.
At its annual congress in Kigali, Rwanda, the FIFA Council formally approved [[link removed]] a move from the 64-game format the World Cup has used since 1998 to a 104-game one that will span over 39 days — making [[link removed]] it the longest tournament in FIFA’s history.
The field will be divided into 12 groups of four nations each. As in previous editions, the top two teams after group play will advance to the knockout round — but unlike before, the top eight third-place teams will also advance, creating a 32-team knockout bracket.
FIFA’s originally proposed format to accommodate the extra teams would have created 16 groups of three for 80 total games.
However, many critics raised issues with that plan, as it would dilute the excitement of simultaneous final group-stage games and potentially create collusion among nations to advance to the knockout stage.
FIFA plans to make up the lost time the extra games will require by reducing the pre-tournament release period from 23 days to 16 days — less than in previous tournaments, but still significantly more time than players had to prepare for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Teams $250M Needed for A-Rod’s Timberwolves Takeover ‘In the Bank’ [[link removed]]
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Rodriguez is still set to take over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx — despite some skepticism in the industry.
Rodriguez and business partner Marc Lore need to pay around $250 million by March 28 to increase their stake in the Timberwolves to 40% as part of a broader $1.5 billion takeover deal. Recent reports have questioned whether the pair would be able to meet the deadline.
“The money is in the bank and ready to be funded today,” a spokesperson for A-Rod told [[link removed]] the New York Post.
In July 2021, the former Yankees player and his business partner paid around $250 million for a 20% stake, with the option to increase their stake to 40% by March 28 and then to 80% by March 28, 2024.
If either deadline passes, current owner Glen Taylor — who purchased [[link removed]] the team for $88 million in 1994 — could reportedly nullify the deal and keep the pair as minority owners. Forbes last valued [[link removed]] the Timberwolves at $1.67 billion.
A-Rod reportedly had issues during the first round of payments — he only provided funds equivalent to a 7% stake, with Lore providing 13%.
Rodriguez’s SPAC has also run into issues. Slam Corp. said [[link removed]] in February that investors redeemed roughly 61% of its 57.5 million shares as investors approved a deadline extension for the SPAC to look for a deal.
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Deals Microsoft Strikes Third ‘Call of Duty’ Distribution Deal [[link removed]]
Shutterstock
Microsoft is racking up “Call of Duty” deals to show regulators it can share the hugely popular title.
The tech giant struck a 10-year deal [[link removed]] with Ukraine-based cloud gaming company Boosteroid to distribute Xbox and Activision Blizzard titles.
Boosteroid operates in six U.S. states, the U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine, and Serbia.
Microsoft has struck similar distribution deals with Nintendo and Nvidia as it seeks to assuage regulators’ concerns that its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard would harm competition. The gaming giant also makes “Diablo,” “World of Warcraft,” and “Candy Crush Saga.”
The transaction, a record for the gaming industry, is receiving scrutiny in the U.S., U.K., and E.U. The Federal Trade Commission sued [[link removed]] to block the deal in December.
The three deals make it “even more clear to regulators that our acquisition of Activision Blizzard will make ‘Call of Duty’ available on far more devices than before,” said Microsoft president and vice chair Brad Smith.
E.U. regulators have until April 11 to rule on the acquisition. The U.K.’s deadline is April 26.
Activision Blizzard rode a $3.6 billion fourth quarter to $8.5 billion in revenue last year. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II” banked [[link removed]] more than $1 billion in 10 days following its release on Oct. 28.
Conversation Starters The Big 12 announced [[link removed]] plans for the first conference-wide NFL pro day, which will debut in Spring 2024 in Frisco, Texas, and replace on-campus pro days. Pringles released [[link removed]] a “March Mustache Collection” as part of NIL deals with Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, Duke’s Dariq Whitehead, and Virginia’s Ben Vander Plas. The Crown & Anchor Pub from Ted Lasso is becoming an Airbnb. Check it out [[link removed]].
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After 20 years of playing beach volleyball professionally, Kerri Walsh Jennings [[link removed]] stepped away from the pro tour in 2019. Not because the five-time Olympian and three-time gold medalist lost a love for the game, but rather because she thought it needed changing.
Walsh Jennings wanted to broaden the game and bring more people to the sport by highlighting all it encompasses – nutrition, wellness routines, and the overall lifestyle. That’s why in 2019, she and her husband launched p1440, a company dedicated to providing resources for aspiring athletes, coaches, and all interested in living a life of intention.
In the latest episode of Driven with Michelle Wie West [[link removed]], in partnership with PitchBook, learn more about Walsh Jennings’ journey to becoming an entrepreneur, the importance of the people around you, and more.
Watch the full episode [[link removed]].
What to Watch
The Golden State Warriors (36-33) take on the Los Angeles Clippers (36-33) on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena.
How to Watch: 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Betting Odds: Clippers -2.5 || ML -135 || O/U 237
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