White House Defends Trump’s FIFA Peace Prize Amid Global Criticism 
FIFA Defends Balogun Ban Suspension After Trump Praise Sparks World Cup Controversy 
Netflix, Disney, YouTube Eye FIFA World Cup TV Rights in Multi-Billion Dollar Battle 
Trump’s U.S. Open Visit Delays Final, Fans Face Long Security Lines 
Republican Lawmakers Urge National Guard Role for World Cup Drone Security 
U.S. Eases Iran Team Travel Restrictions Ahead of Seattle World Cup Match 
DOJ Launches Antitrust Investigation Into the NFL Over Broadcast Restrictions 
US Reviewing Visa Denial for Venezuelan Little League Team Barred from World Series 
Native American Groups Slam Trump’s Call to Restore Redskins Name 
FIFA Suspends Balogun Ban, Clears U.S. Striker for Belgium World Cup Clash 
Apple Eyes U.S. Formula 1 Broadcast Rights in Major Sports Streaming Push 
Trump Plans New Executive Order to Address Rising NIL Costs in College Sports 
NBA Returns to China with Alibaba Partnership and Historic Macau Games 
FIFA Faces Investigation Over 2026 World Cup Ticket Pricing and Seat Allocation Issues 
JD Vance to Lead U.S. Presidential Delegation at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony 
US Seizes Nearly 400 Illegal World Cup Streaming Domains in Global Anti-Piracy Crackdown 
The schedule of National Football League’s 2020 season has been set since last month, but whether or not everything would go as planned is still quite tentative. Some players and club executives have reportedly expressed concern as more athletes have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 over the past couple of weeks.
More NFL players, employees reportedly test positive as league gears up for training camps
League officials have reportedly sent out a memo earlier this month addressing the changes that clubs will have to follow as players return for full training camps next month. One of the new practices to follow includes prohibiting off-site training camps and keeping six-feet physical distancing guidelines in the locker rooms.
However, more NFL players from various teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and San Francisco 49ers among others were reportedly found positive of COVID-19. Over the weekend, Tampa Bay Buccaneers also said in a statement, “We can confirm that there have been individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 at the AdventHealth Training Center.”
NFL players, club execs voice concern over starting 2020 season as planned
These latest developments have prompted an understandable concern over the seemingly unwavering plan to proceed with the NFL 2020 season as originally planned. Twins Devin and Jason McCourty of the New England Patriots recently implied in a podcast to having reservations about returning to team facilities at this point.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated also reported that several club executives support the idea of “pushing back” the start of the NFL 2020 season. This could mean that the kick-off game currently set on Thursday, Sept. 10 would be delayed as late as October, which would then move Super Bowl LV to late February. The championship game is set for Feb. 7, 2021 at the moment.
Meanwhile, despite the newly reported cases of COVID-19 within the NFL, Pro Football Talk maintains league officials are still “optimistic” for the next season to take place. Whether or not fans will be permitted in arenas is a different story, though. The same report noted that holding games without a live audience should not drastically affect the NFL’s revenue as most of it comes from TV broadcasts.
NFL would not be the first major sports organization to host games without the usual cheering crowd amid COVID-19. Since May, European football leagues have resumed without in-person attendance, and it did lead to record-breaking viewerships.
