Sam Kunti
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samindrakunti.bsky.social
Sam Kunti
@samindrakunti.bsky.social
Journalist. FIFA, labour rights in the Gulf, sports betting. Featured in Josimar, World Soccer, Daily Mirror and The Blizzard. Author 'Brazil 1970'. Columbia J-School. Views my own.
Reposted by Sam Kunti
As there has been a steady stream of new arrivals on Bluesky lately, here are a few starter packs I put together which might be of use.

go.bsky.app/LkYr5cE
January 5, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Pink Test at the SCG. Australia trail by 218 runs.
January 5, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by Sam Kunti
Under Joan Laporta FC Barcelona owes more money than any team in football, will 2026 mark the beginning of the end for the club’s celebrated century old member-owned model?

Can the Most Indebted Team in Global Soccer Fix Its Finances? www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/w...
Can the Most Indebted Team in Global Soccer Fix Its Finances?
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:25 AM
A stellar (and difficult) year for @josimarfootball.bsky.social.

Here is some of our best reporting.

We started in Saudi Arabia, host of the 2034 World Cup, and labour abuse of migrant workers.

With @aselliaas.bsky.social

josimarfootball.com/2025/01/06/t...
The zone of interest - josimarfootball.com
In the week that Fifa awarded the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, a group of Bangladeshi workers went on strike over unpaid wages at a luxury resort in Neom. They were immediately fired.
josimarfootball.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Waiting for that MoU with North Korea. FIFA The Best now a Dubai plaything.
December 30, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Reposted by Sam Kunti
Takes a certain level of wood face to say this.
December 29, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Another day, another dictator.
December 26, 2025 at 10:29 PM
What a day at the MCG.

Twenty wickets fell. Scott Boland, as night watchman and local boy, got a boundary with the last ball before stumps - an outside edge to wrap up an intense over and frenetic few hours.
December 26, 2025 at 8:23 AM
What a time to be alive! 🏏🏏
December 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM
‘World Cup draw turns into the Trump show‘

From the Kennedy Center for @worldsoccermag.bsky.social.
December 24, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Reposted by Sam Kunti
Before offering a game, bookies want a broadcast or livestream and access to live data. FIFA’s streaming service FIFA+ and its data company friends are doing this - without the clubs even knowing! With @samindrakunti.bsky.social for @playthegame-org.bsky.social www.playthegame.org/news/fifa-li...
FIFA+ livestreams fuel global in-play betting markets
New research from Play the Game shows how unlicensed betting companies are using FIFA’s own streaming platform to offer in-play wagers on low-level matches worldwide. Many smaller federations are unaw...
www.playthegame.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A pleasure to have voted in the @worldsoccermag.bsky.social.

Discover the results in the new issue.
December 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
‘World Cup draw turns into the Trump show‘

Report from Washington DC for @worldsoccermag.bsky.social.
December 20, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Under the banner ‘football and innovation‘ at the efinals in Riyadh, an Ai-powered selfie with Infantino….
December 20, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Reposted by Sam Kunti
Das Preisgeld bei der WM 2026 steigt im Vergleich zu 2022 (alles in USD):

Weltmeister: 50 Mio. (2022 waren es 42)
Vize: 33 (30)
3. Platz: 29 (27)
4. Platz 27 (25)
Viertelfinale 19 (17)
Achtelfinale: 15 (13)
Sechzehntelfinale: 11 (-)
Gruppe: 9 (9)
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
More money to be dished out by FIFA. This time framed as "Post-conflict recovery fund".

Remember there is $2.8 billion from FIFA Forward, $1.5 billion from the FIFA Covid Fund, $1 billion from the Saudi-led development fund...
December 17, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Reposted by Sam Kunti
Pricing for 90% of the supporters tickets remains unchanged.

But 10% — or 1.6% of the total ticket inventory — now priced at $60, per FIFA.
December 16, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Time for some PR from Zurich after the backlash over exorbitant ticket prices.

Limited number of tickets, including for the final, to be available at $60 for supporters of qualified teams.
December 16, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Always funny to see Bruno Chiomento, a Swiss banker, head an 'independent' committee at FIFA. Man was wining and dining at the Waldorf Astoria the other week at the draw.

Polina Yumasheva also sits on the GACC.
December 16, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Sam Kunti
FIFA hosting in Qatar all member federations now on these many newly created committees about a year before the next presidential election campaign. Also an ideal chance to raise the subject of World Cup ticket prices.
December 16, 2025 at 1:03 PM
A tour de force by the great @bobbyperu.bsky.social to head Josimar, oversee investigations and keep the magazine afloat. Tusen takk!!

Havard stands down, to be succeeded by the ebullient @reporterlars.bsky.social.
December 15, 2025 at 1:33 PM