In a congested soccer season where elite players have aired the idea of going on strike, the Nations League returns this week looking less than a top priority.

France captain Kylian Mbappé opted to stay away, his probable deputy Antoine Griezmann retired from the national team, and Romelu Lukaku asked to work on his fitness at new club Napoli rather than join the Belgium camp.

Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco called up four potential debutants to experiment in games in what is the third-tier competition for European teams.

“We will not do it during the important World Cup qualification,” said Tedesco, looking ahead to that important next stage in 2025.

The 2026 World Cup in North America is, however, already now in play for teams targeting that tournament and each has two Nations League games from Thursday through Tuesday.

Results in the next week, and two more games in November, are the last chance to gain a better seeding in the Dec. 13 draw in Zurich for European qualifying groups for the World Cup.

Two teams pushing to raise their FIFA ranking and go into the draw pot of second-seeded teams are Norway and Slovenia.

Europe’s most feared striker and one of its emerging stars are due to meet again on Thursday in Oslo.

Erling Haaland and Benjamin Šeško, once club mates at Salzburg, are the main attractions when Norway hosts Slovenia in their second-tier League B group.

Haaland has 11 goals in 10 games for Manchester City this season plus a winning goal in the Nations League, sealing a 2-1 victory over Austria last month.

Šeško has six in nine games for Leipzig — including three in the Champions League — plus four in two Nations League games. The tall striker got a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Kazakhstan.

Thursday’s game will not be decisive in the group but it will decide who leads at the midway point and is set for promotion to the top tier. The return game in Ljubljana is Nov. 14.

The last time France played a game with neither Mbappé nor Griezmann on the field? November 2016, in a 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast in a friendly.

It will happen again Thursday when France faces Israel in Budapest. The Hungarian capital is the neutral venue chosen since Israel’s conflict with Hamas started one year ago.

FIFA has appointed Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb as its new head of women’s refereeing.

Steinhaus-Webb, a German native, takes up the job after holding the same role in the English game.

A former FIFA referee, she enjoyed an influential career that saw her become the first woman to take charge of a final at the Women’s World Cup and the women’s Olympic football tournament, as well as matches in the men’s Bundesliga. Altogether she officiated in nine FIFA competitions between 2008 and 2021.

In her new role, Steinhaus-Webb, who is married to English men’s referee boss Howard Webb, will oversee and drive further development of women’s refereeing at all levels, including across FIFA women’s competitions, in cooperation with FIFA’s member associations and the confederations.

“I’m thrilled to join FIFA and look forward to making a contribution to the steady growth of women’s refereeing,” Steinhaus-Webb said in a statement.

“FIFA has shown a consistent commitment to taking refereeing to the next level as an integral part of the game, and it’s an honour for me to apply my experience and to support female referees across the world.”

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström commented: “FIFA remains committed to promoting the growth of the women’s game, and maximizing on the huge developmental opportunity it holds. Refereeing is of course a key part of that opportunity and bringing figures of the stature and experience of Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb will contribute significantly to this objective. I very much look forward to working with her in the years ahead.”

Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA referees committee, added: “Bibiana’s outstanding experience as a trailblazer of the game, coupled with her thorough understanding of the current challenges facing female referees, will help us massively to develop the next generation of elite female match officials.”

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta, one of football’s greatest midfield maestros, has officially announced his retirement from professional football, bringing an end to a remarkable career spanning more than two decades.

Known for his vision, composure, and exceptional passing, Iniesta leaves behind a legacy that has inspired countless fans and players around the world.

Iniesta’s illustrious career is highlighted by his incredible achievements with both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

During his legendary career, Iniesta won a total of 9 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League trophies, and 6 Copa del Reys with Barcelona, cementing his place as one of the club’s all-time greats.

After over 20 years at Barcelona, Iniesta moved to Japan, where he continued to showcase his brilliance. His time at Vissel Kobe saw him claim a Japanese Championship, Cup, and Super Cup, adding yet more silverware to his already extensive collection.

After his successful tenure at Vissel Kobe, Andrés Iniesta briefly ventured into Middle Eastern football, signing with Emirates Club in the UAE in 2023, where he played for a season.

Throughout his career, Iniesta’s humility, skill, and dedication to the game earned him the respect of fans and players alike. His contributions to the sport, both domestically and internationally, will undoubtedly echo for years to come as he steps away from the game.