World Cup 2026: Empty seat at World Cup for imprisoned French sports journalist

A seat is being left empty in the press box at every France game at the World Cup to highlight the case of a French sports journalist who is in prison in Algeria.

Christophe Gleizes was sentenced in 2025 for seven years for supporting terrorism.

French journalists’ unions have called on Algeria to release Gleizes, who specialises in African football for the Paris-based So Foot magazine.

On Monday, journalists held up scarves saying ‘Free Gleizes’ before France boss Didier Deschamps’ news conference at the New Jersey New York Stadium to preview Tuesday’s game with Senegal (20:00 BST).

Gleizes’ mother Sylvie has travelled to the World Cup to highlight her son’s case.

She told BBC Sport on Monday that his accreditation for the tournament was personally approved by Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

She added that her son felt “cut off” from the world.