- Early on Wednesday morning, FIFA officials and others are arrested following a United States Department of Justice request, with Swiss authorities confirming the charges related to corruption allegations.
- A total of 14 people are indicted, including nine FIFA officials, seven of whom have been arrested.
- Those arrested are alleged to have solicited and received bribes totalling in excess of $100 million between the early 1990s and the present day.
- FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin Al Hussein calls it a "sad day for football" and demands drastic changes in the way the governing body is run.
- Swiss prosecutors open separate criminal proceedings against "persons unknown" in relation to alleged money laundering with regard to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, with FIFA described as the "injured party."
- At a hastily arranged press conference, FIFA explain they are "very happy" with the arrests and for the investigations to take place, while confirming president Sepp Blatter and vice president Jerome Valcke are not involved in the probe.
- Director of communications Walter de Gregorio adds that the hosting of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will not be affected and that Friday's presidential elections will go ahead as planned.
- The Department of Justice names the indicted FIFA officials, who include Jack Warner and CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb.
- U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch says at a New York news conference that it's time for FIFA to do some "soul searching," adding, “They were expected to uphold the rules and keep soccer honest. Instead, they corrupted the world of soccer.”
- Ex FIFA vice-president Warner pleads his innocence, saying: "I reiterate that I am innocent of any charges. The actions of FIFA no longer concern me. I have been afforded no due process and I have not even been questioned in this matter."
- The "majority" of the football officials arrested on Wednesday contest extradition to the United States, it is announced, leaving Switzerland's Federal Office for Justice awaiting formal requests within 40 days before proceedings can be resumed.
- European football's governing body UEFA calls for Friday's elections to be postponed, and expresses concern that corruption is "deeply rooted in FIFA's culture."
- FIFA bans 11 individuals from carrying out any football-related activities, a move welcomed by Blatter.
- Blatter releases a statement that reads in part, "As unfortunate as these events are, it should be clear that we welcome the actions and the investigations by the US and Swiss authorities and believe that it will help to reinforce measures that FIFA has already taken to root out any wrongdoing in football."