… Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Coach Amir Ghalenoei said Iran is the "most oppressed team in the World Cup" after his players were suddenly informed they must travel back to Mexico immediately after their opening game ended in Los Angeles …
… The Iranian team's very presence at the Los Angeles Stadium had long felt uncertain, after months of military conflict between their nation and the United States. …
… "Following the national team's trip to Los Angeles for the match against New Zealand and the conclusion of that game, Torabi's visa has now expired," state news agency IRNA reported.The Iranian Football Federation "has taken steps to obtain a new visa for Torabi, so that he can a …
… They play their opener against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, marking the first time that a World Cup host has hosted a country with which it is at war. …
… In other games on Monday, Saudi Arabia face Uruguay in Group H in Miami, while Belgium face Mohamed Salah's Egypt in a Group G game in Seattle. - Iran protests planned -In Los Angeles all eyes will turn to Iran's opening game of the tournament, where they take on New Zealand in G …
… 13, 2026 03:20 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter US players celebrate the fourth goal by midfielder Giovanni Reyna during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles …
… ls-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); Co-hosts the United States launched their home World Cup in emphatic fashion Friday, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 to delight a star-studded 70,000-strong crowd in Los Angeles …
Coach Amir Ghalenoei said Iran is the "most oppressed team in the World Cup" after players were ordered to return to Mexico immediately following their opening match in Los Angeles. The squad has faced visa delays for support staff, last-minute travel documents for players, and a forced relocation of its training camp from Arizona to Mexico due to logistical issues amid tensions between Iran and the United States.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei said Iran is the "most oppressed team in the World Cup" after players were ordered to return to Mexico immediately following their opening match in Los Angeles. The squad has faced visa delays for support staff, last-minute travel documents for players, and a forced relocation of its training camp from Arizona to Mexico due to logistical issues amid tensions between Iran and the United States.
Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in their World Cup opening match, with goals from Elijah Just for New Zealand offset by equalizers from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi. The match took place amid military conflict between Iran and the United States, visa delays, visa refusals, and protests both against the team and in support of Iran.
Iranian national team winger Mehdi Torabi was issued only a single-entry US visa, which expired after Iran's 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their World Cup opening match. The Iranian Football Federation is seeking a new visa for Torabi to allow him to continue participating in upcoming matches.
Iran's coach Amir Ghalenoei said political tensions and visa issues have damaged preparations for the World Cup but insisted his players will not "pay attention to any of the hype." The team faces New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, marking the first time a World Cup host has hosted a country with which it is at war.
Spain were held to a goalless draw by World Cup first-timers Cape Verde on Monday in their Group H opener, despite 74 percent possession and being regarded as strong pre-tournament favourites. Cape Verde, a volcanic archipelago of 525,000 people ranked as 2000-1 outsiders by betting websites, secured an improbable point in their inaugural World Cup match.
Qatar earned their first ever World Cup point after Boualem Khoukhi's late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, whose Breel Embolo penalty had given them an early lead.
Curaçao, a Caribbean island of 160,000 people and the smallest nation by population in the tournament, makes its World Cup debut against four-time champion Germany on Sunday in Houston. Coach Dick Advocaat, the oldest in World Cup history at 78, believes the team can "steal some points" despite being underdogs.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the entire squad after the co-hosts defeated Paraguay 4-1 on Friday in Los Angeles, with Folarin Balogun scoring twice and Gio Reyna adding another, saying the victory was a collective team performance rather than individual brilliance.
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil play surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco on Saturday in one of the standout group-stage matchups at the expanded 48-team tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing minimal excitement in the United States, with fans citing high ticket prices (exceeding $1,000 for the opening match), visa denials, and locals' preference for basketball as reasons for poor turnout. The US co-host nation's opening match against Paraguay drew sparse attendance, and President Trump declined to attend.
The United States defeated Paraguay 4-1 in the 2026 World Cup's first match on US soil, held in Los Angeles, with goals from Folarin Balogun (2), Gio Reyna, and an own goal giving the co-hosts a dominant start to the tournament.
The United States beat Paraguay 4-1 in their World Cup tournament opener on home soil, with goals from Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna, giving the co-hosts an early advantage in Group D alongside Australia and Turkey.
The United States begins their World Cup campaign against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, June 12, 2026—their first finals game on home soil in 32 years. US head coach Mauricio Pochettino says success means winning the World Cup, not merely progressing from Group D.
Iran's footballers held a public training session in Tijuana on Thursday ahead of the World Cup, their first glimpse to journalists since arriving for the tournament. The squad moved their camp to Tijuana from Arizona, and only a dozen of 26 players were visible during the fifteen-minute session, with striker Mehdi Taremi absent.
A day before the United States' first World Cup match against Paraguay, coach Mauricio Pochettino held a public training session where he led 5,500 fans in chants at the team's base in Irvine, California, as part of broader efforts to energise supporters and players.
Iran's World Cup squad departed Turkey for Mexico on Saturday ahead of the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, after the US refused to issue visas for some team support staff, triggering a diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington.
The US has confirmed that Iran's national football team has been granted visas to enter the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the US despite ongoing regional tensions between the two countries.
Iran's national football team handed their passports to the US embassy in Turkey for visa applications ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, according to Iran's Football Federation head Mehdi Taj, following FIFA's instructions. The team's participation remains uncertain as Iran and the US negotiate to end a Middle East war that began in February.
Hollywood is holding a series of events to mark the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth, including tributes at the Chinese Theatre where her handprints are displayed and an Academy Museum exhibit celebrating her film career and life.
Iran's football federation said FIFA approved the team's request to move its 2026 World Cup training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, citing visa difficulties.
Iran's national football team will play Mali on June 4 in a friendly match during its pre-World Cup training camp in Antalya, Turkey, the Iranian football federation said. The match follows a game against Gambia as Iran prepares for the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
Iran's football federation vice-president expressed confidence in FIFA's protocols as the team prepares for the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Iran will face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in Group G, opening their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
Two Kenyan Star 3 referees, Samuel Obiero and Nelson Otieno, were recognized by World Boxing and the International Boxing Association after passing a WB/IBA Online Course. Edward Kibunja Mwaura of Kenya Prisons was separately promoted by the IBA.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom described a meeting held on Saturday in Istanbul with the Iranian federation as "excellent" and "constructive," focusing on ensuring Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran is scheduled to play all three group matches in the US despite the war in the Middle East.
Iran's football federation chief said no visas had been issued for the Iranian national team to participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, and announced a planned meeting with FIFA to resolve the visa issue.
Iran held a send-off ceremony Wednesday in Tehran's Enghelab Square for the national football team ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The team will face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G, opening against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
FIFA has invited Iran's football federation to its Zurich headquarters by May 20 to prepare for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed Iran will participate and play its games in the United States as scheduled, despite uncertainty arising from Middle East conflict.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe told AFP that the IOC's decision to introduce testing to determine eligibility to compete in the female category—limiting Olympic women's sports from the 2028 Los Angeles Games to biological females and excluding those with differences in sexual development—is a "very important development for the Olympic movement."
The United Arab Emirates has uncovered and dismantled a money laundering and arms smuggling network whose members are linked to the Sudanese army, exposing undeclared military supply infrastructure operating in conflict zones where drones play an increasingly significant role.
Pump prices in the United States climbed to their highest level since early 2022 following US and Israeli bombing of Iran on February 28, which has crimped oil supply. The conflict, which President Trump says was necessary to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, is unpopular among Americans according to polls.