All posts tagged: World Cup 2026

Trump says Iran can play at World Cup in US after FIFA confirmation | World Cup 2026 News

Trump says Iran can play at World Cup in US after FIFA confirmation | World Cup 2026 News

Published by Sam Flores

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has said Iran will play their World Cup matches, leading to agreement from US President. Published On 30 Apr 202630 Apr 2026 US President ⁠Donald Trump has told reporters ⁠that “I’m OK” with Iran playing in the upcoming football World Cup, ‌which will be held in North America in June and July. The comments come after FIFA President ⁠Gianni Infantino on ⁠Thursday said Iran would be present at the ⁠tournament and would play in ⁠the US. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “If Gianni said it, I’m OK,” Trump told reporters ‌in the Oval Office. “You know what? Let ‌them ‌play.” Earlier on Thursday, Infantino began his address to delegates at the 76th FIFA congress by reiterating that Iran would play their World Cup games in the US as scheduled. Iran’s participation at this year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States has been shrouded in uncertainty since the eruption of the US-Israel war on Iran in February. “Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that …

A 48-team World Cup is Panini sticker collectors’ biggest challenge yet | World Cup 2026 News

A 48-team World Cup is Panini sticker collectors’ biggest challenge yet | World Cup 2026 News

Published by Sam Flores

The decades-old football book craze will comprise 980 unique stickers, including 68 ‘special’ ones in a 112-page ​album. Published On 29 Apr 202629 Apr 2026 For generations of ‌football fans, no World Cup would be complete without the thrill of opening ⁠a packet of ⁠Panini stickers and discovering Zico, Franz Beckenbauer, Diego Maradona or Lionel Messi staring back. Since Italian company Panini’s first sticker collection at the 1970 World Cup ⁠in Mexico, trying, and usually failing, to complete the set has been an obsession for young fans around the globe, with playground swapping mandatory. This year’s World Cup in ⁠the United States, Canada and Mexico will present the biggest challenge yet, though, and will require a considerable amount of pocket money. With 48 nations heading for the tournament in June and July – the largest edition ever – 980 unique stickers, including 68 “special” ones, will be required to ‌fill the 112-page album that will be available from Thursday. Individual packets of seven stickers retail at 1.25 pounds ($1.69) in the United Kingdom, meaning that …

Brazil and Chelsea star Estevao’s World Cup hopes in doubt after injury | World Cup 2026

Brazil and Chelsea star Estevao’s World Cup hopes in doubt after injury | World Cup 2026

Published by Sam Flores

The winger will miss the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury during last week’s 1-0 loss ⁠to Man United. Published On 25 Apr 202625 Apr 2026 Brazil and Chelsea forward Estevao’s World Cup hopes are in doubt after it was confirmed he will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. Chelsea interim coach Calum McFarlane did not give a timeframe for Estevao’s recovery from the injury sustained in the first half of last week’s game against Manchester United. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “Estevao unfortunately won’t play for us this season because he is going to be out for a little bit of time. That’s really unfortunate, especially for someone so young and so talented,” McFarlane said on Friday. “I am sure he is very hopeful he can make the World Cup, but I don’t know on that.” The tournament begins on June 11, with Brazil’s first game against Morocco at New York/New Jersey Stadium on June 13. The 19-year-old Estevao was taken off after 16 …

Italy slams Trump envoy proposal of taking Iran’s place in World Cup 2026 | World Cup 2026 News

Italy slams Trump envoy proposal of taking Iran’s place in World Cup 2026 | World Cup 2026 News

Published by Sam Flores

Italian government officials have hit back at suggestions that their national football team could still be sent to the World Cup 2026, even if already-qualified Iran does not compete at the finals. Since the United States-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, Iran’s participation in this summer’s edition of FIFA’s global showpiece has been in doubt because all of the country’s group-stage matches are scheduled to be played in the US. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The tournament is co-hosted with the US by Canada and Mexico, leading to suggestions that Iran’s games could be played at alternative venues. The speculation about Iran’s participation has been rife, with officials from both Iran and the US weighing in on the topic, including US President Donald Trump. In a statement on Wednesday, however, Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said all necessary arrangements for the team’s effective participation in the tournament have been ensured by the Ministry of Sports and Youth. An envoy for Trump, though, has been quoted as suggesting that Italy, who …

Yamal to be fit for World Cup, but injury ends his Barcelona La Liga race | Football News

Yamal to be fit for World Cup, but injury ends his Barcelona La Liga race | Football News

Published by Sam Flores

Lamine Yamal’s World Cup participation with Spain was thrown into doubt by the hamstring injury he suffered while scoring a game-winning penalty. Published On 23 Apr 202623 Apr 2026 Spanish international Lamine Yamal is expected to be fit for this summer’s World Cup, but his domestic season is over due to injury, his club Barcelona confirm. The 18-year-old left the field injured on Wednesday after scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot against Celta Vigo in La Liga, raising concerns about his availability for the World Cup 2026. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Barcelona’s medical team diagnosed a hamstring injury, which they revealed on Thursday. “The tests carried out have confirmed that first-team player ⁠Lamine Yamal has a ⁠hamstring injury in his left leg (biceps femoris muscle),” Barcelona posted in a statement on X. “The player will follow ⁠a conservative treatment plan. Lamine Yamal will ⁠miss the remainder of ⁠the season, and he is expected to be available for the World Cup.” Spain will kick ‌off their World …

Iran says ‘fully prepared’ for football team’s World Cup participation | World Cup 2026 News

Iran says ‘fully prepared’ for football team’s World Cup participation | World Cup 2026 News

Published by Sam Flores

Tehran says all necessary arrangements has been made for participation in the tournament cohosted by the US. Published On 22 Apr 202622 Apr 2026 Iran says that the country’s institutions are fully prepared for its national football team’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In a statement made to state broadcaster IRIB, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Wednesday that the Ministry of Youth and Sports ensured all necessary arrangements for the team’s effective participation in the tournament. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list She also said the preparations were made under the directive of the sport minister, with a focus on providing the required facilities for a successful performance. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on April 16 that Iran is expected to participate in the upcoming World Cup, taking place from June 11 to July 19, noting that the team has qualified and expressed its willingness to compete despite the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. “But Iran has to come, they represent their people, they have …

World Cup 2026: FIFA chief Infantino defends pricing and tickets in US | World Cup 2026 News

World Cup 2026: FIFA chief Infantino defends pricing and tickets in US | World Cup 2026 News

Published by Sam Flores

Gianni Infantino responds to criticism for pricing of 2026 edition highlighting ‘very special’ US market as factor. Published On 17 Apr 202617 Apr 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended high ‌ticket prices for this year’s World Cup in North America by saying ⁠that ⁠the event, which captivates the globe, is the organisation’s only source of income every four years. Speaking at Semafor’s annual world economy summit in New ⁠York on Friday, Infantino also reiterated that FIFA is a nonprofit organisation that has 211 nations as members. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “What many people don’t know, because, of course, we generate billions in a World ⁠Cup, people don’t know FIFA is a nonprofit organisation, which means all the revenue we generate, we invest them in the organisation of the game, in 211 countries all over the world,” Infantino said on stage during a Q&A session. “Three-quarters of [those countries] ‌probably would not be able to have organised football without the grants we could give them. So we always try to find the …

World Cup 2026: Football fans outraged by United States transit prices | World Cup 2026 News

World Cup 2026: Football fans outraged by United States transit prices | World Cup 2026 News

Published by Sam Flores

FIFA received backlash from high-profile US politicians, who believe football’s governing body should subsidise domestic transit. Published On 16 Apr 202616 Apr 2026 Football fans have expressed outrage at the exorbitant price of transit fares to get to World Cup 2026 matches, following reports that United States transport authorities have jacked up prices just for this summer’s tournament. New Jersey Transit is planning to charge fans more than $100 for tickets from Penn Station in Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey during the World Cup, according to a report from the US-based website The Athletic. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list A return ticket for the journey normally costs $12.90. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority confirmed this month that return tickets from Boston to the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts would cost $80 – up from the usual event-day price of $20. “It’s a disgrace. In recent tournaments, transportation was either included in the ticket price or offered at a heavily discounted rate for ticket holders,” Guillaume Aupretre, a spokesman …

World Cup 2026 fury as fans hit with £76 ‘rip off’ – boycott warning issued | World | News

World Cup 2026 fury as fans hit with £76 ‘rip off’ – boycott warning issued | World | News

Published by Sam Flores

World Cup 2026 fans have been left furious as the New Jersey transport system plans to hike train prices to $100 (£76) for the tournament, a sevenfold increase. As reproted by The Guardian, New Jersey Transit lists the price for a round-trip ticket from New York’s Penn Station to MetLife Stadium, which will host eight World Cup matches this summer, including the final, as $12.90. But pricing for the World Cup period, reported by The Athletic earlier this week, shows a return ticket at more than $100. The pricing does not show any reductions for children, seniors or people with disabilities. New Jersey Transit, however, told Fox 5 New York that the price has not been finalized and a decision is expected in the next few days. Meanwhile, New Jersey’s governor, Mikie Sherrill, has hit out at Fifa after reports the state’s transport system could charge $100 for a return ticket to World Cup matches. Read more: Brits handed dire World Cup warning as Iran war could see beer taps run dry Read more: FIFA …

USA striker Patrick Agyemang ruled out of World Cup due to injury | World Cup 2026 News

USA striker Patrick Agyemang ruled out of World Cup due to injury | World Cup 2026 News

Published by Sam Flores

Agyemang has been diagnosed with an Achilles tendon injury after he was stretchered off during a game for Derby. By Reuters and The Associated Press Published On 7 Apr 20267 Apr 2026 USA striker Patrick Agyemang will miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup after suffering an ⁠⁠Achilles tendon ⁠⁠injury, his English ⁠⁠club Derby County has said. “The club will ‌‌provide Patrick with the highest level of medical care and rehabilitation throughout his recovery,” the club said in a statement on Tuesday. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Agyemang’s home World Cup hopes were thrown into doubt after he was carried off on a stretcher while playing for Derby in the English second-tier football league. The 25-year-old landed awkwardly while bringing the ball down on his chest and collapsed to the grass during the English Championship match on Monday. He was visibly emotional as he was taken away, his right leg strapped. “As a result of this injury, Patrick will unfortunately miss this summer’s FIFA ⁠⁠World Cup. At this stage,⁠ ⁠it would be wrong …