2026 World Cup - players.bio

Iran beat Gambia as federation seeks FIFA clarity over visas

ANTALYA: Iran have ‌asked FIFA to clarify when tournament visas will be issued following the relocation of their World Cup training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, a senior official from the Islamic Republic’s national football federation (FFIRI) said on Friday. The national team came from behind to beat Gambia 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in the Turkish city of Antalya, days after their tournament preparations were disrupted by a base camp relocation to Mexico following approval from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and FIFA. Iran are scheduled to play all three of their ‌group matches in ‌the United States but the team’s participation ‌in ⁠the June 11 ⁠to July 19 tournament has been in question since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February. The relocation followed diplomatic friction and visa complications, with Iran now requiring cross-border clearance for their Group G matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in Los Angeles and Seattle. Mehdi Mohammadnabi, first vice president of FFIRI, told Reuters ⁠that Iran had written to FIFA seeking a firm ‌answer after earlier applying for ‌visas. “We sent an email to FIFA today and asked them to announce the ‌result as soon as possible, to say on what day ‌the visas will be issued, because we now need both multiple-entry Mexican visas and multiple-entry US visas,” Mohammadnabi said. “Based on the latest conversation we had, they replied that the administrative process will most likely be completed ‌this week,” he added. Mohammadnabi said FIFA had proposed the Tijuana camp and Iran had accepted the ⁠arrangement. “FIFA proposed ⁠this camp, and FIFA should tell you what has happened,” he said.

DR Congo end 52-year World Cup absence amid health, security crises

JOHANNESBURG: Democratic Republic of Congo will return to the World Cup in June after a 52-year absence as the vast central Africa nation reels from health and security crises. A deadly Ebola outbreak in the east of the country had recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected deaths by May 24. The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the true spread of the epidemic, thought to have circulated under the radar for some time, is likely much wider. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus from Ethiopia is heading to DR Congo, pledging to do “everything in my power” to conquer the outbreak. Fortunately, none of the 26 stars chosen to represent DR Congo at the four-yearly global showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico, play in the affected areas. French coach Sebastien Desabre selected 24 players from 11 European countries, one with a club in the United Arab Emirates and one with Egyptian outfit Pyramids. As the Ebola epidemic spreads and scientists race to develop a vaccine to combat it, fighting between government troops and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia has been raging. The mineral-rich east of the country has been scarred by violence from various armed groups for more than three decades. From 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of territory and fighting has stepped up since the beginning of last year. The national football team, known as the Leopards, are training in Europe ahead of Group K showdowns with Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan. Having survived a marathon 13-match qualifying program from Mauritania to Mexico, Desabre and his squad want to erase memories of 1974 in then West Germany. Then called Zaire, the first sub-Saharan qualifiers for the World Cup suffered a

Migrant amateur teams in Greece get into World Cup spirit before new EU border measures take effect

ATHENS: Before North America, World Cup magic made a stopover in Greece. Players battled and bonded not at the mega-stadiums of Mexico, Canada and the United States, but on practice fields squeezed into urban neighborhoods of Athens. There were no luxury suites or grand arenas — just a local soccer competition where migrants and Greek players kicked the ball on city fields before crowds pressed to chain‑link fences, as music spilled into the streets. And while Albania, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Sudan didn’t qualify for the World Cup, amateur players with ties to those countries brought their best game in Athens. Many migrant players have been bracing for the implementation of Europe’s stricter migration and asylum rules in June. But the tournament for migrant and refugee communities was a joyful distraction, a celebration of football and identity. At one venue near Plato’s Academy, where ancient Athenians once debated the meaning of citizenship, the Acropolis rose in the distance beyond the field.

Iran expect to hear about US World Cup visas this week

ANTALYA, Turkiye: Iran will have an answer from US authorities over their World Cup visa applications “this week,” their football federation vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi said on Friday.

Photos with Messi as World Cup debutants Jordan aim to prove they belong

AMMAN: Jordan play at their first World Cup determined to show they belong at football’s top table and with Lionel Messi’s Argentina presenting the most daunting of prospects. Jamal Sellami’s side face Austria in a tough Group J on their World Cup debut on June 16, followed by Algeria and then reigning champions Argentina in their final pool game in Dallas. The tournament expanding to 48 teams from 32 helped propel Jordan, a country of 12 million people with a creaking football infrastructure, to their maiden finals. “We have the right to dream,” the former Moroccan international Sellami told AFP. “We are not thinking like a team satisfied with mere participation.” Jordan had eight wins, five draws and three defeats from their 16 Asian qualifying matches, coming second behind South Korea in their group to make a slice of history. Huge celebrations erupted in Amman, fans driving through the capital honking their horns and chanting while others waved the national flag in triumph. It was a second major milestone for the national side in 16 months, having reaching their first Asian Cup final. They were beaten 3-1 by hosts Qatar in the continental decider in February 2024 but were hugely impressive in getting there against all expectations under their much-admired previous coach Hussein Ammouta. The exciting attacking duo of Yazan Al-Naimat and Mousa Al-Tamari were pivotal in that run, terrorizing the South Korean defense in a 2-0 win over Son Heung-min’s side in the semifinals. But Naimat will miss the World Cup in North America with a serious knee injury, one of several injury blows to the Jordan squad. Jordan’s Asian Cup heroics and World Cup qualification came against the backdrop of deep-rooted problems in domestic

World Cup crashes New Zealand goalkeeper’s wedding plans

AUCKLAND: Auckland FC goalkeeper Michael Woud has ‌had to put his wedding plans on hold after being selected in New Zealand’s squad for the World Cup, but he says taking part in soccer’s biggest tournament is not a bad reason to cancel. Woud got engaged a year ago when he had little inkling he would be in coach Darren Bazeley’s World Cup plans and had intended to wed fiancée Zana Renton around the time of the June 11 to July 19 finals in North America. Bazeley confirmed six-cap Woud as his third goalkeeper in ‌the 26-man squad ‌behind Max Crocombe and Alex Paulsen this ‌month. ⁠And while Woud ⁠might not get to play a minute at the World Cup, he said Renton had signed off on it. “My fiancée was really supportive about it.

Ecuadorean children chase World Cup dreams at Caicedo’s football schools

QUITO: Children of all ages rush ‌on to a soccer field in southern Quito to train, inspired by the achievements of their biggest role model, Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, and driven by the dream of one day playing in a World Cup like their idol. The children, aged between five and 16, have been training at one of Caicedo’s and his family’s ‘Nino Moi 23’ academies in the dangerous neighborhood of Guamani since last year.

Norway’s natural-born goalscorer Haaland finally gets global stage

LONDON: Erling Haaland propelled Norway back to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and spearheads a golden generation ready to thrive on the global stage. Despite a tough draw alongside one of the tournament favorites France, African powerhouses Senegal and Iraq, a Norway side also containing Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is confident of progressing beyond the last 16 for the first time. Odegaard’s injury troubles left Haaland to take the lead in a flawless qualification campaign. The Manchester City striker scored 16 times as Stale Solbakken’s men plundered 37 goals in eight consecutive wins. That included two thrashings of Italy that ultimately cost the Azzurri a place at the World Cup. “I’ve never experienced Norway being at the World Cup in my life, so I think it was about time,” Haaland told FIFA.com. “For me personally, it is a huge thing. I have said it for a long time, my big goal is to get Norway to the World Cup...

Contacts

2026 World Cup Sport News

Iran beat Gambia as federation seeks FIFA clarity over visas

DR Congo end 52-year World Cup absence amid health, security crises

Migrant amateur teams in Greece get into World Cup spirit before new EU border measures take effect

Iran expect to hear about US World Cup visas this week

Photos with Messi as World Cup debutants Jordan aim to prove they belong

World Cup crashes New Zealand goalkeeper’s wedding plans

Ecuadorean children chase World Cup dreams at Caicedo’s football schools

Norway’s natural-born goalscorer Haaland finally gets global stage