Football
7 hours ago
FIFA 2026: Liverpool star ruled out of World Cup
By SEN
World Cup 2026 Weekly news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as we countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
LIVERPOOL STAR OUT OF WORLD CUP
A cruel update from Europe overnight with confirmation Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike has ruptured his Achilles and will miss the World Cup.
The Frenchman sustained the injury in Liverpool's Champions League clash with Paris St Germain earlier this week.
Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike's) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," France national team manager Didier Deschamps said.
This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.
"I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."
IRAN "FOR SURE" TAKING PART
Despite the ongoing war in the Middle East, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is adamant Iran will contest the tournament this June/July.
Amid desperate attempts at peace talks between Iran and the USA, doubts have been cast on whether the former would send a squad with all three of their group matches schedule to be played on American soil.
Last month Iranian government officials were insistent they saw no way they could take part without their fixtures being relocated to Mexico - a request which was rejected.
Now, Infantino has moved to assure the world that things will proceed as planned.
"The Iranian team is coming, for sure," Infantino said at CNBC's Invest in America Forum.
"We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.
"They really want to play. And they should play -- sports should be outside of politics.
"Now, OK -- we don't live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, but if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them intact and together, well we are doing that."
Former Real Madrid head coach takes on Ghana role
With the World Cup now less than two months away, Ghana has officially unveiled their new coach for the tournament.
Having removed Otto Addo last month after a poor run in their last two international breaks, the Black Stars have confirmed the appointment of Portugal's Carlos Queiroz to the role.
The 73-year-old has plenty of experience, with his most notable position being manager of Real Madrid between 2003 and 2004.
He has also coached at the last four World Cups with Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 & 2022. Only once in those four appearances has he gotten out of the group stage.
Ghana will play England, Croatia and Panama in Group L.
FIFA under pressure to stop Trump's ICE raids
FIFA is under pressure to petition Donald Trump not to carry out immigration raids during the World Cup.
According to The Athletic, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has been approached by his colleagues to make the request to the president as fears mount over the proposed presence of ICE agents at the tournament.
Al Jazeera published a statement from the White House regarding the matter.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind, right here in the United States of America,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said.
“This event will generate billions of dollars of economic impact and bring hundreds of thousands of jobs to our country. The President is focused on making this the greatest World Cup ever while ensuring it is the safest and most secure in history.”
UNOFFICIAL ANTHEMS OF 2026
Apologies to Jelly Roll but the official World Cup song just isn't going to cut it.
"Lighter" - a collaborative offering by the country-rapper and Mexican singer Carin Leon - was released last month and has been universally panned by fans across social media.
So forget the actual World Cup song, there are some absolute bangers doing the rounds.
Brazil, Portugal and France are in a three-way tie for the lead when it comes to best team song.
We don't care if these were AI generated, whoever put them together needs a Grammy.
Simple in their content, all three songs list the big name players set to be named in the squads for the USA with particular nodes to "the kings" Neymar and Ronaldo.
- Warning * these tracks will live in your head rent free for the rest of the year.
PORTUGAL
BRAZIL
IRAN'S BID TO MOVE MATCHES
Despite the best efforts from Iran, FIFA has rejected the nation’s bid to have its World Cup matches relocated to Mexico amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Iran’s three group matches are scheduled to take place on American soil and nothing will change according to the governing body.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said logistically any relocation of fixtures was not feasible.
“FIFA ultimately decided that the matches cannot be moved from their original venues,” Sheinbaum said.
“It (relocation) would make logistics too complicated, and this decision was taken by FIFA.”
Iran have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
ITALIAN FANS COP IT
It’s been a rough road for the Italian national football team.
For the third consecutive tournament, they will play no part in the World Cup – which could be just as well for the governing body amid claims players were demanding $15,000 bonuses each if they had made the cut.
Across the squad it would have amounted to over $500,000.
According to Italian media outlet La Repubblica, players made the demands before they played Bosnia in their do-or-die qualifying clash earlier this month which they ultimately lost on penalties.
In better news for Italian fans, Canada made an offer to replace the European nation’sa kits with the red and white after the Azzurri failed to make the tournament’s final line-up.
“Don’t wait four more years” Canada Soccer told Italy fans, inviting them to a kit swap in Toronto.
The organisation said: “Canada Soccer is inviting Italian-Canadians to get behind the home team. “On Saturday 4 April from 10am to 2pm (EST), Canada Soccer will be outside Cafe Diplomatico on College Street in Toronto, offering fans the chance to swap their Italy colours for a Canada jersey and join the momentum heading into the Fifa World Cup 2026.”
A huge queue of fans turned up to take the governing body up on their offer.
FANS PRICED OUT
Some fans won’t be able to watch their teams play at the World Cup and that’s all down to one Donald Trump and a new visa policy.
With the majority of matches slated to be played in the USA, new “visa bonds” have been launched covering 50 countries, many of which will be playing in the World Cup.
Bonds are, in some cases, upwards of $15k US which, when added to the extortionate price of FIFA ticketing, hotels, travel and general costs of being over seas, will rule a large chunk of fans out of attending.
Who says soccer is the world’s game?
Bonds range from $US5k-$US15k and that is per person so if you’re travelling with a family of four you’re looking at a minimum of $US20k.
The bonds apply to 30 African nations, 9 Asian countries, 5 from North America (including the Caribbean and Central America), 5 from Oceania, and 1 from South America.
