Page 18 - Latest Updates on FIFA World Cup

FIFA WC 2026 Group A: South Korea, Mexico in focus in group of underdogs

Co-hosts Mexico and Asian powerhouse South Korea headline one of the World Cup's most evenly matched groups

Fifa World Cup workers threaten strike before $2,000-a-ticket game

Workers are seeking higher wages and stronger protections for personal information from immigration authorities

Iran's World Cup team approved for visas to play games in the US: Officials

Members of Iran's World Cup soccer team have been granted visas to the United States, two U.S. officials said, clearing them to enter the United States from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of their first two matches near Los Angeles this month. The team's participation in the World Cup has been complicated by Iran's war with Israel and the United States. Problems with processing visas had earlier led Iran to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, on Mexico's border with California. One U.S. official said all players on the Iranian team were approved for visas and were in the process of receiving them. A second official said visas had been issued for players, coaches, trainers and some support staff. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the visas publicly. The second official could not say if any Iranian applicants had been denied. It was not immediately clear when the Iranian team's passports would

Fifa to let fans bring bottled water to World Cup, but with some caveats

Mamdani had raised concerns about reports that Fifa had banned fans from bringing bottles of water to World Cup matches, demanding answers from Fifa

England's World Cup opener set to trigger a spike in UK power demand

One of the biggest surges is expected at half-time, as hundreds of thousands of viewers leave their couches and switch on kettles all at once

The Power and the Glory: Geopolitics, FIFA and the beautiful game

Jonathan Wilson's The Power and the Glory traces how the FIFA World Cup evolved from a football tournament into a global stage for power, politics and profit

Inside Atlanta's FIFA World Cup 2026: matches, fans and matchday magic

With eight World Cup matches scheduled to be played here, Atlanta Stadium is expected to be one of the tournament's busiest and most iconic venues.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Rising costs, travel hurdles leave fan bases hanging

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a growing number of long-time supporters say this edition has become financially and logistically out of reach.

Fans barred from carrying refillable water bottles into World Cup venues

FIFA has made a late change of policy to bar World Cup fans from bringing refillable water bottles into the tournament's 16 stadiums across North America including some with limited or no shade from the sun. The "Stadium Code of Conduct" update was criticised on Thursday by an English fan group, which argued FIFA had given assurances on carrying empty plastic bottles to fill with freely available water at a tournament where heat and extreme weather are expected to be a factor. "Naturally, the immediate thought from supporters is this is just the latest money grab," the Free Lions fan group said in a statement. Water, sodas and juices sold at World Cup stadiums are supplied exclusively by long-time FIFA sponsor Coca-Cola when the tournament starts next Thursday. Andrew Giuliani, who is the executive director of the White House Task Force for this year's World Cup, said conversations are ongoing with FIFA about the decision. "Certainly, understanding that fans with bottles - if anyt

Neymar absent from Brazil squad traveling for Egypt exhibition game

Neymar is not traveling to Cleveland with Brazil's World Cup team for its exhibition tuneup against Egypt on Saturday, according to the country's soccer association. The Brazilian Football Confederation said Thursday the 34-year-old forward would remain in New Jersey to undergo treatment. Last week, the team doctor said that Neymar was expected to be sidelined two to three weeks because of a calf injury. Brazil's opening game at the World Cup is June 13 against Morocco in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and it was not clear if Neymar would be ready to play in it. Picking Neymar for the 26-player roster was considered a risk because of his health. He is Brazil's all-time leading goal scorer with 79 but has struggled since returning from tearing the ACL in his left knee in October 2023 in a World Cup qualifier. "He can still improve his fitness until the first match of the World Cup," coach Carlos Ancelotti said last month. "He has experience in this kind of competition, the love of our

Fifa's $13 bn World Cup faces backlash as high costs hit fans, host cities

Host cities are shifting World Cup costs to fans and taxpayers, for instance, in New York, a New Jersey Transit trip to MetLife Stadium that usually costs $13 is priced at $98 during the tournament

Iran players break silence on how war affects their World Cup preparations

Iran is heading to the World Cup while the country is at war with the primary host nation, a situation that is unique in the tournament's history. In exclusive interviews with The Associated Press during a team camp in Turkey, two members of Iran's squad described how the conflict is affecting its World Cup preparations. "Well, to be honest, it's not easy," said Saeid Ezatolahi, a 29-year-old midfielder who also played for Iran in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. "That's going to be my third World Cup. So for me and some of the other players, it might be easier to manage these kind of things," he said in English on the sidelines of a training session on Wednesday. "But at the end ... it is going to be difficult for us because at the same time, we are following the news in our country and the political things, of course, can affect the mind of the players and the people." The Iran team has spent more than two weeks in Turkey, mostly practicing at the coastal resort Antalya, and some we

Congo football team's WC warmup game cancelled due to Ebola in Spain

Congo was still hoping to play its World Cup warmup against Chile after the mayor of the Spanish city of La Linea de la Concepcion denied authorization for the match because of health concerns related to the Ebola crisis. Congo's soccer federation said it was in discussions with the Spanish soccer federation and relevant international bodies to find solutions. Government authorities in the southern city of La Linea de la Concepcion announced the decision to not authorize next Tuesday's friendly citing possible health risks linked to the Ebola crisis. Congo was playing a warmup against Denmark in Liege, Belgium, on Wednesday. An outbreak of a rare type of Ebola virus has plagued Congo and Uganda. The World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern. Congo had already canceled a three-day World Cup preparation training camp and a planned farewell to fans in the capital Kinshasa because of the outbreak the eastern part of the country. All

Zee's Fifa bet: Can football deliver returns in cricket-dominated India?

Football remains a niche sport in India compared to cricket; yet, Zee believes Fifa can help build Zee5, strengthen its sports channels and attract premium advertisers over the next decade

Yildiz to Nico Paz: Young players to watch out for during FIFA WC 2026

From highly-rated teenagers to emerging talents already making waves in Europe's top leagues, several young players could use the tournament as their breakout moment.

VAR reviews to quick substitutions: FIFA introduces new rules ahead of WC

From expanded VAR powers to stricter time-wasting measures, here are the key rule changes set to reshape the game.

Meet Samuel Moutousammy, Indian origin player in FIFA WC 2026 for DR Congo

Born in France, Moutoussamy comes from a diverse family background. His mother is Congolese, while his father is an Indo-Guadeloupean of Tamil descent.

Meet Sarpreet Singh, New Zealand's Indian-Origin player at FIFA WC 2026

Born and raised in Auckland, Singh's family roots trace back to Jalandhar in Punjab, making his World Cup appearance a proud moment for football fans of Indian origin around the globe.

FIFA WC 2026: Check Cape Verde's full schedule, squad and team preview here

Cape Verde, officially known as Cabo Verde, secured a historic first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification by finishing at the top of a highly competitive CAF qualifying group

FIFA WC 2026: Check Croatia's full schedule, squad and team preview here

After finishing runners-up in 2018 and securing third place in 2022, Zlatko Dalic's side has consistently proven its ability to compete with the world's best