Posts in category: Sports

The Iran Football Federation has announced that it will file a complaint with FIFA over travel restrictions imposed on the national team by World Cup organisers, saying the measures are affecting the team’s preparations for the tournament.

In a statement, the federation said the restrictions placed by event organisers were disrupting the team’s training and match preparations.

A spokesperson for the Iran Football Federation said the federation had requested permission from organisers for the team to travel to Los Angeles two days before its scheduled match against Belgium, which is set to take place on Sunday.

However, according to the spokesperson, organisers rejected Iran’s request to enter the United States two days ahead of the match.

The spokesperson added that despite submitting the team’s preparation schedule well in advance and presenting technical reasons to support the request, Iran was once again facing restrictions imposed by the organisers.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Tunisia Sack Head Coach After Just One Match

Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said Iran had already been informed that the team would only be allowed to enter the United States one day before the match and would be required to leave on the same evening after the game.

Iran’s team was also required to leave Los Angeles on the same night after its World Cup match against New Zealand.

Iran’s next two World Cup matches, against Belgium and Egypt, are both scheduled to be played in the United States.

A total of 75 goals have been scored by the end of the first round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, taking the average number of goals per match to 3.1.

This marks the first time since 1958 that the World Cup has recorded an average of more than three goals per game during the opening phase of the tournament.

According to the latest statistics, players took 600 shots in the first 24 matches, with 200 of them hitting the target. Nine out of the 24 games ended in draws, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the opening round.

Spain has emerged as the leading team in passing, completing 811 passes in a single match. Overall, a total of 22,520 passes have been attempted in the tournament so far, with 19,264 of them completed successfully.

Germany registered the biggest win of the tournament to date by scoring seven goals in a single match, while Türkiye produced the most attacking display, attempting 30 shots in one game.

Uruguay has been the standout team in crossing and corner kicks, recording 42 crosses and 14 corners, the highest figures in both categories so far.

Also Read: Expensive Tickets, Visa Issues Put FIFA World Cup in Controversy Before Kick-Off

Tournament statistics also show that 205 corners, 72 offsides, 52 yellow cards and only three red cards have been recorded in the competition up to this point.

Among individual performers, Argentina’s Lionel Messi is the joint top scorer of the opening phase with three goals. Türkiye’s Arda Güler leads all players in shots attempted with eight efforts.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo tops the charts for successful dribbles, while Germany’s Joshua Kimmich has emerged as one of the standout playmakers of the tournament with two assists.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has become controversial even before its kick-off, with expensive tickets, visa issues and growing anger among football fans dominating the debate.

Compared with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, this year’s event is being described as the most expensive tournament in history. The main reason is that even the cheapest tickets have become so costly that buying them has become impossible for ordinary fans.

For the first time, football’s biggest event is being hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. Teams participating in the tournament have already landed in the host countries, while fans are eager to watch their favourite sides in action.

However, the global event has already been surrounded by controversy before the kick-off stage, with high ticket prices emerging as the biggest issue.

Fans are being priced out of the 2026 World Cup 🎟️

We asked U.S. World Cup chief Andrew Giuliani about it.

His response: it’s “sad”, but maybe the answer is an EVEN BIGGER World Cup? ⚽👀

(@jonathancrane5 🎙️) pic.twitter.com/aHBOknJMUG

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) June 8, 2026

FIFA had arranged a draw to give football fans an opportunity to watch World Cup matches live in stadiums. More than 4.5 million people took part in the draw, but fans were left stunned when ticket price details were revealed.

FIFA sells match tickets in four different categories. In the past, ticket prices for each category usually remained fixed from beginning to end. This year, however, FIFA has changed the traditional system for the first time and adopted the controversial “dynamic pricing” model associated with American corporate culture and the open market.

Under this model, ticket prices change as demand increases. This means prices are not fixed according to category. As soon as demand for a match rises or traffic on the website increases, FIFA’s system automatically raises the ticket price.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Eight Players Aged 40 or Above Expected to Feature

In simple terms, different fans may have to pay different prices for similar seats in the same stadium.

A comparison between ticket prices for the World Cup in the United States and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar shows a major difference. Most of the debate is focused on Category 4 tickets, which are considered the cheapest option for ordinary fans.

Qatar World Cup vs USA World Cup ticket prices pic.twitter.com/GZtJNmmfhn

— World Cup 2026 Daily (@TotalFootball) June 9, 2026

President Trump has also expressed surprise over the high ticket prices, saying he would never buy a $1,000 ticket to watch the United States’ opening match.

At the Qatar World Cup, the cheapest ticket was $11 and the most expensive was $1,600. For the World Cup in the United States, the cheapest ticket is being sold for $100, while the most expensive ticket is priced at $6,370. Due to dynamic pricing, these prices could rise further.

This is why fans around the world are calling FIFA a “board of the rich” and asking whether football’s biggest event has now become only for wealthy people.

Football Supporters Europe, the largest organisation of football fans in Europe, has called the ticket prices for this World Cup “exploitation” and has filed a formal complaint against FIFA with the European Commission.

The organisation says that when the United States, Canada and Mexico were awarded hosting rights in 2018, FIFA documents promised that starting ticket prices for ordinary fans would be around $21. However, even group-stage tickets are now being sold for $180 to $700, which the organisation says is complete injustice to ordinary fans.

The complaint also states that FIFA promoted tickets priced at $60, but those tickets were available in such limited numbers that they were sold out before sales opened to the general public.

FIFA has reserved the cheapest stadium tickets, known as Category 4 tickets, only for fans from the host countries. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of higher-category tickets were sold on the open market, where they could be purchased by anyone from around the world. However, due to extremely high prices, ordinary fans from other countries were unable to buy them.

🇺🇸 Kicker $hock

▫Trump rips $1,000 World Cup ticket prices, tells The Post: ‘I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest’
▫@jamesfraney
▫https://t.co/ugIhqAXdSW#frontpagestoday @nypost #USA pic.twitter.com/E17Cq7qeq8

— 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 (@ukpapers) May 8, 2026

On the other hand, fans who managed to get tickets are facing U.S. visa restrictions, strict immigration laws and travel hurdles.

As a result, fans from several countries are unable to travel to the United States to support their teams despite having purchased tickets.

According to a BBC report, President Trump has suspended visa processing for citizens of 15 countries during the World Cup. These countries include Brazil. The report also said that citizens of 11 countries have faced visa rejection rates of more than 40 percent, including Iran, Ghana, Egypt and Algeria, among others.

FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to create a unique and historic record in football history, with a record eight players aged 40 or above expected to participate in the mega event being hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.

This number is higher than the total number of players aged over 40 who featured across all previous 22 FIFA World Cups.

From 1930 to 2022, only seven players above the age of 40 participated in football’s global tournament. Older players at World Cups have usually been goalkeepers, but the 2026 edition is expected to highlight that age is only a number.

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, aged 43, could be the oldest player at this World Cup. Reports suggest Gordon will be part of the squad as a substitute goalkeeper. If he takes the field, he will become the second-oldest player in World Cup history.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi will be 38 during this World Cup and will also be playing his sixth World Cup.

The oldest player in FIFA World Cup history is Essam El-Hadary, who represented Egypt at the 2018 World Cup at the age of 45.

Also Read: PCB Announces 16-Member ODI Squad for Australia Series

Football legend and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41, will be the oldest outfield player at this World Cup. By playing the sixth World Cup of his career, he will also set another global record.

Croatia’s legendary midfielder Luka Modric is also part of the 40-year-old players’ club for this World Cup. He will lead his team in his fifth World Cup. Bosnia’s renowned striker Edin Dzeko is also expected to be in action.

Other players on the list include Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose African team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Germany’s famous goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup, is also set to return to the field at the age of 40.

Also Read: Mohammad Amir Gets British Citizenship, Opens Door to IPL

Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will celebrate his 40th birthday the day after his team’s first group match. Mexico’s famous goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa will also play the sixth World Cup of his career at the age of 40.

Roger Milla of Cameroon holds the record for being the oldest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. He made history by scoring at the age of 42 in the 1994 World Cup and remains the oldest player to score in the finals.

The United States has refused to issue visas to 15 members of Iran’s delegation ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, creating difficulties for the Iranian team’s administrative staff.

According to AFP, Iranian state television reported that while visas have been granted to the national team’s players and coaching staff, the applications of 15 individuals from the team’s administrative and management group have not yet been resolved.

A reporter from Iranian state TV, speaking from the team’s training camp in Antalya, Turkey, said that the players and technical staff have complete travel documentation. However, some members of the delegation’s administrative personnel have not been issued US visas.

The development comes at a time when Iran’s national team is actively preparing for the World Cup. Iran’s group-stage matches are scheduled to be held entirely in the United States, while the team’s base camp has been established in Mexico.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

So far, US authorities have not issued any official statement explaining the reasons for the delay or refusal of visas.

Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 16-member national squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, making several key changes.

According to the PCB, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed captain, while Salman Agha has been named vice-captain.

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been dropped from the squad. Former captain Babar Azam, fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, all-rounder Shadab Khan, and young spinner Sufiyan Muqeem have returned to the national team.

Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas and Rohail Nazir have also been included in Pakistan’s ODI squad. Mohammad Ghazi Ghori and Rohail Nazir have been named as wicketkeeper-batters. Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain are also part of the 16-member squad for the Australia series.

The three ODI matches between Pakistan and Australia will be played from May 30 to June 4 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir has formally obtained British citizenship and has also been issued a British passport, technically opening the door for his participation in the Indian Premier League.

According to media reports, Amir had been living in the United Kingdom for a long time with his British-origin wife, Narjis Khan, and their children. After completing all legal procedures and the required time period, he has now officially acquired British citizenship.

On Wednesday, Mohammad Amir shared a post from his official social media account in which a user congratulated him and extended best wishes over receiving British citizenship.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has imposed a ban on Pakistani players’ participation in the IPL. Due to this restriction, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood had also played in the IPL after obtaining British citizenship.

After receiving a British passport, Amir is now technically eligible to play in the IPL. Reports also suggest that if he receives an offer from the league, he will consider participating in it.

Mohammad Amir has expressed his desire to play in the IPL several times. During a podcast, he was asked which league he would choose if the schedules of the PSL and IPL clashed in the future. Amir replied that after getting British citizenship, he would prefer to play in the IPL, and if he did not get an opportunity there, he would take part in the PSL.

Amir retired from international cricket for the second time in 2024. In the recent PSL season, he was part of the new franchise Rawalpindis. During the auction held in February 2026, the Rawalpindi team picked him for Rs54 million. Earlier, he had represented Quetta Gladiators in PSL 10 and Karachi Kings before that.

Mohammad Amir had also expressed his wish to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru if given a chance in the IPL. He said he would like to play for Virat Kohli’s team because of the respect he has for him.