Iranian FA chief Mehdi Taj says FIFA must guarantee that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is not insulted by the United States if the national team is to travel to the country to play at the World Cup in June. Messi finally lifted football’s biggest prize in Qatar after Argentina defeated France in one of the most dramatic World Cup finals ever played. I was at Barcelona and he was at Real Madrid, and we were competing for everything both collectively and individually, so people were always comparing us,” Messi said. Joining Bolavip US in July 2024 marked a significant step forward in his career, allowing him to continue developing his skills and delivering resonant news about U.S. sports to the audience. Matias Persuh is a sports journalist and writer who began his career after graduating with a bachelor's degree in Sports Journalism in 2008. Cristiano Ronaldo’s tenure at Real Madrid cemented his legacy as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, transforming the club into an absolute European powerhouse.

Thanks to an own goal from Diney Borges, due to an unlucky deflection, Messi and his men could breathe in peace, with their round of 16 spot sealed. But Cape Verde and their goalie Vozinha almost spoiled the party of a billion hearts beating for Messi, producing numerous saves despite Messi opening the scoring in 29th minute and Cape Verde producing an equaliser in the 59th minute. He transitioned into video game journalism after his stint as a reporter covering warzones and marginalized sectors. What should have been a quick post-match stop at Walmart turned into an impromptu stadium celebration after hundreds of Australian soccer fans packed a Texas store, forcing employees to call police. "I feel sorry to my teammates that I didn't give them much help on the pitch." Former Tottenham star Son, who started the match from the bench despite his 56 goals in 147 caps, was disappointed not to have offered more help against South Africa.

The family’s call for respect came after a damaging false report. As rumours grew, Messi’s family released a statement on Thursday confirming Jorge was dealing with a health issue. After scoring his first goal against Algeria, the forward was visibly emotional and his tears quickly sparked discussion. “Knockout games are always different,” Popovic stated.

Local organisers in Seattle have designated the World Cup match between Egypt and Iran at Lumen Field on 26 June as the centre of celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community. Taj said the FFIRI were hoping to set up at least one friendly with a “very good team” in neighboring Turkey, where Iran played matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica in late March. Taj, who served as a high-ranking official with the IRGC in Isfahan Province before moving into soccer administration, said anything short of cast-iron guarantees could result in the Iranian delegation turning back at the U.S. border. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the tournament but no one with ties to the IRGC would be admitted to the country. The U.S., Canada and Mexico are co-hosting the June 11 to July 19 World Cup with Iran scheduled to play two group games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

'Egypt and Iran are welcome at our parades'

Iran’s FIFA World Cup 2026 journey came to an end after the group stage, but the team left fans with an emotional message that quickly went viral on social media. Following their exit, Iran shared a heartfelt message on social media reflecting on sportsmanship, respect and fair play. Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 journey came to an end after the group stage, but the team left fans with an emotional message that quickly went viral on social media. Against the defending champions Argentina, Deroy Duarte canceled Lionel Messi’s first-half goal as the game headed into extra-time.

Mexico v England LIVE: Thomas Tuchel confirms injury boost ahead of World Cup last-16 tie

Iran are competing at the World Cup while their country and the United States – who are co-hosts along with Canada and Mexico – are in negotiations to end their war. Messi said during the post-match proceedings that it was not a matter of coincidence that Cape Verde played out draws against Euro champions Spain and Uruguay, acknowledging the greatness and heart of the debutants. Following the match, Scaloni said, "A really tough match, you always have to focus on the positives. This team never gives up. And I have to give credit to our opponents — the truth is, when people say there is no such thing as an easy opponent, today Cape Verde proved they are a great team." Vozinha made a total of 18 saves in this tournament; the only goalies aged 40 or older to register more saves at a single WC are Peter Shilton (28 in 1990 for England) and Dino Zoff (27 in 1982 for Italy), as per OptaJoe.

• Despite the emotional scenes, Senegal remained on the pitch and allowed the match to continue.
• The handwritten note was left in their dressing room following a goalless draw in their second Group G game.
• It is reported that one South African team official slowed his pace while passing through the area and displayed a 'confrontational attitude' when a South Korean counterpart gestured for them to hurry up.
• The Australian tactician described the match as a major occasion not only for his squad but also for Australian football, emphasizing the importance of representing the country proudly on the world stage.

What’s next for Portugal

Portugal fought until the very end in a match where a last-minute goal was disallowed, ultimately eliminating Croatia from the 2026 World Cup. But unlike the AFCON final, the Lions of Teranga departed the pitch only after the referee had blown the final whistle. Senegal will leave the tournament disappointed after surrendering a two-goal lead. Nevertheless, Senegal’s history made this particular moment meaningful.

He dealt with it very well; there was never a moment where he said, ‘I want to go back, I want to be with the family.’” “Of course, the first few days he had the freedom to go out to his family and be with them. He also took charge of the goalless draw between Colombia and Portugal. However, Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House's World Cup taskforce, says there are "discussions going on" about the timings for Iran's travel to and χατζηστεργιου from their game against Egypt. "From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilised Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast," read the message, which was released by the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI).

He scored three times while dealing with a sensitive family matter away from the pitch. The message indirectly confirmed Feinmann’s report, while making clear the family wanted speculation to stop. He described the fixture schedule as "anything but a negative, as it shows LGBT people in Egypt and Iran that we welcome you, welcome anyone who loves soccer". "I told Grant not to poke the bear, but Grant was Grant. There are queer people in Qatar, in the Middle East, and he wanted to highlight the hypocrisy. He loved soccer, but not with blinkers on," he said. Over the years, he has covered numerous events, including local soccer games, and has conducted interviews with players and coaches. During his legendary nine-season run from 2009 to 2018, he maintained a staggering, greater than goal-per-game ratio, shattering records to become the club’s all-time top scorer with 450 goals in just 438 appearances.