#world-cup-2026

#world-cup-2026

Iran's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali, also confirmed that world football's governing body has stressed that the Iran squad will be given visas to play in the US this summer "The Fifa president promised us that all our players would receive visas. There is no reason why our players should not receive visas," he said. The Iranian FA (FFIRI) had presented Fifa with a list of 10 conditions for their participation at the World Cup, including allowing players, coaches and officials who have completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to receive visas.

Legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has come out of international retirement to join the Germany squad for this summer’s tournament. The 40-year-old remains the number one goalkeeper for Bayern Munich, but has not featured for Germany since his side’s defeat to Spain two years ago at Euro 2024. Still, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has recalled Neuer for the World Cup, and he’ll be the team’s number one in the tournament in North America.

This coming June, travelers from around the world will descend on Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup, with local matches being played at the 76,416-seat Arrowhead Stadium-the same place where American football fans usually cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs. The city is no stranger to international attention and the heavy flow of traffic that comes with it. KC's historic love for liquor and jazz and its tree-lined City Beautiful boulevards and parks once led Prohibition-era journalists to proclaim it the " Paris of the Plains."

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Economic Development Corporation unveiled NYC Ferry's 2026 summer schedule, which officials say will deliver the most ferry service in the system's history. The expanded service began this week and will run through September 13, adding more trips, larger boats on busy routes and expanded beach-bound service ahead of what is expected to be one of New York's busiest summers ever.

For much of the last year, Marcus Rashford looked like a player drifting further away from the level expected of him. Questions over his confidence, consistency and long-term future followed him through one of the toughest periods of his professional career. At one stage, even the possibility of missing out on the World Cup entirely felt realistic. That is why his inclusion in England national football team's final squad for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada carries far more emotional weight than a normal international call-up.

Barcelona Atletic forward Hamza Abdelkarim has been handed a call-up to the Egypt squad for World Cup 2026. The Barcelona Atletic forward only arrived in Catalunya in the winter transfer window and is now celebrating being included in the Pharoahs' roster for this summer's tournament. Abdelkarim will also become the first Egyptian Blaugrana to play at a World Cup.

“The staff, players and I are absolutely delighted with this hugely positive news,” McCann said. “We all have an immense sense of pride in Fin earning his spot in Steve's squad off the back of his time with us. “He deserves this recognition for the levels he's shown while on loan here. It's also a feather in the cap of the football club, and highlights what we can do for players at Killie, no matter the stage of their development. “Fin has been a breath of fresh air to work with, and we wish him nothing but the best with Scotland this summer.”

Brazil's all-time leading scorer Neymar called up for World Cup 2026 as Carlo Ancelotti turns to forward for first time. Neymar has made Brazil's World Cup squad, a selection many local analysts and former footballers deemed unlikely only days ago. The 34-year-old is Brazil's all-time top goal-scorer with 79, but has struggled to return to top fitness since he tore his left ACL in October 2023.

The Trump administration is suspending a requirement that foreign visitors from countries that have qualified for the World Cup and have bought tickets for the soccer tournament pay as much as $15,000 in bonds to enter the United States, the State Department said Wednesday. The department imposed the bond requirement last year for countries that it said had high rates of people overstaying their visas and other security issues as part of the Republican administration's broader crackdown on immigration.

Veteran Dutch manager Dick Advocaat has made a surprise return as head coach of Curacao national football team just one month before the country's historic World Cup debut. Advocaat stepped down from the role in February after guiding Curacao to their first-ever World Cup qualification last November, citing concerns over his daughter's health. However, following improvements in her condition, reports in the Netherlands suggested the 78-year-old was open to returning, and Curacao Football Federation president Gilbert Martina confirmed the appointment on Tuesday.

Former Spurs bosses Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou will be rivals once again at the World Cup this summer. However, instead of facing one another in the dugouts, they'll be going head-to-head in competing TV studios, having both penned deals to be pundits at this summer's tournament. The first match of the USA, Canada and Mexico tournament kicks off in one month's time and both will be there to provide punditry for UK TV networks.

Moises Caicedo could be available for selection when Ecuador kick off their World Cup campaign next month. World Cup 2026 gets underway on Thursday, June 11 and Ecuador face Ivory Coast in their Group E opener at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, June 14. It had been expected that La Tri would be without Chelsea midfielder Caicedo, who is due to serve a one-match suspension.