An ideological tug-of-war: the pressures facing Iran’s World Cup squad in US

12 June 2026 at 14:00

Flag bans, travel headaches and a religious regime video among bumps in road, as team prepares to be first to play in country with which it is at war

Iran will present a major challenge to Fifa’s “football unites the world” slogan on Monday by becoming the first country in World Cup history to compete on the soil of a host nation with which it is at war.

The national team’s opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles will kick off amid continuing hostilities between Iran and the US that have intensified in recent days, as a fragile ceasefire has failed to hold and attempts at reaching a negotiated settlement have sputtered.

Palestinian football chief says US denied him visa to attend World Cup

The Guardian - World news

By: Associated Press in Ramallah

12 June 2026 at 12:35

Jibril Rajoub attended opening match in Mexico but becomes latest football official hit by US visa issues, he says

The head of the Palestinian Football Association has said he is unable to travel to the US with other federation heads attending the 2026 Fifa World Cup because he has not been issued a visa.

Jibril Rajoub went to the opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on Thursday. But he is among several people accredited to attend the World Cup who have been denied visas or have yet to receive them from the US.

The US Is Requiring Foreign Influencers to Get Work Visas for the 2026 World Cup

Wired

By: Fernanda González

12 June 2026 at 11:00

FIFA announced agreements with platforms such as TikTok and YouTube that include the participation of dozens of international influencers to generate content in the three host countries.

Weather tracker: heat, humidity and thunderstorms a danger at World Cup

The Guardian - World news

By: Brendan Wood for MetDesk

12 June 2026 at 09:40

With matches in 16 cities across the US, Mexico and Canada, players and fans face an array of weather-related challenges

With the 2026 World Cup now under way, all 48 teams face a common opposition: summer weather across North America. Matches will be played in 16 cities, from southern Mexico to Canada, with a range of weather risks possible at each venue.

Thunderstorms disrupted play before the tournament had even begun. England’s warm-up against Costa Rica in Orlando was delayed by about an hour after storms brought lightning and heavy rain that waterlogged the pitch. Safety regulations at US venues mean play is suspended when lightning is recorded within roughly 8 miles of a stadium, not resuming until 30 minutes after the last strike.

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