April 17 - New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley said Chris Wood does not appear to have suffered a serious injury after the Nottingham Forest forward limped out of their Europa League win over Porto before half-time on Thursday.

As the global stage prepares for its biggest edition yet, questions about participating nations, mainly Iran, have added an extra layer of intrigue. The countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues to build momentum, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino stepping forward to address one of the most discussed uncertainties surrounding the tournament. As the global stage prepares for its biggest edition yet, questions about participating nations, mainly Iran, have added an extra layer of intrigue. The tournament itself is shaping up to be historic in every sense. Set to feature 48 teams for the first time, the competition is expected to generate more than $11 billion in revenue, underlining its massive global appeal. With matches spread across multiple host nations, anticipation continues to grow among fans and stakeholders alike. The 2026 edition promises to redefine the scale of international soccer. With 48 teams divided into 12 groups, followed by an expanded knockout phase, the structure introduces a new level of competition and opportunity. This format ensures more nations are involved, increasing both representation and unpredictability. Also, more than 500 million ticket requests have already been recorded, highlighting the event’s reach across all continents. As speculation intensified, FIFA moved to clarify its stance on Iran’s participation. “The Iranian team is coming for sure,” Infantino told CNBC, firmly addressing the uncertainty surrounding the situation. His statement confirmed that Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup, putting an end to weeks of doubt. Infantino emphasized the fundamental principle behind the decision. “They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play,” he explained, reinforcing FIFA’s commitment to sporting merit. Keeping the focus on soccer Beyond the confirmation itself, Infantino highlighted a deeper philosophy guiding FIFA’s decisions. “Sports should be outside of politics,” he stated, acknowledging the challenges while maintaining a clear stance. The aim is to preserve the tournament as a platform for unity and competition, regardless of external circumstances. He also acknowledged the realities of the world while defending this approach. “We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” Infantino said, before adding that FIFA continues to work toward building connections through soccer. These remarks underline the balance between idealism and practicality in organizing a global event. Alireza Jahanbakhsh of Iran celebrates during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifiers Iran’s road ahead for the tournament Looking ahead, the focus shifts back to the competition itself. Iran is scheduled to play its group-stage matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, with games set to take place in major U.S. cities. If successful, further matches would continue within the same host nation as the tournament progresses. The broader objective remains ensuring a successful and secure event. “A win would be that we have a successful World Cup from a security point of view, so no incidents,” Infantino explained. Delivering high-quality matches while maintaining safety standards stands at the core of FIFA’s vision.

Il 30 aprile si avvicina, la FIFA si pronuncerà sulla questione Iran: vediamo cosa succederà e perché gli Azzurri sperano ancora.

EGYPT star Mohamed El-Shenawy has been slapped with a heavy ban and a fine after striking a referee during a league match. El-Shenawy, 37, was on the bench during Tuesday's Egyptian Premier League match between his Al Ahly side and Ceramica Cleopatra, which ended 1-1. The goalkeeper was left furious after his team was denied a...

England will face New Zealand and Costa Rica before beginning their World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June

Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish FA after "Islamophobic and xenophobic" chants during a friendly between Spain and Egypt last month.

FIFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against the Royal Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] after Islamophobic chants were heard during their friendly with Egypt last week.

The chants of 'Muslim he who does not jump' against Egypt will be investigated by FIFA in disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish FA Leer

Police investigate chants heard at Barcelona friendly Spain’s coach and justice minister condemn behaviour Lamine Yamal has criticised chants by Spain fans during a friendly against Egypt in Barcelona that police are investigating for Islamophobia and xenophobia. Spain supporters chanted “who doesn’t jump is a Muslim”, prompting Yamal to respond on Instagram. He wrote that the chanting “was aimed at the opposing team and was not something personal against me, but as a Muslim it is still a lack of respect and something intolerable. To those who sing these things: using a religion as a form of mockery on a pitch shows you up as ignorant and racist.”

An anti-Muslim chant was heard several times during Spain's goalless draw with Egypt in Catalonia on Tuesday.