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Speaking at halftime of Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told AFP that Iran will take part in the 2026 World Cup and will play its group games on U.S. soil as originally planned. He emphasized his confidence after meeting the team and its coach, describing Iran as a "very, very strong" side. Infantino added that the tournament’s schedule will be respected "according to the draw," dismissing recent talks by the Iranian Football Federation about relocating its matches to Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly offered to host Iran’s first‑round fixtures if required. Iran, which secured its spot by topping the Asian qualifying group, is set to open Group G against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, followed by matches versus Belgium (21 June, Los Angeles) and Egypt (26 June, Seattle). The nation has qualified for four straight men’s World Cups but has yet to advance beyond the group stage in the last three editions. The certainty of Iran’s participation comes amid the ongoing war that erupted on 28 February between the United States, Israel, and Iran. While Infantino initially cited assurances from former President Donald Trump that the Iranian team would be welcome, Trump later warned that traveling to the tournament could endanger the players’ lives and safety. Responding to the diplomatic tension, Infantino reiterated FIFA’s commitment to a "fair‑play" tournament, stating that the organization cannot resolve geopolitical disputes but will use football’s global reach to foster dialogue and peace. In a symbolic gesture during a recent friendly against Nigeria in Turkey, Iranian players wore black armbands and carried school rucksacks to honor the victims of a devastating airstrike on a primary school in Minab, which killed at least 170 civilians, including children and teachers. U.S. military investigators have preliminarily concluded that a mis‑targeted Tomahawk cruise missile caused the strike. Infantino’s assurance that "all teams" will compete as scheduled underscores FIFA’s determination to keep the World Cup on track despite the broader geopolitical turmoil surrounding the event.

After clinching the 2026 Asian Cup in Australia, 35‑year‑old defender Saki Kumagai was asked to rank the trophy among the many she has collected over a 17‑year career. She smiled, shook her head and said, “I never compare my titles… this team is from a different generation, so winning this tournament means a lot.” Kumagai is the sole remaining player who lifted the Women’s World Cup in 2011 – the first and only Asian nation to do so. At 21, she scored the decisive penalty in the shoot‑out against the United States, a victory that came just months after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan. Today, the squad she captains features teenagers who were toddlers when she made history: forward Maika Hamano was seven, centre‑back Toko Koga five, and top scorer Riko Ueki twelve when Kumagai’s winning penalty was replayed on TV. Kumagai admits she offers little direct advice, but she leads by example, saying, “I try to pass the baton to the next generation to show them how to perform in these moments.” The transition is no accident. In 2005 the Japanese Football Association unveiled a 50‑year vision aimed at expanding participation, climbing FIFA rankings and eventually hosting – and winning – a World Cup. Halfway through that plan, Japan now sits fifth in the FIFA women’s rankings, having added an Olympic silver medal (2021), a second World Cup final (2015), and three Asian Cup titles (2014, 2018, 2026) to its résumé. While the men’s game has progressed more slowly, the women’s side has surged ahead, bolstered by the launch of Asia’s first full‑time professional women’s league in 2021. This structural backbone has produced a squad “propelled by young stars,” as Kumagai notes. Currently playing for the London City Lionesses after spells at Olympique Lyonnais, Bayern Munich and Roma, Kumagai sees herself as a bridge between eras. She hopes her experience will help Japan reclaim the sport’s summit. “We have a lot of good young players,” she says. “They have confidence, they’re gaining experience in Europe, and as an experienced player I want to create a supportive environment for them.”

Mbappé, now 27 and entering his third year as France captain, admits the shift from star player to team caretaker feels "strange" but rewarding. Approaching his 100th cap, the Real Madrid forward says he now prioritises the collective over personal glory.He highlighted that the squad possesses more talent and potential than in 2022, noting that if current form continues he will soon surpass Olivier Giroud’s 57‑goal record, sitting just one goal behind the veteran after a recent strike against Brazil.France’s recent friendlies in the United States underscore that confidence. A 2‑1 win over Brazil saw Dembélé feed Mbappé for the opener, with Hugo Ekitike adding a second, while a 3‑1 victory against Colombia featured first‑time scorer Désiré Doué and a crucial header from Marcus Thuram.The attacking depth is now a hallmark of Didier Deschamps’ side. Alongside Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki and Hugo Ekitike rotate fluidly across the front line, offering creativity and unpredictability that render the old “Mbappé‑Giroud foil” obsolete.Defensively, the team showed signs of vulnerability. Misplaced passes and missed tackles were evident, though Maxence Lacroix earned his first cap against Colombia and impressed enough to stake a claim for the World Cup roster.Logistical hiccups also featured in the US tour. Coach Deschamps complained about lengthy airport checks and a mid‑match cooling break that disrupted momentum, describing the three‑minute pause as “not ideal” for teams on the verge of breaking down opponents.Despite these concerns, the camp’s mood remains optimistic. Mbappé believes the squad can “aim high,” while Deschamps continues to fine‑tune his final selection, aware that a wealth of attacking talent alone does not guarantee tournament success.

The women's college basketball landscape has witnessed a remarkable phenomenon: for the second consecutive year, the same four teams have secured their spots in the Final Four. UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina are set to battle it out for the championship, marking a historic repeat. This achievement is a testament to the dominance of these programs, with UConn being the reigning national champion. The Huskies, led by coach Geno Auriemma, have established themselves as a standard in women's college basketball, boasting 12 national championships and 25 Final Four appearances. Under Auriemma's leadership, UConn has won an impressive 1,288 games in 41 seasons. The Huskies (38-0) have been nearly unbeatable this season, with a 54-game winning streak and an average margin of victory of 37.8 points. They are led by first-team All-Americans Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, with eight players averaging at least 6.8 points per game. Strong emphasized the team's depth, stating, "I feel like no other team has a bench like us. We can have kind of anyone off the bench step up and change the whole pace of the game." UConn will face a familiar opponent in South Carolina, which they defeated in last year's title game. The Gamecocks (35-3) have reached the Final Four seven times in the past nine seasons under coach Dawn Staley, winning three national championships. They are led by second-team All-American Joyce Edwards, who averages 19.6 points per game. Meanwhile, UCLA (35-1) is seeking its first national championship under coach Cori Close. The Bruins are led by two-time All-American Lauren Betts, who averages 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 60.1% from the field. They will face Texas (36-3), which steamrolled its first four NCAA Tournament opponents by an average of 35.5 points per game. The Longhorns are led by fifth-year guard Rori Harmon and All-American forward Madison Booker.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has sought to play down the discord between him and the fans following the boos that greeted the team's World Cup qualification.The team's preparations for the tournament have been hit by a late defeat against Japan on Saturday, and Clarke's relationship with the fans appears strained. The manager admitted to being 'surprised and disappointed' by the boos, which he claimed were 'not a big issue.'Clarke's contract with the Scottish Football Association ends when Scotland exit the World Cup, and he has expressed frustration over the lack of a new contract offer. The SFA is in an awkward situation regarding Clarke's future, with no obvious alternative for the role.John McGinn has emphasized the importance of qualifying for major tournaments, saying he would 'happily lose friendlies for 10 years' if it meant Scotland qualified for the World Cup. Clarke will utilize Fifa's opportunity to name 55 players in an original World Cup squad at the start of May, which will be cut to 26.The team's upcoming friendlies against Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, and Venezuela will be crucial in assessing their form ahead of the World Cup. Clarke has emphasized the need to 'get minutes into the legs of boys not playing at club level' and to 'tinker a little bit.'

Ghana's head coach, Otto Addo, has been sacked by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) just 72 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup. The decision comes after a 2-1 defeat to Germany in Stuttgart, which marked Ghana's fourth consecutive friendly loss.The GFA announced the termination of Addo's contract, effective immediately, following a disappointing run of results that included a 5-1 loss to Austria and defeats to Japan and South Korea in November. Addo, a Germany-born former Ghana international, was reappointed in March 2024 but failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite having talented players like Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus in his squad.During his second spell as coach, Addo managed eight wins and nine losses in 22 games. He previously led Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, where they secured a notable 3-2 victory over South Korea but exited the tournament at the group stage after losses to Portugal and Uruguay.Ghana, preparing for their fifth World Cup appearance, are set to face England, Panama, and Croatia in Group L this summer, with their match against England scheduled for June 23.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has hit back at Ibrahim Hassan, Egypt's national team director, who advised Mohamed Salah to avoid MLS and consider a move to the Saudi Pro League instead. In an interview with the Guardian, Garber suggested that Hassan should watch Lionel Messi star for Inter Miami to understand the league's quality. Garber stated, 'Leo Messi is the most popular player in the world. He was, and he still is. I'd be happy to send an Apple subscription to the head of the Egyptian FA so he can watch as many Messi games as he'd like.'This is not the first time a senior soccer figure has questioned MLS's caliber. In 2016, Gian Piero Ventura left Sebastian Giovinco out of Italy's squad, saying 'he plays in a league that doesn't matter much.' However, MLS has attracted several high-profile players, including Gareth Bale and James Rodríguez, who have used the league to regain form ahead of international tournaments.Garber emphasized MLS's growth, noting that the league supplied 36 players to the 2022 World Cup, more than any league system outside of Europe's top five. He also highlighted the development of players like Obed Vargas and Brian Gutiérrez, who have progressed from MLS academies to represent Mexico's national team.According to Opta's league power rankings, MLS is currently ranked 13th globally, between Poland's and Croatia's top flights. In contrast, the Saudi Pro League is ranked 37th. Garber concluded, 'We're just constantly dealing with this perspective that we, Americans, will never get it, and it's just not true. We've got dozens of players [who came through MLS teams] playing in Europe. We've got some of the best players in the world playing here.'

France concluded their World Cup preparations with a convincing 3-1 friendly win over Colombia, highlighting their attacking firepower and squad depth. The match, played at the Washington Commanders' home stadium in Landover, Maryland, served as a crucial test for coach Didier Deschamps ahead of naming his World Cup squad in May.Desire Doue opened the scoring for France with a low drive that was deflected in by Colombia's Daniel Munoz after 30 minutes. Doue struck again on 56 minutes, assisted by Marcus Thuram, who had also scored earlier just before halftime. Thuram's goal came from a cross by Maghnes Akliouche.Colombia's Jaminton Campaz pulled a goal back, but France's dominance was evident as they controlled the game. Kylian Mbappe, a late substitute, was rested for much of the game due to a recent knee injury. Mbappe remains one goal shy of equalling France's all-time scoring record of 57 goals, currently held by Olivier Giroud.France's performance in this and the previous match against Brazil has shown a balance of style and efficiency, boosting their confidence ahead of the World Cup. Deschamps' team appears to be heading into the tournament with growing certainty.

UConn's shock win over No 1 seed Duke on Sunday night to advance to the Final Four connected two disparate eras of college basketball. The game produced one of the greatest endings in NCAA Tournament history, with freshman Braylon Mullins's three-point heave from well beyond the arc sealing the 73-72 victory.The final 10 seconds of Sunday night's game evoked some of the greatest endings in tournament history, with Mullins and Silas Demary Jr's swarming of Cayden Boozer conjuring memories of UCLA's stunning 2006 comeback against Gonzaga and Villanova's 2016 national title win.UConn coach Dan Hurley praised his team's resilience, saying, 'We fought, we clawed, put ourselves in position to take advantage of a mistake that they made.' Mullins's game-winning shot will forever torment Duke fans, as the Blue Devils had led by 19 points in the first-half and No 1 seeds had been 134-0 when leading by 15 or more points in NCAA Tournament history.The win proved that recruiting and continuity still dictate success in college basketball, with UConn's senior Tarris Reed Jr. named the game's Most Outstanding Player after finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. Reed's performance reminded fans of the era of dominant post players like Patrick Ewing and Dwight Howard.UConn's victory, coupled with their previous wins over Michigan State and St John's, showed that traditional powers can still thrive in an era of unlimited transfers and Name, Image and Likeness deals. Hurley's adaptability and UConn's roster, which included transfers Malachi Smith and Silas Demary Jr, demonstrated that an old-school approach can still yield success in modern college basketball.