Infantino sees with one eye: he called for a French journalist’s release but ignored Palestinian journalists denied the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:12 June 2026
• Post last modified:13 June 2026

When Gianni Infantino reserved an empty seat for French journalist Christophe Gleizes and called for his release so he could attend the 2026 World Cup, the FIFA president wanted to send a message of solidarity with a reporter who had been prevented from covering the world’s biggest football tournament. But there are many more empty seats that FIFA’s president has chosen not to acknowledge. There are Palestinian journalists who covered previous international tournaments, some of whom attended the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but who will never make it to the 2026 tournament. Not because they are behind bars, but because…

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Mexico World Cup opener turns political

• Post author:The Canary
• Post published:12 June 2026
• Post last modified:13 June 2026

The first game of the 2026 World Cup, held in Mexico, was notable for reasons other than Donald Trump’s racist authoritarianism. The vomit-inducing bootlicking and double standards of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino didn’t go unnoticed, and Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum’s refusal to attend made headlines. Sheinbaum reportedly gave her ticket to a young Indigenous woman and watched Mexico’s victory over South Africa at a sports centre “in the company of the people.” President Sheinbaum TURNED DOWN her World Cup ticket over the ridiculous prices, choosing to gift it away and watch Mexico's victory with the people at a free local screening…

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Somali referee goes from World Cup snub to European final World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:12 June 2026
• Post last modified:13 June 2026

In a remarkable twist just days after being excluded from the 2026 World Cup, Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup. The match will be between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August in Salzburg, Austria. Historic appointment for Artan Artan will become the first Somali referee to take charge of a European Super Cup match. This appointment marks a major milestone in a career. He has risen rapidly to prominence across African and international football. His UEFA appointment comes in the wake of the controversy over his absence from the World Cup, where…

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Morocco faces injury setback ahead of World Cup opener

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:12 June 2026
• Post last modified:13 June 2026

Morocco have suffered a significant setback just days before the start of their 2026 World Cup campaign, with defender Nayef Akrad and winger Abdel Samad Al-Zalzouli both ruled out through injury. Unfit to play The Moroccan Football Federation, in coordination with FIFA, have confirmed that both star players will miss the tournament. The team have called up Marwan Saadane and Amine Sebaï as replacements ahead of their Group C opener against Brazil. Akrad’s absence is a major blow to Morocco’s defensive structure. A key figure in the run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, he had been included in the squad…

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Washington justifies the exclusion of Somali referee and Iranian officials ahead of the World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:10 June 2026
• Post last modified:10 June 2026

Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House team tasked with organising the 2026 World Cup, defended the US authorities’ decision to bar Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan and a number of administrative officials from the Iranian national team from entering the United States, stressing that these measures were taken for “very valid reasons”, according to AFP, reporting on a seminar organised by the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington. The comments come at a time of growing questions regarding the security measures taken by the US in the days leading up to the start of the tournament, which it is co-hosting…

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The greatest goalkeepers in World Cup history

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:10 June 2026
• Post last modified:10 June 2026

In football, a goalkeeper does not always need to lift the trophy to secure his place in World Cup history. Some have built their legacy by enduring on the world’s biggest football stage, whilst others have forged their legend by keeping a clean sheet against their opponents. Throughout the history of the World Cup, two distinct paths to immortality have emerged among goalkeepers; the first is measured by the number of matches a goalkeeper has played, and the second by the number of clean sheets he has kept. World Cup: Hugo Lloris sits top of record books Over the course of…

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Iran fans can’t watch team compete in 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:9 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Iran has suffered a fresh blow just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, after the Iranian Football Federation announced the withdrawal of its allocated share of fan tickets for its three World Cup matches. The move has sparked widespread controversy and led Tehran to question whether political considerations are influencing the organisation of the tournament. Iran fans left disappointed Reuters cited the Iranian Football Federation, which said it had already begun distributing and selling tickets for the national team’s group stage matches, before it learnt about the tickets being withdrawn. This means Iranian fans will be denied access…

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Everything you need to know about the new qualification system for the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:9 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

The 2026 World Cup is set to enter a radically different phase in its history, following the decision to increase the number of participating teams from 32 to 48. This expansion has not only increased the number of teams but has also completely reshaped the tournament’s structure, from the group stage right through to the knockout rounds. This change has led to an increase in the number of matches from 64 to 104, with the adoption of a completely new competition format, the biggest since the tournament’s inception. A completely new format: 12 groups and an expanded knockout stage In the…

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Somali referee dropped from World Cup after US visa denial

• Post author:Faz Ali
• Post published:9 June 2026
• Post last modified:10 June 2026

Somalia’s top referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has been dramatically ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, ending what would have been a landmark moment for Somali football. The 34‑year‑old, voted Africa’s best referee in 2025, was set to become the first Somali official to take charge at a men’s World Cup finals. Instead, he was forced to fly back to Istanbul after being turned away at Miami International Airport. FIFA confirmed the decision late on Monday, acknowledging that one of Africa’s most respected officials would not be part of the tournament after US…

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Senegal primed for World Cup after AFCON debacle

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:8 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Senegal enters the 2026 World Cup finals with a rare blend of ambition, experience and renewal, in an attempt to rewrite one of the most beautiful stories in African football on the world stage. Although the ‘Lions of Teranga’ were unable to go beyond the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, the signs leading up to the current edition suggest that the West African side possesses the qualities to make it one of the leading contenders to play the role of ‘dark horse’ in the tournament. Senegal had made their way to the World Cup with remarkable consistency, topping their qualifying…

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World Cup visa chaos shows the settler colonial US is a hostile environment

• Post author:Alex/Rose Cocker
• Post published:8 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Fans have found themselves facing rejections, restrictions, and outright bans for short-term visa applications to the US for this year’s men’s FIFA World Cup. Of course, this is hardly a surprise, given the Trump administration’s undisguised racism and Islamophobia. However, the news underscores existing criticisms of FIFA for awarding hosting responsibilities to the US in the first place. World Cup chaos entirely expected The states unveiled its bid to host the 2026 world cup back in 2017. Under the banner ‘United 2026’, it was a joint endeavor between the US, Canada, and Mexico. The latter two countries will host 13 matches…

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FIFA eases restrictions on bringing water into World Cup stadiums

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:7 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Following a widespread wave of criticism and objections from fan groups and health experts, FIFA was partially forced to backtrack on its controversial decision to ban water bottles in World Cup 2026 stadiums. It announced that spectators would be permitted to bring one soft, sealed plastic water bottle into matches held in the United States and Canada. The new decision came just days after an amendment to the “Stadium Code of Conduct,” which FIFA had completely banned reusable bottles, justifying the move on security grounds related to the possibility of using bottles and solid objects as projectiles that could pose a…

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US denies visas to 15 members of Iran’s 2026 World Cup delegation

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:7 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Preparations for the Iranian national team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup have escalated into a tense political issue, following a visa crisis that triggered a diplomatic spat between Tehran and Washington. Meanwhile, the team continues its technical training, focusing away from the administrative turmoil. For a long time, there were doubts and continuous discussions about whether the Iranian national team would participate in or withdraw from the 2026 World Cup due to the US war against Iran since last February. Visa crisis brings politics back to the World Cup While the Iranian national team players and technical staff received US…

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England — one of the top candidates for the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:7 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

As the 2026 World Cup approaches in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), England enters the list of serious contenders to win the title for the first time since 1966. This assessment relies on a strong combination of exceptional talent, tactical preparation under Thomas Tuchel’s leadership, a perfect qualifying record, and statistical expectations. Despite a long history of “disappointments” in the knockout stages, the English team appears more balanced and mature this time. The golden generation The English national team possesses one of the strongest squads in the world, combining experience with explosive youth: Attack: Harry Kane (Captain and historical top scorer)…

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Visa crisis threatens media coverage for the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:7 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

As FIFA continues to promote the 2026 World Cup as the most expansive and inclusive tournament in history, a new crisis has emerged that could overshadow the long-awaited event. The International Sports Press Association has warned of significant difficulties facing dozens of accredited journalists in securing visas to enter the United States. In an official letter to FIFA media officials, the association revealed it has received an increasing number of complaints from accredited journalists—including a large group of Iranian journalists and those from various African nations—who have yet to secure the necessary visas, despite fulfilling all of the tournament’s media accreditation…

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World cup chaos as US denies visas to Iranian team officials

• Post author:HG
• Post published:7 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Iran’s Football Federation (IFF) has accused the US of “vindictive behavior” after it denied visas to 14 officials and backroom staff from Iran’s World Cup team. Hedayat Mombeini, Iran Football Federation’s secretary-general, and Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, its vice president, are among the staff who do not have visas. The country’s first game is in Los Angeles on June 16. The US, Mexico and Canada are jointly hosting the tournament, which starts on June 11. Iran had already moved its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, just across the US border. This was because of problems processing visas. The IFF…

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World Cup — Water bottle ban sparks controversy

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:6 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

The FIFA has sparked widespread controversy with its decision to amend the policy regarding water bottles inside 2026 World Cup stadiums. After initially banning reusable bottles, FIFA later permitted only small, factory-sealed plastic bottles—a move seen as late and contentious, especially given concerns about high temperatures during the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. World Cup security decision sparks controversy According to Reuters, FIFA justified the decision as a security measure intended to prevent bottles or solid objects from being used as projectiles in the stands, part of a broader policy to tighten stadium safety procedures. However, the ban…

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World Cup history — Streaks and attacking records

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:6 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, a collection of the most prominent historical records that have stood for decades in the archives of the FIFA returns to the forefront. At the top of the list are the long unbeaten streaks of national teams, in addition to the attacking dominance of a number of major teams since the first edition in 1930. These figures do not just reflect match results; they summarize entire eras of footballing dominance and reveal the historical differences between various playing styles over time. Longest unbeaten streaks According to the official statistics issued by the FIFA,…

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FIFA water ban sparks fan backlash ahead of 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:5 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Fans attending the 2026 World Cup will not be allowed to bring reusable water bottles into stadiums. The latest restriction introduced by FIFA has sparked criticism and concerns about temperatures across the tournament’s hottest host cities. This year’s tournament features 48 teams for the first time. It will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As a result, several matches are expected to be played in high temperatures and humidity. What has changed in stadium rules? Under the new regulations, fans cannot bring reusable water bottles into venues. However, previously, spectators could carry transparent, empty plastic bottles up to…

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The biggest scorelines in World Cup history

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:5 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Most football matches are decided by small margins, but others are not. In fact, matches in the World Cup often feature remarkable scorelines not seen elsewhere. In such games, defensive structure can collapse, and goals accumulate quickly. Sometimes this happens through clear mismatches. At other times, it results from unusually open play. With the 2026 edition approaching in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a record 48 teams are taking part. This raises the bar. Uneven scorelines are all the more likely to appear, particularly when debut nations come up against established football powers. Below are the highest-scoring matches in World…

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