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In a significant development, US President Donald Trump has indicated his approval for Iran to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, subject to FIFA’s official confirmation. This decision comes after FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed Iran’s participation in the tournament, scheduled to take place in North America in June and July. Trump expressed his agreement during a press conference, stating that there should be no issue with Iran’s participation, and that the country should be allowed to compete in the football tournament.
This announcement came as Infantino announced that Iran would participate in the tournament and play its matches in the US. Trump stated that if Infantino said it, he would agree, and that Iran should be allowed to play. This statement follows Infantino’s announcement at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, where he clarified that Iran would participate in the World Cup in accordance with the established schedule and play its matches in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Iran’s participation in the tournament has been uncertain since February, following the outbreak of war between Iran and the US, as well as Israel. However, with FIFA’s confirmation, Iran has now officially confirmed its participation in the tournament. According to reports, Iran’s team will be based in Tucson, Arizona, and will compete in Group G, which includes teams from New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Iran will begin its campaign on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
In a separate development, Pakistan has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Ireland has been relegated to the bottom of the FIFA rankings due to its failure to fulfill its international commitments. Afghanistan and Ireland will need to play at least two test matches next year to regain their membership.
Meanwhile, in other international sports news, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has seen a dramatic turn of events, with fans of star batsman Babar Azam rushing onto the field during a qualifying match in Karachi. In cricket news, Saad Jahanjer Manj, an 11-year-old Pakistani boy, has made history by winning a chess match in a national tournament.
In other news, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has met with the German Football Federation (DFB) to discuss potential collaborations and partnerships. The PFF has also welcomed the Zimbabwe Women’s National Football Team and expressed its support for the team’s participation in international competitions.
In a significant move, FIFA has granted international match rights to the Afghan Women’s National Football Team, allowing them to compete in international matches. In a separate development, Pakistan’s Sarfraz Ahmed has expressed his team’s desire to start their World Test Championship campaign on a positive note.
In other international news, Trump’s company has announced that it has signed a contract with the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) to provide Interceptor Drones, although the exact number of drones has not been disclosed. Additionally, the US has reportedly planned new attacks on Iran, with Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz remaining under blockade. The 60-day period for Congress to approve the Trump administration’s plan has now expired.
In a bizarre incident, a South Korean man was arrested after he was caught filming a woman in a kitchen while pretending to be a delivery person. The man, who was identified as Jeonsung Kum, had shared a video of the incident on social media.
In a separate incident, Pakistani police have arrested a man who was driving a car with a government-issued license plate and were involved in a scuffle with police guards. The police have also taken possession of the car and launched an investigation into the incident.
Finally, in a significant development, Ireland has been relegated to the bottom of the FIFA rankings due to its failure to fulfill its international commitments. Ireland and Afghanistan will need to play at least two test matches next year to regain their membership.
