Does referee case show Fifa has lost control of its own World Cup?

With referee Omar Artan denied entry to the United States and worries over staff and supporters being turned back, what does this tell us about the World Cup?

Somali Referee Says His World Cup Dream Is Dashed After U.S. Denies Entry

“I had the right papers and everything,” Omar Abdulkadir Artan said in his first interview since he was turned back. He would have been the first Somali to referee a game in the tournament.

By Matthew Mpoke Bigg

2026 World Cup: The murky ties between FIFA and the US

After the 2022 World Cup was awarded to Qatar, the US launched a legal offensive against several FIFA members before securing the co-hosting of the 2026 tournament. This is the story of the rise of American soft power in global football.

States are pushing back last call for the World Cup. Bar owners aren’t elated.

Even somewhat puritan Massachusetts is giving soccer fans more time to drink during the tournament.

By Joanna Slater

World Cup 2026 visa chaos: from referee Omar Artan to Iranian officials – who is affected?

Fifa has found its tournament squarely caught up in the second Trump administration’s aggressive border restrictions For successive men’s World Cup tournaments Fifa has managed to bulldoze its way through costly immigration and entry requirements. In 2014, Brazil passed a law granting free temporary visas to ticket holders, and for Russia and Qatar, the respective autocracies bypassed traditional border friction using Fan IDs and Hayya cards as makeshift visa entry documents that also provide...

By Martin Belam

Mexico prepares for World Cup opening match amid protests

Final preparations are underway for the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium.

FIFA pres. on ticket prices: The World Cup being in America is a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'

CNBC’s Sara Eisen sits down with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and AB InBev CEO Michel Doukeris to discuss FIFA’s World Cup sponsorship deal with AB InBev, the tournament’s economic impact, concerns over weak hotel bookings, and more.

Iran soccer federation claims fans' tickets for U.S. World Cup games were pulled

FIFA has revoked the ticket allocation for Iran fans at the team's three World Cup games in the United States, according to that country's soccer federation.

Will Mexico's World Cup party be spoiled by teacher protest?

Just before the World Cup kicks off, host country Mexico faces a political tug-of-war. Striking teachers have occupied the central fan zone and have pledged to continue protesting.

Iran says ticket allocation for World Cup withdrawn days before tournament

Iran's football federation (FFIRI) has now begun selling tickets for the national team's matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt through its official website, Fars news agency reported.

Olise hat-trick rounds off France’s World Cup preparations, sends ominous warning

Michael Olise's dazzling hat-trick for France in their final World Cup warm-up sends an ominous warning to rivals of Les Bleus, adding further firepower to a formidable attack that already includes the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Désiré Doué and the current Ballon d'Or holder, Ousmane Dembélé.

By FRANCE 24

The World Cup could deliver Fox a ratings bonanza: ‘There will be all sorts of viewership records’

Viewership for previous World Cup finals was only a little higher than for a strong Monday Night Football game, but with matches on U.S. soil, media executives are hopeful this will be the year soccer breaks through.

By Lukas I. Alpert

Everything wrong with the 2026 World Cup

From unprecedented wars and rip-off ticket prices to Gianni Infantino selling football’s soul and Donald Trump’s determination to create a “Maga World Cup”, Miguel Delaney details how the 2026 tournament has been riddled with controversy

By Miguel Delaney

World Cup match, television schedule for June 11-14

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off this week across North America. See the full schedule for the opening matches.

IShowSpeed reveals FIFA World Cup opening game stream plans as Cristiano Ronaldo fans flood social media

The IShowSpeedHQ fan account revealed that IShowSpeed has scheduled a YouTube livestream titled “irl stream at World Cup Opening Game” for June 13, 2026. The announcement included a stadium photo of Speed wearing a Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal jersey. Fans are excited to watch his live reactions, football commentary, and energetic content during the FIFA World Cup opener.

By Sumit Roy

‘Jean-Michel’ Review: Jean-Michel Basquiat Finally Gets the Fantastic Documentary He Deserves

"Jean-Michel," directed by Quinn Whitney Wilson and Viridiana Lieberman (it just premiered at the Tribeca Festival and was bought by Netflix), is the first movie to penetrate the Basquiat mystique and give you a full-scale portrait of who he was: New York child of privilege, driven prodigy, bohemian scavenger, downtown rock star, thrill-seeking junkie, media celebrity, meditative soul, spiky and timeless art genius.

By Owen Gleiberman

Trump's FIFA World Cup final attendance sparks buzz as prediction market shows 86% odds for 2026 tournament finale

Donald Trump is expected at the World Cup draw, and a prediction market gives him an 86% chance of attending the 2026 World Cup final.

Africa's sound, Cannes' snub and the World Cup kicks off

This week, Spotlight on Africa explores cinema and music scoring for African documentary projects with storytellers from Mozambique and Kenya. We will also bring you news from the Cannes Film Festival, along with the African teams selected to take part in the football World Cup.

By Melissa Chemam

‘Is this how the hosts behave?’ - Ian Wright lashes out at USA and says it's hosting a ‘World Cup of chaos’

By Online Editors

Iran says ticket allocation for World Cup withdrawn days before tournament

Iran's ticket allocation for the World Cup has been pulled just days before football's global showpiece kicks off, leaving fans in the lurch after they had already made plans to attend the matches.

Don’t just watch the World Cup – play along with the Cyprus Mail!

The World Cup is finally here – and so is the Cyprus Mail World Cup 2026 Predictor. Think you know who’s going all the way? Pick your group winners, predict the knockout rounds, and choose your world champion before a ball is kicked. Then follow the tournament to see just how many of your predictions […]

Iran claims World Cup ticket allocation has been revoked

The Iranian Football Federation has said its ticket quota for the FIFA World Cup has been revoked, just days before the start of the tournament.

War In The Middle East Is Flaring Again. How Each Side Sees The Stakes

Israel and the US remain locked in a standoff with Iran and Hezbollah to shape the future regional order, with each side convinced it is acting from a position of strength.

A hat-trick of wins has Ireland on the brink of the World Cup, what are their chances tonight?

Carla Ward’s side has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

From Bad Bunny to Peso Pluma: Here Are the Best 2026 FIFA World Cup Music Collaborations to Shop

We rounded up some of the best music and soccer collaborations for the international tournament.

By Amina Ayoud

Are Africans welcome at the World Cup?

African music megastars Tyla and Rema are scheduled to perform at the World Cup’s opening ceremony in Los Angeles. But while African music and soccer are welcome at the tournament, many African fans and journalists, it would seem, are not.

By Eyaaz

FIFA World Cup 2026 nears kickoff

The 48-team tournament will begin Thursday

By AFP

Lionel Messi & More World Cup Stars Everyone Is Talking About

The 2026 FIFA World Cup roster is total goals. Not only is the U.S. soccer team stacked with fan-favorites at the quadrennial sports tournament—which kicks off June 11 across multiple cities in...

By Gabrielle Chung

Visa delays, security scrutiny cast shadow over World Cup build-up

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to open on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is facing growing off-field turbulence as visa delays, entry refusals, and heightened...

Dutch beat Uzbekistan but lose keeper before World Cup

The Netherlands needed two penalties to beat Uzbekistan 2-1 in its final World Cup warm-up match on Monday, and lost...

By Louis Gore-Langton

FULL LIST: 16 players with Nigerian heritage at 2026 World Cup

Discover the 16 players of Nigerian heritage set to feature at the 2026 FIFA World Cup across various national teams, despite Nigeria’s absence. Read More: https://punchng.com/full-list-16-players-with-nigerian-heritage-at-2026-world-cup/

By Punch Newspapers

Nearly half of Dutch municipalities to extend opening hours for World Cup matches

Hospitality venues will be allowed to stay open later during matches involving the Dutch national team in roughly half of Dutch municipalities during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, according to the i

By 89410

‘World Cup of chaos’, says Ian Wright after referee denied US entry

Former England striker Ian Wright has criticised the organisation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the tournament as a “World Cup of chaos” after a Somali referee was denied entry into the United States. The post ‘World Cup of chaos’, says Ian Wright after referee denied US entry appeared first on Vanguard News.

By efosataiwo@vanguardngr.com

Club Lager unveils the Fabric Of Our Chales

Accra Brewery PLC, producers of Club Lager, officially unveiled its FIFA World Cup consumer campaign at a launch event held at the Accra City Hotel on Friday, 5th June 2026. The event brought together members of the media, football influencers, trade partners, consumers, and passionate football fans to celebrate Ghana’s rich football culture and introduce […]

By Kenneth Darko