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Jordan, Kuwait Avert Diplomatic Crisis over Provocative Football Chants

Provocative football chants threaten to spark a diplomatic dispute between Kuwait and Jordan. (KUNA)
Provocative football chants threaten to spark a diplomatic dispute between Kuwait and Jordan. (KUNA)
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Jordan, Kuwait Avert Diplomatic Crisis over Provocative Football Chants

Provocative football chants threaten to spark a diplomatic dispute between Kuwait and Jordan. (KUNA)
Provocative football chants threaten to spark a diplomatic dispute between Kuwait and Jordan. (KUNA)

Amman scrambled on Friday to contain the fallout from provocative chants by some fans during a football match that threatened to spark a diplomatic crisis with Kuwait.

Jordan and Kuwait’s national football teams met during a World Cup qualifier in Amman on Thursday. Some fans sang chants in support of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, provoking the Kuwaiti fans.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi telephoned Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al-Sabah to denounce the incident.

“Any insult to Kuwait and its people is an insult to Jordan,” he said.

The fraternal Jordanian-Kuwaiti relations are “immune to all attempts to stoke strife between them.”

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Safadi informed his counterpart that Amman will launch a probe into the incident and hold those responsible to account.

Safadi stressed that Amman and Kuwait will continue to cement their strategic relations among their people and leaderships.

The chants were widely condemned by Jordanians on various social media platforms.

Jordanian Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz said on Twitter that Thursday’s incident “does not reflect our values or the ties that bind us with our brothers.”

The Jordan Football Association stressed it will take the necessary measures to hold the offending fans to account, saying they do not represent the Kingdom or its values.

The parliament in Jordan rejected any attempt to harm relations with Kuwait, adding that sport must not be used as a means to create division.

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France Brush Off Ivory Coast Loss, Call It Timely World Cup Reminder

Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly match between France and Ivory Coast in Nantes, France, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP)
Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly match between France and Ivory Coast in Nantes, France, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP)
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France Brush Off Ivory Coast Loss, Call It Timely World Cup Reminder

Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly match between France and Ivory Coast in Nantes, France, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP)
Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly match between France and Ivory Coast in Nantes, France, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP)

France brushed aside concerns after ‌suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat by Ivory Coast in a World Cup warm-up match on Thursday, insisting the setback would serve as a useful reminder rather than a cause for alarm ahead of the tournament.

Didier Deschamps' side led through a superb first-half goal from Rayan Cherki but were overrun after the break as Guela Doue and Amad Diallo turned the game around for the Elephants in Nantes.

With France opening their World Cup campaign against Senegal in New York on June 16, midfielder Aurelien ‌Tchouameni said the ‌result should be viewed in the context ‌of ⁠preparations rather than ⁠as a warning sign.

"It's a pity to lose but we're in a preparation phase, we stay confident," Tchouameni said.

"There is no conclusion to draw from this game, even if we had won it. We will be ready."

France fielded an experimental side, with several Paris St Germain players rested after last weekend's Champions ⁠League final triumph, and made numerous changes after ‌halftime.

Defender Lucas Hernandez also played ‌down the significance of the defeat.

"We always want to win but we're ‌in a phase of preparation and there were a ‌lot of substitutions," Hernandez said.

"We're in good spirits."

Deschamps, however, admitted his side had lost control of the contest after an encouraging opening 45 minutes and warned that France would face opponents with similar qualities in ‌the United States.

"A defeat is never pleasant, even if we did some good things in ⁠the first ⁠half," Deschamps said.

"In the second half we made a lot of changes but that's no excuse. We were not as good after the break and they brought a lot of pace.

"We will face the same type of team on June 16."

The France coach said the result could prove useful if it prevented his players from becoming complacent before the tournament.

"It's a reminder, if we needed one, not to think we're better than we are," he said, with Cherki adding: "It's a little warning, and I can tell you we're not going to the World Cup thinking we're favorites but we're going to crush everyone."

Sports

Iran Beats Mali in Last World Cup Warm-up Before Heading to Tijuana

Iran's Saeid Ezatolahi, right, poses for a photo with a fan after a friendly soccer match between Iran and Mali, in Antalya, southern Türkiye, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Iran's Saeid Ezatolahi, right, poses for a photo with a fan after a friendly soccer match between Iran and Mali, in Antalya, southern Türkiye, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
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Iran Beats Mali in Last World Cup Warm-up Before Heading to Tijuana

Iran's Saeid Ezatolahi, right, poses for a photo with a fan after a friendly soccer match between Iran and Mali, in Antalya, southern Türkiye, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Iran's Saeid Ezatolahi, right, poses for a photo with a fan after a friendly soccer match between Iran and Mali, in Antalya, southern Türkiye, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Iran will head off to their World Cup base this weekend with a spring in their step after beating Mali 2-0 in a friendly in Türkiye on Thursday, even if some uncertainty still clouds their participation in the tournament.

Goals from midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi and right back Ramin Rezaeian either side of halftime gave Team Melli a record of three wins and a single loss in their four friendlies this year in the Turkish resort city of Antalya, Reuters reported.

The friendlies are the only competitive football the Iran-based players have played since the ⁠domestic league was ⁠suspended in the wake of US and Israel air strikes on Iran in late February that triggered a regional war.

The squad have received visas for Mexico, officials confirmed this week, and will leave Türkiye on Saturday for their tournament base in the border city of Tijuana.

Mexico's President ⁠Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to host the squad after being told that the US authorities did not want Iran staying in their original base in Arizona throughout the June 11 to July 19 tournament.

The squad have not yet received the visas they will need to get into the US to play their group games against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle, however.

Iranian FA (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj told Iranian media this week that the US ⁠visas were ⁠the main concern for the federation as Iran's tournament opener against New Zealand on June 15 approaches.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday there was "no problem" with the Iran squad entering the country, but Washington would not let officials or staff with ties to the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accompany them.

Both the US and Canada, who are co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico, classify the IRGC as a "terrorist entity."

Taj was refused entry into Canada for the FIFA Congress in late April because of his links to the elite military force.

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Second-String Spain Held by Iraq in Low-Key World Cup Send-off

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Merchas Doski celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Merchas Doski celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. (Reuters)
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Second-String Spain Held by Iraq in Low-Key World Cup Send-off

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Merchas Doski celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Merchas Doski celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. (Reuters)

European champions Spain were ‌held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq in a World Cup warm-up in A Coruna on Thursday, with manager Luis de la Fuente resting several key players before their final friendly against Peru in Puebla, Mexico, on Monday.

De la Fuente left out Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, David Raya, Victor Munoz, Marc Cucurella, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Martin Zubimendi, Rodri and Mikel ‌Oyarzabal because ‌of fitness concerns, leaving Spain ‌with ⁠a heavily rotated ⁠starting line-up.

The result was a subdued send-off for Spain on home soil before they travel to North America on Friday. They will begin their World Cup campaign in Group H against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

Spain ⁠struggled to break down an organized ‌Iraq side whose compact ‌low block denied the hosts the rhythm that ‌carried them to the 2024 European Championship ‌title in Germany.

The hosts took the lead in the 16th minute in a quick counterattack, with Ferran Torres bursting through the middle from midfield ‌into the box before firing past the goalkeeper.

Iraq equalized through Merchas Doski ⁠in the ⁠27th minute with a superb left-footed strike from a difficult angle on the left edge of the box, the ball arcing over Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who was slightly off his line, and dropping into the net.

Torres struck the crossbar in the 40th minute, but Spain found clear openings hard to come by against disciplined opponents who will play only their second World Cup in Group I with France, Senegal and Norway.