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More Asian Champions League Matches in Middle East Postponed Indefinitely

A full moon also known as the "Blood Moon" is seen above the Abu Dhabi skyline on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)
A full moon also known as the "Blood Moon" is seen above the Abu Dhabi skyline on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)
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More Asian Champions League Matches in Middle East Postponed Indefinitely

A full moon also known as the "Blood Moon" is seen above the Abu Dhabi skyline on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)
A full moon also known as the "Blood Moon" is seen above the Abu Dhabi skyline on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)

Next week's matches in Asian tournaments scheduled in the Middle East have been postponed until further notice due to the conflict in the region, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Wednesday.

The US and Israel's attack on Iran has affected countries throughout the Gulf, disrupting travel in some of the world's ⁠busiest transit hubs ⁠and forcing several sporting events to be cancelled.

Western region clashes in the Asian Champions League Elite, Champions League Two and the third-tier Challenge League, ⁠scheduled for next week between Monday and Wednesday, have been postponed, Reuters quoted the AFC as saying in a statement.

The AFC earlier postponed this week's Asian Champions League Elite round of 16 clashes in the Middle East, as Iran cancelled all sporting events and the Qatar Football ⁠Association ⁠suspended all matches in the country.

"The AFC’s priority remains the safety and security of all stakeholders including players, teams, officials, partners and fans and we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring a secure environment for all," the continental body said in a statement.

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No Thoughts of Revenge as France Start World Cup Against Senegal, Says Deschamps

Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, attends the press conference of France one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 15, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, attends the press conference of France one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 15, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
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No Thoughts of Revenge as France Start World Cup Against Senegal, Says Deschamps

Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, attends the press conference of France one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 15, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, attends the press conference of France one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 15, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)

France ‌coach Didier Deschamps said his side were not out for revenge in their World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday, 24 years after an opening loss to the African powerhouse preceded a calamitous group-stage exit and a bitter memory for their fans.

The holders in 2002, Les Bleus were stunned when they lost their opening match 1-0 to Senegal in Seoul. France never righted the campaign, with a 0-0 draw against Uruguay and a 2-0 defeat by Denmark in a final humiliation sealing an early exit.

"Listen, this was history but even (midfielder) N'Golo (Kante) ‌I'm not ‌sure he saw the game. Nearly most of ‌my ⁠players weren't born ⁠in 2002," Deschamps told reporters via a translator in East Rutherford on Monday, where the 2022 runners-up play Senegal in Group I at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

"I know that you like this word 'revenge' but there's no revenge in football."

The 2018 champions will be under the spotlight in swampy New Jersey, with prodigious striker Kylian Mbappe - ⁠a bona fide celebrity even in the soccer-ambivalent ‌United States - playing under scrutiny from ‌critics after he drew a blank in warm-up games against Ivory Coast and ‌Northern Ireland.

Playing Senegal for the first time since that 2002 ‌loss adds to the drama as France hunt a third straight trip to the final.

"(Senegal have) got excellent players who play in the best clubs," said Deschamps. "They've got an offensive capacity, their midfield is excellent. When you're ‌part of the best teams, you've got everything."

The 35-year-old Kante, a key piece of France's triumphant 2018 ⁠campaign who ⁠is back in the mix after missing 2022 with an injury, said he expected a tough fight with Senegal's midfield.

The Fenerbahce player added that beating Senegal was important to set the right tone for the tournament, not for revenge.

"We want to be part of this squad and to have everyone on board, everybody counts, everybody is important," he told reporters.

"I do believe that it's important to have trust in our team. We need to go as far as possible in the competition ... Of course, our main opponent is ourselves. We need to stay together, concentrated."

France play Senegal on Tuesday before facing Iraq and Norway.

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Tunisia Fires Coach Sabri Lamouchi After World Cup Loss

Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi watches during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi watches during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
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Tunisia Fires Coach Sabri Lamouchi After World Cup Loss

Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi watches during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi watches during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)

Tunisia fired head ‌coach Sabri Lamouchi on Monday after a lopsided loss in their first World Cup game.

The Tunisian Football Federation announced his dismissal on its Instagram account.

"An agreement has ‌been officially ‌reached to dismiss ‌coach ⁠Sabri Lamouchi," the statement ⁠read.

"Plans are underway to appoint Mondher Kebaier as the national team coach (on an interim basis) to complete the World Cup qualifying matches."

Sweden ⁠routed Tunisia 5-1 ‌in Sunday ‌night's Group F opener in ‌Guadalupe, Mexico.

Tunisia are scheduled to ‌face Japan in the same stadium on Saturday night before finishing group play on June 25 ‌against the Netherlands in Kansas City.

Lamouchi, 54, was ⁠hired ⁠in January and was already under fire following a 5-0 loss to Belgium in a pre-tournament friendly on June 6 in Brussels.

The Frenchman previously managed the Ivory Coast squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup but failed to advance beyond the group stage in Brazil.

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Former Captain Says 2026 World Cup Continues Saudi Arabia’s Historic Journey

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Former Captain Says 2026 World Cup Continues Saudi Arabia’s Historic Journey

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Former Saudi national team captain Majed Abdullah said the Saudi team's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues a journey that began with their debut in 1994 in the United States, stressing the enduring support of Saudi fans throughout their international campaigns, SPA reported.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, he said, “Thirty-two years after leading the Saudi national team in the 1994 World Cup, I feel proud to see a new generation carrying the nation’s flag in football’s biggest tournament.”

He recalled the team’s confident debut in 1994, highlighting courage and team spirit as key factors in their success, and called for continued fan support, expressing confidence that the current squad can continue to make history.