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David Beckham to Get Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

(FILES) Former England footballer David Beckham (L) poses next to his wife singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham (R) with his medal after being appointed as a Knight Bachelor (Knighthood) for services to sport and charity at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Matthews / POOL / AFP)
(FILES) Former England footballer David Beckham (L) poses next to his wife singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham (R) with his medal after being appointed as a Knight Bachelor (Knighthood) for services to sport and charity at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Matthews / POOL / AFP)
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David Beckham to Get Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

(FILES) Former England footballer David Beckham (L) poses next to his wife singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham (R) with his medal after being appointed as a Knight Bachelor (Knighthood) for services to sport and charity at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Matthews / POOL / AFP)
(FILES) Former England footballer David Beckham (L) poses next to his wife singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham (R) with his medal after being appointed as a Knight Bachelor (Knighthood) for services to sport and charity at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Matthews / POOL / AFP)

Football superstar David Beckham is to be honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, organizers announced Tuesday, as the United States readies to host the World Cup.

Movie legend Tom Cruise and the player's pop star-turned-fashion designer wife Victoria Beckham will be at the ceremony on June 12 to unveil the plaque immortalizing the British midfielder on Hollywood's most famous thoroughfare.

The ceremony for the 51-year-old former England captain will take place hours before the first game on US soil in this year's World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.

"David Beckham's recognition with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in the Sports Entertainment category comes at a fitting moment as the United States prepares to host the FIFA World Cup," said Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

"Beckham's role in elevating soccer's profile in America and his lasting influence on sports, entertainment, and global culture make this honor especially meaningful," AFP quoted her as saying.

During his club playing career, Beckham spent time at Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, the American side LA Galaxy, and Paris Saint-Germain, where he hung up his boots in 2013.

More recently, he became a co-owner of the American team Inter Miami CF, which signed Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, and won the Major League Soccer Cup Championship last year.

Beckham, who was knighted by Britain's King Charles III last year, also ventured into the entertainment industry, co-founding the content production company Studio 99 in 2019.

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Sports

Iran to Play World Cup Warm-up Behind Closed Doors

FILE PHOTO: File Photo: Soccer Football - International Friendly - Iran v Gambia - Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Türkiye - May 29, 2026 Iran players REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: File Photo: Soccer Football - International Friendly - Iran v Gambia - Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Türkiye - May 29, 2026 Iran players REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo/File Photo
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Iran to Play World Cup Warm-up Behind Closed Doors

FILE PHOTO: File Photo: Soccer Football - International Friendly - Iran v Gambia - Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Türkiye - May 29, 2026 Iran players REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: File Photo: Soccer Football - International Friendly - Iran v Gambia - Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Türkiye - May 29, 2026 Iran players REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo/File Photo

Iran will play their final World Cup warm-up behind closed doors in Türkiye on Thursday before departing for their tournament base in Mexico on Saturday, the Iranian FA (FFIRI) said on Wednesday.

Although it was one of the first teams to qualify, Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched air strikes on the country in late February.

The squad have played three friendlies in two training camps in Antalya since the start of the war - losing to Nigeria and beating Costa Rica and Gambia - and on Thursday will face Mali in the Turkish ⁠sea resort.

"Considering the ⁠importance of the Iranian national football team's friendly match against Mali, and in line with the tactical objectives of Iran's head coach, tomorrow's match against Mali will be held behind closed doors and without media attendance," Reuters quoted FFIRI as saying in a statement.

The FFIRI persuaded FIFA to allow the team to swap its tournament ⁠base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, and from there they will commute across the border to their first two group games against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles.

Their third and final Group G game against Egypt is in Seattle.

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

"What we're not going to allow is for them to ⁠embed in ⁠their delegation a bunch of people that we know have nothing to do with athletics and have ties to the IRGC or things of that nature, so we were going to watch that very closely," Rubio said during a House of Representatives committee hearing.

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

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

Iran are scheduled to kick off their campaign against New Zealand on June 15.

Sports

Leclerc Staying with Ferrari for Years to Come

Formula One F1 - Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada - May 22, 2026 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc arrives ahead of practice. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada - May 22, 2026 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc arrives ahead of practice. (Reuters)
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Leclerc Staying with Ferrari for Years to Come

Formula One F1 - Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada - May 22, 2026 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc arrives ahead of practice. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada - May 22, 2026 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc arrives ahead of practice. (Reuters)

Charles Leclerc will race for Ferrari for years to come after the Italian Formula One team announced a long-term contract extension on Wednesday ahead of his home Monaco Grand Prix. The 28-year-old Monegasque has driven for the Maranello-based outfit in F1 since 2019, winning eight races.

"I couldn't be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP. It has always been so much more than just a team to me," Leclerc said in a statement issued by Ferrari.

Leclerc is currently third in the 2026 drivers' championship but 56 points behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who is 43 ahead of teammate and closest rival ‌George Russell after ‌winning the last four races.

He has raced more times ‌for ⁠Ferrari (155) than any ⁠other driver in the team's history other than now-retired seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher, and also ranks second for pole positions behind the German.

PART OF THE FERRARI FAMILY

Ferrari did not specify the duration of his new contract, saying only that Leclerc would continue for the "coming seasons" in the championship.

"Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal feels like something very natural for us," ⁠team principal Fred Vasseur said.

"Over these seasons we have ‌seen him grow, to become not only one ‌of the strongest drivers in Formula One, but also a person who is completely at ‌one with the team and everything Ferrari represents.

"We know how much this project ‌means to him and we are happy to continue working towards our shared goals."

Leclerc joined the Ferrari Academy in 2016, won the Formula Two title in 2017 and made his F1 debut with Ferrari-powered Sauber (now Audi) in 2018.

Leclerc's teammate is Britain's seven-times world champion ‌Lewis Hamilton, who joined from Mercedes last year on a multi-year contract and is expected to continue next season, when ⁠he will be ⁠41 years old.

Hamilton is fourth in the standings, three points behind Leclerc.

Ferrari have not taken a grand prix victory since 2024, or a championship since 2008, but Hamilton won a Saturday sprint race in China last season and finished second in Canada last month.

Leclerc has had two podium finishes this season -- third in Australia and Japan -- and will be heavily fancied for his home race this weekend, with Ferrari expected to be competitive at the slowest circuit on the calendar where top speed is less of a factor and grid position is crucial.

Growing up in the principality, Leclerc in 2024 became the first local to win the Monaco Grand Prix in the championship era and has taken pole there three times in the last five years.

Sports

Casemiro Says Not Being Favorites at World Cup Will Keep Brazil on their Toes

Jun 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Brazil midfielder Casemiro speaks to media after arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Newark Liberty International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
Jun 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Brazil midfielder Casemiro speaks to media after arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Newark Liberty International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
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Casemiro Says Not Being Favorites at World Cup Will Keep Brazil on their Toes

Jun 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Brazil midfielder Casemiro speaks to media after arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Newark Liberty International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
Jun 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Brazil midfielder Casemiro speaks to media after arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Newark Liberty International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images

Brazil midfielder Casemiro believes being a "step behind" other World Cup favorites could actually work in the team's favor when the tournament kicks off next week.

Brazil, who are looking to win a record-extending sixth World Cup title, find themselves trailing European champions Spain, 2018 World Cup winners France and England in the bookmakers' odds for the June 11 to July 19 tournament in North America.

"We aren’t the big favorites," Casemiro told FIFA's media channel ⁠after Brazil arrived ⁠in the US on Tuesday. "Of course, we’re in good shape; we’ve got a strong squad, with a mix of experience and young talent."

"Perhaps this time we’re a step behind, but we’re on our toes and that’s always ⁠a good thing. We want to go there in good shape and have a great World Cup.”

According to Reuters, the 34-year-old said Brazil had had a "difficult cycle" in the build-up to the World Cup, with the Brazilian Football Confederation appointing Carlo Ancelotti as coach and naming a new president last year.

“It has been a difficult cycle with a change of manager, a change of president and ⁠a ⁠lot of turmoil," he added.

"We have only had one year working with the manager, who has excellent experience in football, but in reality we have only worked together for 40 days. I think we will go into the tournament in strong form.

"We have quality players, experienced players, energetic players and young players. I think we have a good mix for this competition."

Brazil will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C.