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Saudi Arabia and Senegal End Scoreless in Final World Cup Friendly

Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais delivered a remarkable performance during the match (Saudi National Team)
Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais delivered a remarkable performance during the match (Saudi National Team)
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Saudi Arabia and Senegal End Scoreless in Final World Cup Friendly

Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais delivered a remarkable performance during the match (Saudi National Team)
Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais delivered a remarkable performance during the match (Saudi National Team)

Saudi Arabia was held to a goalless draw against 10-man Senegal on Wednesday in the two teams’ final friendly before the start of the World Cup.

Giorgos Donis, Saudi Arabia's Greek coach, fielded a strong starting line-up in the first half before making 10 changes after the break.

Senegal finished the match with 10 players after forward Nicolas Jackson was sent off in the ⁠84th minute for ⁠a second yellow card.

Saudi Arabia produced an impressive performance in the opening stage, threatening goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s goal on several occasions, most notably in the 10th minute when Musab Al Juwayr went ⁠close following a clever pass from captain Salem Al Dawsari, Reuters reported.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Senegal - Toyota Field, San Antonio, Texas, US - June 9, 2026 Senegal's Iliman Ndiaye in action with Saudi Arabia's Musab Al-Juwayr IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Daniel Dunn

Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais comfortably saved a header from Lamine Camara in the 14th minute.

Mohammed Abu Al Shamat missed a chance to put Saudi Arabia ahead in the 30th minute when he headed over the bar from close range.

Senegal pressed hard in the closing stages of ⁠the ⁠first half but failed to seriously trouble Al Owais.

Substitute Ayman Yahya unleashed a powerful long-range effort just after the hour mark that narrowly missed the right post.

Saudi Arabia begin their World Cup Group H campaign against Uruguay on June 16 before facing Spain and Cape Verde.

Senegal, meanwhile, open their Group I campaign against France before taking on Norway and Iraq.

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Sports

Adidas, Real Madrid Extend Partnership for 8 Years

FILE PHOTO: An Adidas logo is seen at the new Futurecraft shoe unveiling event in New York City, New York, US April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Joe Penney/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An Adidas logo is seen at the new Futurecraft shoe unveiling event in New York City, New York, US April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Joe Penney/File Photo
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Adidas, Real Madrid Extend Partnership for 8 Years

FILE PHOTO: An Adidas logo is seen at the new Futurecraft shoe unveiling event in New York City, New York, US April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Joe Penney/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An Adidas logo is seen at the new Futurecraft shoe unveiling event in New York City, New York, US April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Joe Penney/File Photo

Germany's Adidas said on Wednesday it signed ⁠an eight-year ⁠extension ⁠of its sponsoring partnership with Real Madrid, covering soccer and basketball.

“First formalized in 1980 and then re-established after a short break from the 1998/1999 season, the Adidas and Real Madrid partnership has seen the club become the most successful on the European stage, delivering eight UEFA MEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE™ trophies in this period while wearing the Three Stripes,” it said in a statement.

“From best-in-class technical performance wear that has supported athletes like Zinedine Zidane, Toni Kroos, David Beckham and Jude Bellingham on the field of play, to culture-wear that enables fans to carry their support through all parts of life, the partnership has created some of the game’s most famous sportswear,” it added.

“The new agreement follows shortly after the release of the new Real Madrid Home jersey, a design that brings the finer details of the club’s crest to the fore with deep green and bold pink details,” the statement said.

“The strategic alliance between Real Madrid and Adidas has helped us, over these three decades, to experience one of the most wonderful periods in our history. It has also enabled us to continue nurturing this universal feeling known as madridismo,” the statement quoted Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, as saying.

Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden expressed pride that “the Three Stripes will continue to be part of this extraordinary success story.”

Sports

Somali Referee Says World Cup ‘Dream’ Ruined

Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan gestures during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group D football match between Mauritania and Algeria at Stade de la Paix in Bouake on January 23, 2024. (AFP)
Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan gestures during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group D football match between Mauritania and Algeria at Stade de la Paix in Bouake on January 23, 2024. (AFP)
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Somali Referee Says World Cup ‘Dream’ Ruined

Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan gestures during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group D football match between Mauritania and Algeria at Stade de la Paix in Bouake on January 23, 2024. (AFP)
Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan gestures during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group D football match between Mauritania and Algeria at Stade de la Paix in Bouake on January 23, 2024. (AFP)

Somali referee Omar Artan said the "biggest dream of my life" had been ripped away after he was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup.

Artan, who was named referee of the year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football, has been dropped from FIFA's list of officials after he was refused entry to the United States on arriving in Miami on Saturday.

Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration as part of a broader immigration crackdown.

A US State Department official told AFP late Tuesday that the referee was "associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations," therefore "making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States."

After an 11-hour interview with border officials, Artan said he was taken to a separate holding cell where he was detained for several further hours before being put on a flight back to Istanbul.

"I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup," Artan told the New York Times on Tuesday in a telephone interview from the Turkish city.

"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," he added.

FIFA said it was powerless to influence the decision, which it said was the sole preserve of tournament co-hosts the United States.

"In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country," said a spokesperson for football's governing body.

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection said Artan was denied entry following a routine inspection.

"Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry," the statement said.

The Somali government expressed "deep regret" at Artan's exclusion from the tournament.

"Artan represents the very best of Somali talent," the sports ministry said.

The largest World Cup in history begins on Thursday, shrouded in political tension.

Iran, who will play their three group games on American soil, were forced to switch their training base to Mexico due to the military conflict between Tehran and the US.

The Iranian football federation on Tuesday said its allocation of tickets for supporters had been revoked, while some of the team's support staff have been denied visas.

Sports

Iraq Conclude World Cup Preparations with a Defeat to Venezuela

Iraq's forward #11 Ahmed Qasim runs with the ball past Venezuela's midfielder #05 Ted Quintero during the international friendly football match between Iraq and Venezuela at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois on June 9, 2026. (AFP)
Iraq's forward #11 Ahmed Qasim runs with the ball past Venezuela's midfielder #05 Ted Quintero during the international friendly football match between Iraq and Venezuela at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois on June 9, 2026. (AFP)
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Iraq Conclude World Cup Preparations with a Defeat to Venezuela

Iraq's forward #11 Ahmed Qasim runs with the ball past Venezuela's midfielder #05 Ted Quintero during the international friendly football match between Iraq and Venezuela at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois on June 9, 2026. (AFP)
Iraq's forward #11 Ahmed Qasim runs with the ball past Venezuela's midfielder #05 Ted Quintero during the international friendly football match between Iraq and Venezuela at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois on June 9, 2026. (AFP)

Iraq lost 2-0 to Venezuela on Wednesday in their final warm-up friendly before the World Cup.

Midfielder Cristian Casseres opened the scoring for the South Americans in Bridgeville, Illinois in the 17th minute with a close-range ‌finish.

Venezuela doubled ‌their lead immediately after ‌interval ⁠when Casseres won ⁠the ball before passing to striker Jesus Ramirez, who dribbled past a defender and fired in a powerful shot.

Iraq finished the ⁠match with 10 men ‌after forward ‌Ali Youssef was shown a ‌straight red card in the ‌72nd minute.

Iraq return to the World Cup finals for the first time since their only ‌appearance 40 years ago, and will begin their ⁠Group ⁠I campaign against Norway on June 17 before facing France and Senegal.

Venezuela is not a participant in this year's tournament in North America, and remains the only South American nation to never qualify for the World Cup finals.