Iran Awaiting FIFA Response on World Cup Venue Switch

 FIFA game balls are seen on the field ahead of a friendly football match between Brazil and Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
FIFA game balls are seen on the field ahead of a friendly football match between Brazil and Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
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Iran Awaiting FIFA Response on World Cup Venue Switch

 FIFA game balls are seen on the field ahead of a friendly football match between Brazil and Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
FIFA game balls are seen on the field ahead of a friendly football match between Brazil and Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on March 31, 2026. (AFP)

Iran's government will only decide on ‌the national team's participation in the World Cup once they receive a response from FIFA over the relocation of their matches, the country's Minister of Sport Ahmad Donyamali said.

Iran's football federation (FFIRI) has been pushing to move the team's three World Cup group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico, citing American military involvement alongside Israel in strikes that sparked an ongoing war in the region.

FFIRI said last month they were in discussions with FIFA about a venue switch, while Iran's sports ministry has banned national and club sports teams from ‌travelling to countries ‌it considers hostile until further notice.

FIFA president Gianni ‌Infantino ⁠said last week, ⁠however, that Iran would play their matches as scheduled.

"Our request to FIFA to relocate Iran's games from the US to Mexico is still valid, but we have not yet received a response," Donyamali told Turkish state news agency Anadolu in an interview published at the weekend.

"If accepted, Iran's participation in the World Cup will be certain. ⁠However, FIFA has not yet responded.

"As the Minister of ‌Sports, together with the Iranian football ‌federation, we will keep the football team ready for the World Cup. ‌However, the final decision will be made by our government."

Iran are ‌scheduled to play all of their Group G matches on American soil -- against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before their final fixture against Egypt in Seattle.

US President Donald Trump said last month that while ‌Iran's national team were welcome to play in the US, it might not be appropriate for their "life ⁠and safety".

He ⁠later made it clear that any threat to players would not come from the United States.

"According to FIFA's relevant regulations, security must be provided in the country concerned," Donyamali added. "However, the World Cup is taking place soon, and providing guarantees during this period is questionable.

"Under these circumstances, the possibility of Iran participating in the World Cup matches in the US is very low. But, if the relevant security guarantees are provided, our government will make the decision on Iran's participation in the World Cup."

FIFA did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The World Cup takes place in the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.



Bayern Are in Driving Seat, but Wounded Real Could Be Dangerous, Says Neuer

14 April 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action during a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Real Madrid. (dpa)
14 April 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action during a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Real Madrid. (dpa)
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Bayern Are in Driving Seat, but Wounded Real Could Be Dangerous, Says Neuer

14 April 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action during a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Real Madrid. (dpa)
14 April 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action during a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Real Madrid. (dpa)

Treble-chasing Bayern Munich ‌are in control of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid after a 2-1 first-leg win but the Spanish giants, struggling for form, could prove dangerous with their backs to the wall, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said on Tuesday.

The Bavarians host Real in the return leg on Wednesday, hoping to book a semi-final spot to go along with their German Cup semi-final place and a 12-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

Real, out of Spain's ‌Copa del Rey ‌and second in La Liga, nine points ‌behind ⁠Barcelona, have only ⁠one realistic shot at a trophy.

"Yes, it is a big chance for Real to improve things," Neuer told a press conference. "It is a really difficult period for a club like Real at the moment. We have experienced it ourselves in the past."

"When you are with your back to ⁠the wall you can move mountains," Neuer ‌said.

But the Spaniards will be ‌facing a Bayern team in stellar form. On Saturday they set ‌a new Bundesliga all-time goal record, with their 5-0 ‌demolition of St Pauli, to take their season tally to 105 goals with five games still remaining. The previous best mark was 101 goals in the 1971-72 campaign.

"We are in a flow ‌right now. We are still in all competitions and it's in our own hands," ⁠Neuer said. "We ⁠are sitting in the driver's seat."

Bayern can potentially secure the league title as early as this weekend if Dortmund slip up on Saturday against Hoffenheim. They also face Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup semi-final on April 22.

"We won the first match, but there is only one goal difference," the 40-year-old Neuer said. "We know the fight we have to deliver. But we have that one goal advantage."

"Our motivation is sky high so the starting point is good, but we cannot overestimate it," he said. "We have experienced how Real can hit back but we are confident."


Swiatek Banks on Nadal's Former Coach to Reignite her Season

FILED - 28 June 2025, Hesse, Bad Homburg: Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US Jessica Pegula during their women's singles final match of the Bad Homburg Open Tennis Tournament. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa
FILED - 28 June 2025, Hesse, Bad Homburg: Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US Jessica Pegula during their women's singles final match of the Bad Homburg Open Tennis Tournament. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa
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Swiatek Banks on Nadal's Former Coach to Reignite her Season

FILED - 28 June 2025, Hesse, Bad Homburg: Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US Jessica Pegula during their women's singles final match of the Bad Homburg Open Tennis Tournament. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa
FILED - 28 June 2025, Hesse, Bad Homburg: Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US Jessica Pegula during their women's singles final match of the Bad Homburg Open Tennis Tournament. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa

Iga Swiatek is hoping to benefit from new coach Francisco Roig's experience and technical expertise when the world number four begins her claycourt season at the Stuttgart Open this week after a disappointing start to the year.

The Polish six-times Grand Slam champion lost in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and tournaments in Doha and Indian Wells before a shock second-round defeat by Magda Linette in the Miami Open last month.

That prompted Swiatek ⁠to part ways ⁠with her coach Wim Fissette and hire Roig, who worked with her idol Rafa Nadal from 2005-22 and more recently with Briton Emma Raducanu.

"I'm really happy to start with Francis," Swiatek told a press conference in Stuttgart, according to Reuters.

"I was basically looking for someone with a good eye, really technical, but also a ⁠person that is experienced enough to help me through some different kind of situations. I feel Francisco has lived through everything on tour.

"It's going really amazing ... I was able to find a new coach pretty fast, which is a positive thing because when you do that in the middle of the season, it's nice to have some security in that."

Swiatek, who has won four French Open titles on her favored clay courts, began preparations for the Grand Slam that begins on May ⁠24 with ⁠a training block at Nadal's academy in Mallorca under the watchful eyes of the Spaniard.

"I asked if it would be possible for him to come and maybe be some kind of inspiration, also hear some feedback from him," Swiatek said.

"It was a privilege to have him on court. I honestly didn't have many expectations because I know he's super busy and he has a lot of stuff to do, even though he always has different projects and everything.

"Now I'll continue with Francisco. He'll be the person that takes care of the whole process. That's the plan for now."


Iraq Coach Arnold Undecided on Future Beyond World Cup

Football - FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Final - Iraq v Bolivia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026 Iraq coach Graham Arnold before the match. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Final - Iraq v Bolivia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026 Iraq coach Graham Arnold before the match. (Reuters)
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Iraq Coach Arnold Undecided on Future Beyond World Cup

Football - FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Final - Iraq v Bolivia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026 Iraq coach Graham Arnold before the match. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Final - Iraq v Bolivia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026 Iraq coach Graham Arnold before the match. (Reuters)

Iraq coach Graham Arnold said ‌his future beyond the World Cup remains undecided as his contract ends after the tournament and no formal talks have yet taken place, though retirement is not on his mind.

The 62-year-old Australian, who took charge of Iraq in May of last year, said he was keeping his options open and wanted to focus fully on the World Cup, where the team will make its first appearance in 40 years.

"The book is ‌open. My ‌contract finishes straight after the World ‌Cup. ⁠There has been ⁠talk about them wanting me to stay on, but I haven't had anything formal yet," Arnold told AAP.

"I really don't want anything formal yet. I want to go to the World Cup and enjoy it and after that I've got to make a decision whether ⁠to stay on or move on."

Arnold, ‌who guided his native Australia ‌to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup ‌in Qatar, said the prospect of leading teams ‌that have struggled to reach major tournaments continues to motivate him.

"There's some nations that I look at and I think to myself, they haven't qualified for a long time, I'd ‌like to do it again," he said.

"I've obviously had the experience throughout Asia, ⁠but I'm ⁠nowhere near ready to retire."

Iraq qualified for the World Cup by beating Bolivia 2-1 in Mexico in their inter-confederation playoff earlier this month.

Arnold said Iraq's qualification campaign had reinforced his belief that the team could trouble more-established sides on the global stage.

"We're going out there with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and with the chance to shock the world," he said.

"We'll be the underdog. We'll be fighters. If no one is giving us a chance, we can go there and achieve something special."