United News of Bangladesh

Iran's national football team will be allowed to enter the United States only on the days of its World Cup matches and must leave the country the same day due to US visa restrictions, according to Iran's ambassador. Speaking to media, Ambassador Abolfazl Pasandideh said, “We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” citing restrictions imposed on Iranian travelers. Messi absent from friendly win over Honduras due to muscle fatigue The envoy's remarks come as Iran has shifted its World Cup preparations to Mexico, abandoning earlier plans to train in Tucson amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. Iran is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the United States during the World Cup, including two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, Washington. Tensions in the region intensified after the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran in late February, setting off a series of retaliatory attacks and contributing to broader instability across the Middle East. In response, Iran carried out strikes against Israel and targeted countries hosting US military bases. It also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important route for global energy supplies. Source: Al Jazeera

Lionel Messi did not play in Argentina’s friendly against Honduras on Saturday night as he continued to manage muscle fatigue and a mild strain in his left hamstring ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Messi, who will turn 39 in three weeks, participated in the pre-match warm-up with his teammates at Kyle Field on the campus of Texas A&M. However, he remained on the bench throughout the match, watching from the sidelines as Argentina secured a 2-0 victory. Messi could return in Argentina warm-ups Argentina has said Messi’s return will depend on his “clinical and functional progress.” The team is scheduled to face Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday in its final World Cup warm-up match before resuming training in Kansas City. The defending champions will begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on June 16. During a training session in Kansas City on Wednesday, Messi arrived on the practice field after the rest of the squad and carried out conditioning exercises separately. Widely expected to retire from international football after this summer’s World Cup, Messi holds the record for the most World Cup appearances with 26 matches. He is also four goals away from surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who holds the tournament scoring record with 16 goals.

Lionel Messi could feature in Argentina's World Cup warm-up fixtures as he recovers from a hamstring injury, Albiceleste manager Lionel Scaloni said on Friday. Messi was diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring while playing for Inter Miami in a 6-4 MLS win over Philadelphia on May 24. Scaloni said the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner might be available for Saturday's friendly against Honduras in College Station, Texas, or its final preparatory game against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday. "Leo is doing well," Scaloni told reporters. "He trained for a while with the main group, which is important. He's not fully recovered, but he's coming along. He may get some minutes in these two friendlies. We'll see if it's the one tomorrow or the next one. But he's doing a lot better and that gives us peace of mind." Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Nico Paz and Gonzalo Montiel also trained separately as they recover from minor injuries. Scaloni said he would seek to replace any players that are not 100% fit before the tournament. "It may happen," he said. "Today we have the feeling that the guys are doing well, but what we're completely sure of is that if any one of them is not available, they'll be left out." "We have that clear. For now, they're doing well, but we've been monitoring them. When the decisive stage arrives, which is the final week, where they have to ramp up to see if they are 100%, that's when we'll decide, even though it'll hurt a lot if any one of the guys has to be left out." Argentina will start its World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 before facing Austria and Jordan in Group J.  

India regained the South Asian women's football crown on Saturday, defeating holders Bangladesh 3-1 in the SAFF Women’s Championship final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. The defeat shattered Bangladesh's hopes of a third consecutive title, ending their brief regional dominance and handing India a record sixth championship. Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler shook up his starting lineup for the decider, bringing in star forwards Tohura Khatun and Shamsunnahar Junior. Both teams squandered early chances in a high-tempo opening before India broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Pyari Xaxa pounced on a defensive lapse to hit a strike that deflected off defender Suravi Akter Afrin, looping over an advanced Mile Akter in goal. Bangladesh struck back deep into first-half injury time. Winger Ritu Porna Chakma collected a sharp pass from Tohura, cut inside from the left flank, and hit a low diagonal shot past the Indian goalkeeper to equalize. It was the first goal India conceded in the entire tournament. However, the momentum shifted back to India just 48 seconds after the restart. Sanfida Nongrum got ahead of the Bangladeshi defense to meet a cross from Xaxa, directing a powerful header into the net. Butler tried to spark a recovery by introducing Monika Chakma for Anika Rania Siddika in the 60th minute. Bangladesh then had a strong penalty appeal turned down shortly after when Shamsunnahar Senior went down after a challenge with Malvika in the box. As Bangladesh pushed forward, their defensive shape collapsed. India took full advantage of the disarray in the 83rd minute when Linda Kom Serto slotted home a third goal to wrap up the victory for Crispin Chettri’s side.

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva claimed her maiden Grand Slam title on Saturday, defeating Poland’s Maja Chwalinska in straight sets to win the French Open women’s singles crown. The 19-year-old eighth seed secured a 6-3, 6-2 victory over the 114th-ranked Polish qualifier in the Roland Garros final. With the triumph, Andreeva became the youngest player to win the French Open women’s singles title since Monica Seles captured her third consecutive crown at the age of 18 in 1992. Andreeva, who emerged as one of tennis’ brightest prospects at the age of 15, completed a dominant run in Paris to lift her first major trophy. Chwalinska, meanwhile, was aiming to make history as the first qualifier to win the French Open women’s singles title but fell short in the championship match. The tournament will conclude on Sunday with the men’s singles final between Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.

Iran’s national football team is set to leave its training camp in Turkey for Mexico on Saturday as preparations continue for the FIFA World Cup, although several federation officials were still awaiting U.S. visas ahead of matches scheduled in the United States. Iranian state television reported that a number of officials due to accompany the squad had not yet received permission to enter the U.S. Among them were Iranian Football Federation Secretary-General Hedayat Mombeini and Vice President Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, along with other support staff and administrators. It remained unclear whether federation president Mehdi Taj had received a visa. The issue comes amid heightened tensions following the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Visa-related complications earlier prompted Iran to relocate its World Cup training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in Mexico near the U.S. border. In a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim and Mehr news agencies, the football federation accused the United States of “vindictive behavior” for denying visas to what it described as key managerial and administrative personnel. The federation argued that the decision undermined fair competition and said it would raise the matter with world football governing body FIFA. According to U.S. officials cited by The Associated Press, all Iranian players have been approved for visas. Visas were also reportedly issued to coaches, trainers and some support staff. However, one official suggested that certain applicants linked to the team had been denied visas after allegedly applying under false pretenses. The officials spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Iran has been training in Antalya ahead of the tournament and has already secured visas for Mexico through the Mexican Embassy in Ankara. Iran will begin its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15, before facing Belgium on June 21 at the same venue. The team will then travel to Seattle to take on Egypt on June 26. A potential meeting between Iran and the United States could take place in the Round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, if both teams finish second in their respective groups. Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump questioned Iran’s participation in the tournament, citing concerns over security and appropriateness. Iran’s national team rejected the suggestion, insisting that no one could prevent it from competing. Iran announced its final World Cup squad on Monday, including 17 players from domestic clubs that have not played competitive matches since February due to the war. Star striker Sardar Azmoun was left out of the squad after reportedly posting content on social media that angered Iranian authorities during the conflict. Although Iran’s sports minister said in March that participation in the World Cup might not be possible, the football federation later confirmed that preparations would continue and reiterated its demand that all players and staff, including those with past military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, be granted visas.

History is guaranteed to be made when Poland's Maja Chwalinska takes on Russia's Mirra Andreeva in the French Open women's singles final on Saturday. World No. 114 Chwalinska is aiming to become the first qualifier in history to win the Roland Garros women's title. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Andreeva, ranked eighth in the world, is seeking to become the youngest French Open women's champion since Monica Seles captured her third consecutive title at the age of 18 in 1992. The championship match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. local time on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The French Open will conclude on Sunday with the men's singles final, where Germany's Alexander Zverev will face Italy's Flavio Cobolli. The tournament has been widely regarded as one of the most unpredictable Grand Slam events in recent years.

Centuries from skipper Shubman Gill and Lokesh Rahul powered India to a commanding 368 for 3 at stumps on the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh on Saturday. Gill remained unbeaten on 103 from 143 deliveries, while Rahul struck 100 off 165 balls as India made the most of winning the toss at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, the 31st venue in India to host a Test match. India got off to a steady start with Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal adding 41 runs for the opening wicket before Jaiswal was dismissed for 24, caught behind off Mohammad Saleem. Rahul survived an early scare when an edge went unnoticed by the umpire and Afghanistan opted not to review the decision. He capitalised on the reprieve to register his 12th Test century before being caught at extra cover off Ziaur Rahman. Rahul, who struck 11 boundaries, shared a 139-run partnership for the second wicket with Sai Sudharsan. Sudharsan contributed a fluent 81 off 104 balls, including 13 fours, before becoming Saleem’s second victim shortly before tea. Gill then combined with Rishabh Pant in an unbroken 121-run stand that further strengthened India's position. Gill’s century came without offering a chance and featured 11 fours and a six. Pant remained unbeaten on 50, hitting three sixes during his innings. The match marks only the second Test meeting between the two sides. Their previous encounter came in 2018 when India defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs in Bengaluru during Afghanistan’s inaugural Test match. The game is Afghanistan’s 13th Test overall and does not count towards the World Test Championship standings.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday joined millions of fans across Bangladesh and around the world in congratulating the team, the Bangladesh Football Federation, and all associated on this groundbreaking performance as the team secured its first-ever victory on European soil. Despite playing away from home, the Bangladesh team was cheered on by hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals who travelled from across Europe to support the team - a testament to the spirit and pride of our diaspora community. Bangladesh script history with maiden win over European side on European soil The Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy and officials of the Bangladesh Embassy were also present to support and encourage the team on this historic occasion, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a landmark moment for Bangladeshi football, the Bangladesh National Football Team has etched its name into the history books by securing its first-ever victory on European soil, defeating San Marino in last evening’s (5 June 2026) FIFA international friendly match. The historic triumph, which ended with a scoreline of [2-1], marks a monumental milestone for the Bengal Tigers. Played at the San Marino Stadium, the team displayed resilience, tactical discipline, and a fighting spirit that captivated fans back home and around the globe.

Amid mounting criticism over political infiltration and conflict of interest, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to hold its highly controversial election on Sunday. In a bid to defuse the growing backlash, BCB Ad-hoc Committee Chief Tamim Iqbal called on candidates to separate their personal backgrounds from their administrative responsibilities, urging them to leave their individual identities outside the stadium gates. "When you sit in those seats, you only serve Bangladesh cricket," Tamim said. However, Tamim’s appeal comes against a backdrop of severe institutional critique surrounding the integrity of the election. Observers have heavily questioned the moral grounding of the process, pointing out that seven of the eleven ad-hoc committee members including Tamim himself are actively contesting the election they were explicitly appointed to oversee neutrally. Furthermore, public frustration has intensified over the overwhelming influx of political figures into the sports body. The government faced open mockery, even earning the satirical moniker "Baper Doa Cricket Board"—roughly translating to "The Nepotism Cricket Board"—due to the inclusion of ministers' children who lack sports organizing experience. The democratic credibility of the election has also been rendered largely hollow by a total lack of competition. Out of ten available director positions in Category-1, seven candidates have already secured their seats completely uncontested. In the highly sought-after Dhaka club category (Category-2), sixteen candidates are competing for twelve seats amid serious allegations of behind-the-scenes manipulation and intense political pressure to dictate the final outcome. Despite these controversies and a wave of unsuccessful legal challenges from former board members, the election will proceed as scheduled. Tamim maintained that the process remains transparent and legally sound, expressing optimism that the vote will finally deliver a settled board capable of driving the sport forward.