United News of Bangladesh

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran will participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup and play its scheduled matches in the United States. FIFA’s conformation will now end speculation about a potential boycott or venue relocation amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Speaking after attending Iran’s 5-0 friendly victory over Costa Rica in Turkey on Tuesday, Infantino said the tournament schedule will proceed without alterations. "Iran will be at the World Cup," Infantino said. "The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw". The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding the Iranian team's status due to the US-Israel war with Iran. Earlier this month, the Iranian football federation stated it was negotiating with FIFA to relocate its matches to Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had publicly offered to host the games if necessary. Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, begins June 11. Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, vice president of the Iranian Football Federation, said the team will adhere to FIFA's regulations and expects host nations to do the same. "Every host country has made commitments to FIFA and must honor them," Nabi said. He added that Infantino’s visit during his transit from Mexico to Qatar provided a significant boost to the players. The geopolitical tension had recently spilled into public statements from government officials. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media earlier this month that while Iran was "welcome to the World Cup," he felt they should not participate "for their own life and safety". In response, Iranian officials suggested the U.S. should forfeit its place in the tournament. Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali also previously stated the country was not in a position to compete. Prior to Tuesday's friendly match in Antalya, Iranian players held up photographs of damaged hospitals, historical buildings, and children killed in the war.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is unlike anything football has seen before  and that's not just a line for the brochure. This is the first World Cup to include 48 teams, expanded from 32, and the first to be hosted by three nations simultaneously the United States, Canada, and Mexico, spread across 16 cities. But the numbers only go so far in capturing what this qualification cycle actually produced. There were stories of nations waiting decades for this moment, a European giant falling through the trapdoor for the third consecutive time, a man from Manchester scoring 16 goals for Norway, and a tiny Caribbean island rewriting the record books. All of that before a ball is kicked at a World Cup. The Full 48 Teams — Confederation by ConfederationUEFA — Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland all qualified as group winners. The remaining four European spots were settled in the March 2026 playoffs, where Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Türkiye, and Czechia each won their respective paths to join the field. Italy four-time World Cup winners missed out for the third consecutive time, losing the play-off final. The scale of that absence, in a 48-team tournament no less, warrants more than a footnote. CAF — Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia make up the African contingent, with DR Congo joining them via the intercontinental playoff. Ten African nations at a single World Cup the most ever. AFC — Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea qualified directly, with Iraq claiming the final Asian berth through the intercontinental playoff. Japan was the first nation anywhere in the world to qualify, and South Korea secured their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance. CONMEBOL — South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay all came through the grueling round-robin format. Brazil maintains their record as the only nation to have qualified for every World Cup since 1930. OFC — Oceania: For the first time in history, the OFC received a guaranteed berth, and New Zealand filled it, a landmark moment for Oceanian football that has been 96 years in the making.

The Italy national football team suffered another major setback, failing to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team in a penalty shootout in the European playoffs on Tuesday. Despite taking an early lead through Moise Kean, Italy’s hopes were dented when defender Alessandro Bastoni was sent off before halftime. Bosnia fought back late in the match, with substitute Haris Tabaković scoring in the 79th minute to level the score at 1-1 and force extra time. Bosnia eventually triumphed 4-1 in the shootout, securing their first World Cup qualification since 2014 and only the second in their history. The defeat added to Italy’s recent struggles, having also failed to reach the last two World Cups after playoff losses to Sweden and North Macedonia. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said the team is facing a difficult period, acknowledging their repeated failures to meet expectations at both national and club levels. Defender Leonardo Spinazzola expressed disappointment, saying the result was painful for players, their families and fans, especially younger supporters who have never seen Italy play at a World Cup. The latest elimination means the four-time champions, winners in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006, will go at least 16 years without appearing at football’s biggest tournament. Italy’s last World Cup match was in 2014, when they were knocked out in the group stage in a game remembered for Luis Suárez biting Giorgio Chiellini. Italy’s football federation president Gabriele Gravina admitted the team is in a “huge crisis.” The defeat is also likely to increase scrutiny on Gattuso, who took charge after Luciano Spalletti was dismissed last year. Although Italy had a brief revival with a six-match winning run, they finished second in their qualifying group and were forced into the playoffs again. Italy had beaten Northern Ireland 2-0 in the playoff semifinal but struggled against Bosnia at the compact Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica. On paper, the match appeared heavily tilted in Italy’s favor, with the team ranked far higher by FIFA and boasting significantly greater resources and player salaries. However, Bosnia held firm and capitalized on their chances. In the shootout, Italy’s Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their penalties, while U.S.-born Esmir Bajraktarević converted the decisive spot kick for Bosnia. The result also highlights a generational gap in Italian football, with none of the current squad having played in a World Cup finals. In other European playoff finals, Sweden national football team, Turkey national football team and Czech Republic national football team secured qualification. Sweden booked their place with a 3-2 win over Poland, thanks to a late goal from Viktor Gyökeres, who had also starred with a hat trick in the semifinal. Poland captain Robert Lewandowski had been aiming for what could have been his final World Cup appearance. Turkey qualified for the first time since 2002 with a 1-0 win over Kosovo, while the Czech Republic advanced after defeating Denmark in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that Iran “will be at the World Cup,” amid uncertainty over whether the team would travel to the United States, where most of their group-stage matches are scheduled. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said it would not be “appropriate” for Iran to participate, citing concerns over their life and safety. Iran has been trying to shift its matches to Mexico in response to the situation. FIFA fines Israel, rejects Palestinian call for suspension and urges Iran to keep World Cup schedule Meanwhile, Iran’s sports ministry last week barred its teams from travelling to countries it considers hostile, although the directive did not specifically mention the World Cup. Source: Al Jazeera

Ghana has dismissed head coach Otto Addo less than three months before the team’s opening match at the World Cup. The Ghana Football Association announced on Monday that it had parted ways with Addo with immediate effect but did not provide reasons for the decision or name a successor. The move follows a string of disappointing results, including a 2-1 defeat to Germany in Stuttgart on Monday. Ghana had also suffered a 5-1 loss to Austria last Friday, extending their losing streak to four consecutive friendly matches. Addo was in his second stint as head coach after leaving his role in talent development at Borussia Dortmund in March 2024. He previously led Ghana on an interim basis in 2022, including at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where the team secured a win over South Korea but failed to progress beyond the group stage. A former player, Addo won the Bundesliga with Dortmund and represented Ghana at the FIFA World Cup 2006. Ghana, making its fifth World Cup appearance, has been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama. The team is scheduled to open its campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto.

Mexico and Portugal played to a 0-0 draw Sunday in a World Cup warmup match marking the reopening of Azteca Stadium after nearly two years of renovations. Goncalo Ramos of Portugal came closest to scoring, striking the goalpost in the 26th minute. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre praised his squad’s performance despite some inconsistencies and injuries, noting that 12 key players were unavailable. Portugal also faced absences, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Leão. Mexico will face South Africa at the Azteca in the World Cup opener on June 11, and Belgium next Tuesday at Soldier Field in Chicago. Portugal will debut on June 17 against the winner of the intercontinental playoff between Jamaica and Congo and play the U.S. at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium beforehand. Tragedy struck before kickoff when a fan fell from the second level in the VIP section and died. Authorities said the intoxicated fan attempted to climb down and was fatally injured despite medical attention. Protests also occurred outside the stadium by groups of mothers searching for missing relatives, highlighting ongoing criticism over Mexico’s handling of its 130,000 registered missing people. The match marked a historic return for the iconic stadium, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals and will host five games in the upcoming 2026 tournament.

Lionel Messi will have a stadium stand named after him by his current club Inter Miami CF at their new home ground, the 26,700-seat Nu Stadium. The 38-year-old forward, widely considered one of football’s greatest players, joined the MLS side in 2023 after a successful career in Europe with FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Since arriving in Florida, Messi has become Inter Miami’s all-time top scorer with 82 goals and leading assist provider with 53. The club’s decision to name a stand after an active player is seen as unusual. In a statement, Inter Miami said such honours are usually reserved for the past, but this recognition reflects what Messi is achieving now and the impact he continues to make on the pitch. The club is set to play its first match at the new stadium against Austin FC on April 4. This marks the second time a stand has been named after Messi. In June 2025, his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys also honoured him in a similar way. Messi, who led Argentina national football team to World Cup victory in 2022, is an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and became the first player in MLS history to win back-to-back MVP awards last season. His move to Inter Miami, co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, has boosted the club’s profile and popularity of the league, along with bringing titles such as the Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup. Source : BBC

A recent statement by the state minister for sports and youth affairs, Aminul Haque, regarding Zaima Rahman’s early involvement in football, has drawn widespread public attention, prompting further clarification and renewed discussion about youth sports development. The former goalkeeper of the national football team claimed that Zaima Rahman, who is the only daughter of current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, once had the opportunity to play for the Chelsea Football Club in the United Kingdom. According to the state minister, she was a very talented athlete, and described her as a promising goalkeeper during her early years, noting her height and athletic aptitude for the position. The comments generated considerable discussion online, with many questioning the claim in the context of Bangladesh’s limited historical representation in top-tier English football. But as the debate online continued, a voice from the past came forward to provide the context. A former coach, Mohammad Hakim, who trained Zaima during her time at the International School Dhaka (ISD), shared recollections and archival photographs of her participation in school-level football.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, bringing an early end to a nine-year spell at Anfield for one of the club’s all-time great scorers. The 33-year-old Egyptian star, who has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool, agreed to depart a year before his contract was set to expire, the Premier League champions confirmed. Salah’s ninth season at Anfield has seen a dip in form, leading to periods out of the starting lineup. In December, he publicly criticized the club, saying it “threw me under the bus” after being left on the bench. “I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life,” Salah said in an Instagram post. “Liverpool is not just a football club. It’s a passion, it’s a history, it’s a spirit… Leaving is never easy.” Liverpool described Salah as “one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history,” noting his remarkable contribution, including eight titles: two Premier Leagues, a Champions League, and multiple domestic trophies. He ranks third on Liverpool’s all-time scorers’ list, behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt, and has won the Premier League Golden Boot four times. Despite signing a two-year contract extension last year, Salah’s relationship with manager Arne Slot became strained this season, which some say affected his legacy. Nevertheless, the club emphasized that he remains focused on finishing the season strongly. There is no word yet on Salah’s next club. Leaving as a free agent would mean Liverpool will not receive a transfer fee. He had previously attracted interest from Saudi club Al-Ittihad, which was turned down in 2023. Liverpool will bid farewell to Salah later this year, after the Premier League season concludes against Brentford on May 24 and the Champions League final the following weekend in Budapest. Teammates have lauded Salah’s professionalism and leadership. Defender Andrew Robertson called him “second to none,” praising his relentless drive on and off the pitch and wishing him a send-off befitting “the greatest.” Salah is currently sidelined with a muscle injury sustained against Galatasaray in the Champions League last week.

Vinícius Júnior scored twice as Real Madrid secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday, keeping their title hopes alive. The Brazilian forward converted a penalty in the 52nd minute to cancel out Ademola Lookman’s first-half opener before netting the winner with a curling strike in the 72nd minute. Midfielder Federico Valverde had earlier put Madrid ahead 2-1, but Atletico responded through Nahuel Molina to level the match before Vinícius struck again. The win keeps second-placed Madrid within four points of league leaders Barcelona with nine matches remaining. Madrid had to endure a tense finish after Valverde was sent off for a late challenge, but they held on despite a late scare when Julián Álvarez hit the post. The match marked Vinícius’ first La Liga goals against Atletico after a series of scoreless derby appearances. “I have worked hard all season for games like this,” Vinícius said. “When this stage of the season arrives, the goals and assists just come.” Coach Álvaro Arbeloa praised the forward’s performance, saying his goal came at a crucial moment and helped secure an important victory. Atletico had taken the lead in the 33rd minute when Lookman scored after a well-worked move involving Giuliano Simeone. Madrid turned the game around early in the second half, but Atletico equalised again before Vinícius delivered the decisive blow. Elsewhere, Barcelona edged Rayo Vallecano 1-0, with Ronald Araújo scoring the only goal, while goalkeeper Joan García impressed. Alavés staged a remarkable comeback from three goals down to beat Celta Vigo 4-3 — the first such away win in La Liga this century. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao defeated Real Betis 2-1.