United News of Bangladesh

A group of 20 emerging football talents from around the world are expected to attract global attention at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the tournament prepares to feature an expanded format and a record number of debutants. The World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will include 48 teams for the first time, with 891 of the 1,248 selected players set to make their World Cup debut. The expanded structure, which also introduces a round of 32, is expected to give young and lesser-known players a bigger platform to showcase their talent on the global stage. Among the standout prospects is Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, 19, who has impressed in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig through strong goal contributions and is regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young attackers. Mexico’s Gilberto Mora, 17, is the youngest player on the list and already a rising star in his country. The Tijuana midfielder has made senior international appearances and featured in major youth tournaments under coach Javier Aguirre, making him one of the key home hopes. Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, 20, has also drawn attention after a strong season with Freiburg, where he impressed in both domestic and European competitions with his versatility and attacking impact. For the United States, PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi is expected to carry attacking responsibilities after a productive season in the Netherlands. Argentina’s Nico Paz, now playing for Como in Italy, is another highly rated talent following a standout Serie A campaign under former Spain international Cesc Fabregas. Morocco features strongly with Gessime Yassine and Ayyoub Bouaddi among the promising young midfield and wing options, while Algeria’s Mohamed Amoura and Ibrahim Maza are seen as key attacking prospects. Australia’s next generation is represented by Lucas Herrington and Alessandro Circati, both defenders already gaining senior experience at a young age. Croatia’s Luka Vušković, currently on loan at Hamburg from Tottenham Hotspur, is also among the defensive prospects to watch. Other notable names include Turkey’s Can Uzun, Mexico’s Armando González and Brian Gutiérrez, Colombia’s Luis Suárez (Sporting), Iraq’s Ali Jasim, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegović, and Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Touré. Analysts say many of these players are already featuring in top European leagues or major youth competitions, while others are breaking through at international level. The expanded World Cup format is expected to accelerate their rise and provide a major stage for breakthrough performances. Source: BBC

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa have been included in the final FIFA World Cup squad lists released on Tuesday, featuring a record 1,248 players from 48 nations. The veteran trio are set to appear in the tournament for a record sixth time, according to FIFA. Out of the total players named for the tournament, 357 have previous World Cup experience, while around 891 will be making their debut on football’s biggest stage. The tournament, featuring 104 matches across Canada, the United States and Mexico, also highlights a significant age range among players. Scotland’s Craig Gordon is the oldest at 43 years and 162 days, while Mexico’s Gilberto Mora, aged 17 years and 240 days, is among 22 players under 20. Seven players in total are aged 40 or above. Four countries- Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan — will be making their World Cup debut. FIFA rules allow squad changes only in cases of serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before a team’s first match, with any exceptions requiring approval from the governing body.

Ecuadorian football fans are holding on to hope that the national team can deliver a strong World Cup run, offering a rare moment of joy as the country grapples with worsening violence and instability. Across the country, many provinces remain under a state of emergency. Security forces are deployed in large numbers to combat rising crime linked to drug trafficking. Night curfews are common, a fuel crisis has disrupted daily life, and tensions remain high along the border with Colombia. Despite the turmoil, optimism around Ecuador’s national team, La Tri, remains strong. The team qualified second in South America behind world champions Argentina, losing only twice in 18 matches, both narrow away defeats in Argentina and Brazil. Fans believe this squad has the potential to go further than ever before, possibly beyond their best performance of reaching the round of 16 in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. “I bought a giant TV on credit so I could watch Ecuador win the World Cup,” said Mario Uquillas, a 43-year-old shopkeeper in downtown Guayaquil. “At the very least, I hope they reach the quarterfinals. This team deserves it.” In markets like La Bahía in Guayaquil, merchants are cashing in on World Cup excitement, selling jerseys featuring stars such as Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié, Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo, and Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho. Hincapié recently drew attention after Arsenal won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years, adding to national pride. Fans may soon see more success stories as Hincapié and Pacho prepare to meet in the Champions League final next weekend. However, the backdrop to Ecuador’s football dream is a grim one. Local football has not escaped the country’s violence. Five players were killed last year and three others died in separate attacks. One of the most shocking incidents happened last December in northern Guayaquil, when gunmen killed Mario Pineida, a former national team player and defender for Barcelona SC. He was shot while at a butcher shop with his mother and partner. His partner died and his mother was injured. The motive remains unclear. Guayaquil, located about 270 kilometers southwest of Quito, is ranked among the most violent cities in the Americas, according to Numbeo’s crime index. Ecuador recorded 9,216 violent deaths last year, with a rate of 50.1 per 100,000 people, according to the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime.   Rising insecurity has changed daily life, especially in poor neighborhoods where children once played freely in the streets but now often stay indoors after dark due to fear of shootings and robberies. Still, football continues to offer hope, particularly through clubs like Barcelona SC, the country’s most popular team. Its youth academy provides a rare safe space for children, including nearly 300 trainees. “My dream is to play for PSG or Real Madrid,” said 10-year-old Piero Ortega, who has trained at the academy for five years. “I want to become a professional footballer.” Another young player, Washington Vera, also dreams of representing Ecuador internationally. “I want to play for the national team and score goals as a right winger,” he said. Academy coordinator Enrique Benavides said insecurity has forced families to rely on such structured programs. “Fear has entered every community. Nobody feels safe anymore,” he said. “Now children can only train here, because playing in the streets is no longer possible.” For many Ecuadorians, the World Cup represents more than football. It is a brief escape from daily fear and hardship. “Earlier we only dreamed of qualifying. Now we hope for the quarterfinals or even semifinals,” said Guayaquil lawyer Daniel Sánchez. Barcelona SC sporting director Matías Oyola also believes the national team can continue its strong form. “What they did in qualifying was excellent. The World Cup could be a continuation of that,” he said.  

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than a month away, authorities in Mexico are working around the clock to complete a $500 million renovation of Benito Juárez International Airport, the country’s busiest airport. Passengers arriving at the airport are currently navigating through a large construction zone, with drilling, exposed pipes and unfinished floors. At the same time, banners and giant decorations promoting the World Cup are displayed throughout the terminals. Airport authorities told The Associated Press that more than 3,000 workers are putting in up to 20 hours a day to finish one of the biggest renovation projects in the airport’s history. Engineer Luis Ibarra, 28, said he does not mind the ongoing work, noting that the airport has long struggled with flooding, leaking roofs and severe overcrowding. Adm. Juan José Padilla, the airport’s general director, said the first phase of the project is now more than 90% complete. He said the work has been more difficult than expected because parts of the airport are over 50 years old and some original blueprints are missing. “We are facing years of neglect,” Padilla said, referring to decades of underinvestment at the airport, which serves around 120,000 passengers every day. The modernization project began in May 2025 and is being financed entirely by the airport, which has been operated by the Mexican Navy since 2023. Project coordinator Capt. Arturo Flores said the upgrade includes new terminal exteriors, improved restrooms, renovated baggage claim areas and replacement of nearly 100,000 square meters of flooring and lighting. The redesign has also created an additional 30,000 square meters of waiting space for passengers. The second phase of the project is scheduled to start in August, after the World Cup, and continue through December. Security is also being upgraded. The number of surveillance cameras will increase from 2,200 to more than 4,000, with artificial intelligence used to identify suspicious vehicles, luggage and individuals. Padilla said an anti-drone system will also be installed soon. Earlier this month, Mexico’s foreign ministry announced an agreement with the US Department of Transportation to enforce a 2015 bilateral aviation agreement. Under the deal, Mexico will increase the number of landing and takeoff slots available to airlines. The number of slots had been reduced from 61 to 43 per hour during the previous administration and was later raised to 44. Padilla said the number of slots for both domestic and international airlines will soon rise to 46 per hour. The airport overhaul is one of the major infrastructure projects of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The initiative follows a controversial effort by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to shift traffic from Mexico City to a newly built military-operated airport, a plan that failed to attract significant airline and passenger interest.

Seattle will create a floating fan zone and soccer field on its waterfront during this summer’s FIFA World Cup, combining the city’s maritime heritage with efforts to grow long-term interest in soccer. Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Reign FC and their partners announced the Seattle Soccer Celebration from a barge near Waterfront Park’s Pier 62 on Elliott Bay. The venue will operate from June 11 to July 6 and will host youth soccer events, public watch parties on a giant video screen, cultural programs, private events and other activities. Fans can register for ticket information through the event website. Hugh Weber, president of business operations for the two clubs, said the waterfront location will showcase Seattle’s skyline and provide visitors with a memorable introduction to the city. The floating field will serve as the symbolic 52nd mini-pitch built in Washington state through the RAVE Foundation initiative, which aims to expand access to soccer ahead of the World Cup. Other partners in the project include Friends of Waterfront Park and presenting sponsor Lenovo. Waterfront Park will also be one of Seattle’s free official FIFA fan zones during the tournament. Organizers hope the event will have a lasting impact similar to the 1994 World Cup in the United States, which significantly increased the sport’s popularity nationwide. Weber said the goal is to attract people who may not have previously followed soccer and turn them into long-term supporters after the tournament ends.

Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for his sixth and likely final FIFA World Cup, aiming to show that his move to Saudi Arabia has not affected his ability to perform at the highest level. The tournament will be Ronaldo’s first World Cup since leaving European football in late 2022 to join Al Nassr. The transfer surprised many in the football world and raised questions about whether playing in a less competitive league would affect his form. But Ronaldo, who turned 41 in February, has rejected suggestions that his performance has declined. He has continued scoring regularly for both Al Nassr and the Portugal national football team. Portugal coach Roberto Martínez said Ronaldo remains highly motivated and continues to prove his value. “He keeps performing and he keeps showing his value and he keeps showing that he is important for the national team,” Martínez said. “To have that hunger when you’ve won everything in the game is quite remarkable.” Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are set to become the first players to appear in six World Cups. Ronaldo holds the record for the most appearances for a men’s national team with 226 matches and is also the top scorer in international football with 143 goals. He is the only male player to score in five different World Cups. Martínez said Ronaldo is judged on his current performances, not his past achievements. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr midway through the 2022-23 season after leaving Manchester United. He reportedly accepted a contract worth $200 million a year and said he wanted to help change perceptions of Saudi football. The move drew criticism, with some fans and analysts saying he had effectively stepped away from elite competition. Ronaldo has consistently defended the Saudi Pro League, claiming it is stronger than both the French and Portuguese leagues. “The numbers don’t lie,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Piers Morgan. “For me it is easier to score in Spain than score in Saudi.” His move has not affected his form with Portugal. Since joining Al Nassr, Ronaldo has scored 25 goals in his last 30 international matches. He failed to score in five matches at the 2024 European Championship, where Portugal reached the quarterfinals. In 2025, Ronaldo helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League, scoring one of his eight goals in the tournament in the final against Spain national football team. Despite turning 41, Ronaldo has maintained excellent fitness. After recovering quickly from a hamstring injury suffered in February, he scored his 100th Saudi Pro League goal on May 7 in his 105th league appearance for Al Nassr. The club is chasing its first Saudi league title since 2019. Portugal and Al Nassr teammate João Félix said Ronaldo’s dedication continues to inspire younger players. Ronaldo scored 14 goals in 16 matches in his first season in Saudi Arabia. In his first full campaign, he netted 35 goals in 31 games to set a new league scoring record. He also led Al Nassr to the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, scoring twice in the final. In the 2024-25 season, he scored 25 goals in 30 matches. This season, he has scored 26 goals in 29 appearances and is five goals behind Ivan Toney of Al Ahli in the race for the league’s top scorer award. Ronaldo has said this will definitely be his final attempt to win the World Cup, although he has not indicated when he plans to retire. Martínez said predicting Ronaldo’s future is impossible. “I’ve learned very quickly not to predict the future with Cristiano,” he said. “He doesn’t make plans.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially revealed the complete schedule and groupings for the expanded 12-team Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be hosted across England and Wales from June 12 to July 5. Bangladesh, having qualified unbeaten alongside Ireland, Scotland, and tournament debutants the Netherlands in Nepal last month, has been placed in a highly competitive Group 1. The Tigresses will face cricketing heavyweights Australia, India, South Africa, and Pakistan, as well as the Netherlands. ICC opens hearings into former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Group 2 will feature tournament hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Scotland. A major highlight of the group stages will be the historic clash between England and Scotland at Headingley on June 20—marking the first time the two nations will meet in a World Cup match on English soil. Bangladesh will kick off their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on June 14 at Edgbaston. They will then face a stern test against Australia on June 17 at Headingley, followed by crucial fixtures against Pakistan (June 20), India (June 25), and South Africa (June 28). ICC confirms Bangladesh's direct qualification for 2028 T20 World Cup Reacting to the finalized schedule, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty expressed both excitement and determination. “We’re really happy to have qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. I’m incredibly proud of the way the team performed, dominating in every game,” she said. “We have never played in England before so we’re excited but know it’s going to be a big challenge. We can’t wait for the big event and we’re going to prepare ourselves with everything we have,” she added. The 24-day tournament will feature a total of 33 matches across seven top-tier venues, including Old Trafford, Headingley, the Hampshire Bowl, and Edgbaston. The semi-finals will be held at The Oval on June 30 and July 2, with the grand finale scheduled for Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 5.

FIFA has overhauled the 2026 World Cup draw format to ensure the four highest-ranked teams  like Spain, Argentina, France and England avoid each other until the semifinals, provided they top their groups. The draw, set for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will use a tennis-style bracket system for the first time. FIFA confirmed Tuesday that the new format rewards top-ranked sides by placing them in separate pathways for the 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The change means defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, and European champions Spain, inspired by Lamine Yamal, can only meet in the final at MetLife Stadium near New York, if both win their respective groups. “To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semifinals have been established,” FIFA said in a statement, aiming to reward teams whose consistent good results have raised their world ranking. Unlike previous World Cups where knockout paths were tied to group allocation, the new approach fixes the bracket in advance. This year’s draw will place 48 teams into four pots before assigning them to 12 groups of four. A full, updated match schedule, with stadiums and kickoff times, will be released on December 6. The ceremony will last about 90 minutes, with the draw itself taking an estimated 45 minutes. As hosts, Canada, Mexico and the United States enter Pot 1, joined by the nine highest-ranked teams: Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Forty-two teams have already qualified, including Iran and Haiti, which FIFA expects to play as drawn despite political sensitivities with the U.S. The tournament will span 16 venues across the three host nations, including 11 NFL stadiums in the U.S. The remaining six entrants will be decided in March through European and intercontinental playoffs. Those teams will enter Pot 4, the lowest-ranked tier, meaning four-time champions Italy could prove a dangerous wildcard next week when the final placing draw is made. Host nations will be marked with different colored balls: Mexico as A1 (green ball), Canada as B1 (red ball), and USA as D1 (blue ball). The other nine Pot 1 teams will automatically be assigned to position 1 in their respective groups. Pot 2 features the next 12 teams: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria and Australia. Pot 3 includes Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Pot 4 contains Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand and the six playoff winners. Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn together, except for Europe, which will have 16 representatives, forcing four groups to include two UEFA nations. To maintain bracket balance, Spain (rank 1) and Argentina (rank 2) will be placed in opposite pathways. The same applies to France (rank 3) and England (rank 4), ensuring the top sides stay separated until late. For the host schedules, the USA, placed in Group D, will open on June 12 in Inglewood against a Pot 3 team, then face a Pot 2 opponent in Seattle on June 19, and finish against a Pot 4 side back in Inglewood. Mexico, in Group A, will kick off the tournament on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca against a Pot 3 team, then play a Pot 2 team on June 18 in Guadalajara, before returning to Mexico City for their final group match against a Pot 4 opponent. Canada starts on June 12 in Toronto against a Pot 4 team, then moves to Vancouver for matches against Pot 3 and Pot 2 sides. World Cup draw pots: Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Playoff A, B, C, D, FIFA Playoff Tournament 1 and 2 Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.    

FIFA has overhauled the 2026 World Cup draw format to ensure the four highest-ranked teams  like Spain, Argentina, France and England avoid each other until the semifinals, provided they top their groups. The draw, set for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will use a tennis-style bracket system for the first time. FIFA confirmed Tuesday that the new format rewards top-ranked sides by placing them in separate pathways for the 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The change means defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, and European champions Spain, inspired by Lamine Yamal, can only meet in the final at MetLife Stadium near New York, if both win their respective groups. “To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semifinals have been established,” FIFA said in a statement, aiming to reward teams whose consistent good results have raised their world ranking. Unlike previous World Cups where knockout paths were tied to group allocation, the new approach fixes the bracket in advance. This year’s draw will place 48 teams into four pots before assigning them to 12 groups of four. A full, updated match schedule, with stadiums and kickoff times, will be released on December 6. The ceremony will last about 90 minutes, with the draw itself taking an estimated 45 minutes. As hosts, Canada, Mexico and the United States enter Pot 1, joined by the nine highest-ranked teams: Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Forty-two teams have already qualified, including Iran and Haiti, which FIFA expects to play as drawn despite political sensitivities with the U.S. The tournament will span 16 venues across the three host nations, including 11 NFL stadiums in the U.S. The remaining six entrants will be decided in March through European and intercontinental playoffs. Those teams will enter Pot 4, the lowest-ranked tier, meaning four-time champions Italy could prove a dangerous wildcard next week when the final placing draw is made. Host nations will be marked with different colored balls: Mexico as A1 (green ball), Canada as B1 (red ball), and USA as D1 (blue ball). The other nine Pot 1 teams will automatically be assigned to position 1 in their respective groups. Pot 2 features the next 12 teams: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria and Australia. Pot 3 includes Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Pot 4 contains Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand and the six playoff winners. Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn together, except for Europe, which will have 16 representatives, forcing four groups to include two UEFA nations. To maintain bracket balance, Spain (rank 1) and Argentina (rank 2) will be placed in opposite pathways. The same applies to France (rank 3) and England (rank 4), ensuring the top sides stay separated until late. For the host schedules, the USA, placed in Group D, will open on June 12 in Inglewood against a Pot 3 team, then face a Pot 2 opponent in Seattle on June 19, and finish against a Pot 4 side back in Inglewood. Mexico, in Group A, will kick off the tournament on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca against a Pot 3 team, then play a Pot 2 team on June 18 in Guadalajara, before returning to Mexico City for their final group match against a Pot 4 opponent. Canada starts on June 12 in Toronto against a Pot 4 team, then moves to Vancouver for matches against Pot 3 and Pot 2 sides. World Cup draw pots: Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Playoff A, B, C, D, FIFA Playoff Tournament 1 and 2 Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.  

The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams, and defending champion Argentina on Tuesday became the first South American team to secure a spot. Iran also clinched a berth. New Zealand qualified on Monday, five days after Japan became the first nation excluding the three hosts to secure a spot. Next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada kicks off on June 11 and the final will take place on July 19. Forty-three teams will get their spots through their continent’s qualifying process. Another two will secure their berths in the international playoffs featuring six teams and scheduled for March 2026. What is the breakdown of berths? Asia will have eight direct berths and one in the intercontinental playoff. Africa has nine direct spots plus one for the intercontinental playoff. Argentina beats Brazil 4-1 after securing its place at the 2026 World Cup North and Central America plus the Caribbean get three direct berths and another two spots in the intercontinental playoffs. South America has six direct spots and will send another team to the intercontinental playoffs. Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot at the World Cup, and New Zealand clinched that with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in Auckland. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs. Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the next World Cup. Who has qualified so far? The three host countries automatically qualify — and thus occupy three of the CONCACAF spots Host nations United States, Mexico, Canada Asia Japan (qualified on March 20 by beating Bahrain 2-0) Iran (qualified on March 25 in 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan) Oceania New Zealand (qualified on March 24 by beating New Caledonia 3-0) South America Argentina (qualified on March 25 after Bolivia failed to beat Uruguay)