United News of Bangladesh

Italian sports officials say four-time champion Italy is not interested in replacing Iran at the upcoming World Cup following a suggestion to that effect by a Trump administration official. Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup, and the team is preparing to play in the U.S. despite the war in the Middle East. FIFA has insisted its group stage games near Los Angeles and in Seattle will go ahead as planned in June. The Financial Times reported that Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. special envoy for global partnerships, had suggested the swap to President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. In a phone interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Zampolli emphasized that “my request is not a political request.” The ask, which was made to Trump and Infantino on Wednesday, was meant as a contingency plan in case Iran could not participate in the soccer tournament at the last minute. “I had a dream,” Zampolli told the AP. “My request was for the Italian people and the American-Italian people.” He said in the FT interview that, with four titles, the Italian national team’s appearance in the World Cup would be justified. Italian officials pushed back hard at the suggestion, with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi saying Thursday that “first of all, it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea.” Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sports in Italy, also dismissed the idea. “I would feel offended,” Buonfiglio said. “You need to deserve to go to the World Cup.” Italy’s Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the suggested swap “shameful.” Hours later, Trump was asked at the White House about Iranian soccer players potentially not being allowed into the U.S. for the World Cup. He initially joked, “I don’t think about it too much” before adding, “That’s an interesting question.” “Let me give that some thought,” Trump added. He then deferred to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said, “Nothing from the U.S. has told them they can’t come.” “The problem with Iran would be, not their athletes. It would be some of the other people that they want to bring with them,” Rubio said, suggesting that Iran’s soccer team could bring in people loyal to militant groups disguised as journalists and trainers. “We may not be able to let them in,” Rubio said of people around the team. “But not the athletes themselves.” He added that there had been “speculation that Iran may decide not to come, but then Italy could fill their spot,” without adding details. “If they decide not to come on their own, it’s ‘cause they decided not to come,” the secretary of state said of Iranian athletes. While Iran was among the first teams to qualify for the World Cup, Italy missed out for the third consecutive tournament, resulting in the resignations of its national team coach and soccer federation president. Zampolli has long been a part of the Trump family orbit, having introduced then-Melania Knauss to Donald Trump at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998. He regularly posts on social media about his meetings with Infantino, calling him the “King of Soccer.” Trump last year appointed him as special representative for global partnerships. In March, The New York Times reported that Zampolli had reached out to a top official at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, informing him that the mother of his child was in the country illegally as the two were locked in a custody dispute. She was ultimately deported. The White House did not return a request for comment. Its World Cup task force, housed under the Department of Homeland Security, said it had no comment. FIFA also would not comment. The Iranian embassy in Rome denounced Zampolli’s remarks in a comment on X. “Football belongs to the people, not to politicians,” the embassy said. “Italy earned its soccer prowess on the field, not thanks to political maneuvers. The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup shows only the ‘moral bankruptcy’ of the United States, which fears even the presence of 11 young Iranians on the field of play.” Iran’s status at the World Cup, which starts in June, has been a source of debate and concern since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on the country in February. Trump in March discouraged Iran from participating in the tournament, citing safety concerns. FIFA has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup schedule decided last December, and refused to negotiate any suggestion of moving the team’s games to co-host Mexico. An Iranian government spokesperson said Wednesday that the men’s national team is preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the U.S. Iran earned one of eight guaranteed World Cup places allocated to the Asian Football Confederation. Should Iran pull out, in theory the replacement should be the United Arab Emirates, the highest-ranked Asian team that didn’t qualify. One possible element of uncertainty is the language of the World Cup tournament rules. FIFA wrote that it can decide to replace a withdrawn team “with another association,” though without specifying the replacement must come from the same continental confederation.  

Iran has said it is fully prepared for its national team to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, despite ongoing security concerns. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said the country’s sports ministry has completed all necessary preparations for the team’s participation. Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, has indicated that Iran is expected to take part in the tournament, which is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump raised concerns over whether it would be appropriate for the Iranian team to attend the event, citing security issues. #From Middle East Eye

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Wednesday conferred a reception to the Bangladesh Under-20 national football team following their title win in the SAFF U-20 Championship. At a event held at the Gulshan Nagar Bhaban, each player of the champion team was awarded a cheque of Tk 50,000, along with crests and souvenirs. Members of the coaching staff were also honoured. DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton attended the event as the chief guest, while Bangladesh Football Federation President Tabith Awal was present as special guest. DNCC Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Asaduzzaman delivered the welcome speech. Speaking on the occasion, the DNCC Administrator said the nation feels proud whenever Bangladeshi players carry the national flag in victory laps, adding that football in the country is entering a new phase. He also noted that steps are being taken, under the prime minister’s directives, to free open spaces from illegal occupation and make them suitable for sports activities. Addressing the players, he said they are seen as the future of the national team and emphasised that the purpose of the event was to honour and inspire them rather than focus on financial rewards. In his speech, Tabith Awal thanked the DNCC Administrator for supporting sports, saying city corporations play an important role in developing sports and fostering social unity. Among others present were BFF Vice-President Fahad Mohammad Ahmed Karim, members of the U-20 team, DNCC Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Chief Engineer Brig Gen Syed Rakibul Hasan, and officials from both DNCC and BFF.

Mexico has announced increased security measures at major tourist destinations after a deadly shooting at the Teotihuacan pyramids raised fresh concerns ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Authorities said a lone gunman opened fire on tourists Monday at the UNESCO World Heritage site, killing one Canadian visitor and injuring at least a dozen others. President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged security gaps at the site, describing the attack as an “isolated incident” but vowing steps to prevent a recurrence. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said forces have been ordered to immediately strengthen protection at archaeological sites and key tourist areas nationwide. Measures include increasing the presence of the National Guard, enhancing security checks and expanding surveillance systems. The shooting comes less than two months before Mexico co-hosts the World Cup with the United States and Canada, with Teotihuacan expected to be a major attraction for visiting fans. The government has already announced a broader security plan involving the deployment of around 100,000 personnel, along with military vehicles, aircraft and drones, particularly in host cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Despite officials highlighting a decline in homicides in recent years, the incident has renewed scrutiny over security preparedness as the global tournament approaches.

Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Deportivo Alavés, reducing FC Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to six points. Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior scored on either side of halftime to seal the win at the Santiago Bernabeu, ending Real’s two-match winless run in the league. The result comes after Real’s exit from the Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern Munich. Barcelona have the chance to restore their nine-point cushion when they face Celta Vigo on Wednesday, with six matches remaining in the season. Real Madrid are in danger of ending the campaign without a trophy for only the fifth time this century, having previously gone without silverware in 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10 and 2020-21. With coach Álvaro Arbeloa’s future reportedly uncertain, winning the league could be key to his stay next season. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 30th minute, netting his 24th league goal of the season. Vinicius doubled the lead six minutes into the second half, finishing from a pass by Federico Valverde for his 12th goal of the campaign. Alaves pulled one back with the final kick of the match through Tony Martínez. Real will next travel to Real Betis on Friday, while Alaves host RCD Mallorca a day later. #From BBC

Central Cordoba came from behind to secure a thrilling 4-3 home victory over Platense in Argentina’s Apertura tournament on Monday. Franco Zapiola initially put Platense ahead at the Unico Stadium, before Alejandro Maciel restored parity and Fernando Martinez gave the hosts a lead. After the interval, Central Cordoba widened the margin as Ezequiel Naya and Diego Barrera scored, either side of Kevin Retamar’s 71st-minute goal for the visitors. Real Madrid crowned UEFA Youth League champions Bautista Merlini reduced the deficit for Platense three minutes from full-time, but the visitors failed to find an equaliser despite pressing strongly in the closing stages. With the result, Central Cordoba sit 13th in Group A with 15 points, just one point behind 11th-placed Platense, with both sides having played 14 matches each. In other top-flight fixtures on the same day, Belgrano played out a goalless draw against Barracas Central, Gimnasia Mendoza edged Lanus 1-0 at home, Banfield were held 0-0 by Independiente Rivadavia, Huracan drew 1-1 with Tigre, and Velez Sarsfield shared a goalless draw with San Lorenzo.

Real Madrid have been crowned European champions at youth level after defeating Club Brugge in the UEFA Youth League final on Monday. Madrid won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time at the Stade de la Tuilière in Lausanne, Switzerland. Goalkeeper Javier Navarro played a decisive role in the shootout, saving penalties from Naim Amengai and Tian Koren to secure Madrid’s second UEFA Youth League title. The match remained tightly contested, with Madrid taking the lead in the 23rd minute through Jacobo Ortega, who scored with a backheel finish in the goalmouth. Club Brugge equalised in the 64th minute through Tobias Lund Jensen following a strong run and cross from Tian Koren. The game went straight to penalties without extra time, where Madrid defender Diego Aguado converted the decisive spot-kick. Real Madrid dominated large spells of the match and came close to extending their lead early on, but Brugge gradually grew into the contest before equalising. The victory marks Madrid’s second title in the competition’s 12-year history and comes days after their senior team exited the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Club president Florentino Pérez attended the final alongside UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. The result adds to Real Madrid’s growing success at youth level, while Barcelona remain the most successful club in the competition with three titles.

Bayern Munich wrapped up another Bundesliga title on Sunday, the club’s 13th in 14 years, after a record-breaking season that could still get better. The Bundesliga is just the first of a potential treble of trophies with Bayern next facing Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinals of the German Cup on Wednesday before it takes on defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals of the Champions League. The Bundesliga is seen within the club as the minimum target for the season and this is Bayern’s record-extending 35th German championship. Apart from the first in 1932, when it was decided by regional champions in a knockout competition, all the others came after the Bundesliga’s formation in 1963. Bayern is always keen to assert its domestic dominance. Leverkusen’s triumph in 2024 was an outlier that spurred Bayern to back-to–back titles and may be the start of another long run. Bayern bounced back from the trauma of 2012 – when it lost the Champions League final in Munich to Chelsea, as well as the Bundesliga and German Cup final to Borussia Dortmund – by winning the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble the following season under Jupp Heynckes. The Bundesliga this season is just the first step as Bayern chases another treble. Here’s a closer look at how it was won: Goals Bayern smashed its own league record for goals scored in a season by clocking five against St. Pauli to take its tally to 105 goals last weekend. The previous record was 101 goals scored by Bayern’s 1971-72 team featuring Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller. England forward Harry Kane was among the scorers in the title-clinching 4-2 win against Stuttgart on Sunday to extend the record to 109 goals. And there are still four rounds remaining. Kane took his club tally for the season to 50 against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals. It’s 51 now. He has 32 goals in 27 Bundesliga games so far. New signing Luis Díaz chipped in 15 and Michael Olise has 12, but Bayern’s goals came from all over the team with Leon Goretzka getting the record-breaking 102nd goal against St. Pauli. Including the win over Stuttgart, Bayern scored four goals or more in 14 league games starting on the opening day with a 6-0 rout of Leipzig. Rivals Bayern again has no rival capable of challenging its dominance. Borussia Dortmund came closest this season but it was long clear it couldn’t provide a match for Bayern, which ended any notions of a contest at the end of February by winning 3-2 in Dortmund. “We have an 11-point advantage,” Joshua Kimmich said at the time, “we’re not going to give it away.” Dortmund opened the way for Bayern to clinch the title on Sunday by losing two consecutive games. None of Stuttgart, Leipzig or Leverkusen could even keep up with Dortmund. Kompany Though he was far from first choice, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany has proven an inspired appointment for a team that was misfiring and underachieving with Thomas Tuchel. In his second season at Bayern, Kompany has more than steadied the ship, promoting young players like Lennart Karl – who looks set to become a star – while thoughtfully rotating the squad to keep all his players involved and happy while minimizing the likelihood of injuries. Kane has had his sights on breaking Robert Lewandowski’s season record of 41 Bundesliga goals but Kompany decided to manage his star forward’s playing time to rest him for key games in the Champions League and German Cup. Kompany also earned praise for speaking up against racism after José Mourinho blamed Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior for provoking the abuse he receives, and he welcomed the appointment of Marie-Louise Eta as the first female coach in the Bundesliga last week. Kompany has brought harmony to Bayern, a club previously known as “FC Hollywood” for all the tabloid headlines it generated.

It's a huge day in the Premier League title race, with Arsenal travelling to Manchester City in a meeting between the top two. A win for Arsenal and the long-time league leaders will regain a nine-point advantage, leaving them in a strong position to become English champions for the first time since 2004. A win for City and the gap would be reduced to three points. City would also have a game in hand, at next-to-last Burnley on Wednesday. After that, both teams would have five matches left. A draw? That would suit Arsenal more, keeping a six-point cushion between the teams. City is at home and is in better form, winning its last three games — 2-0 over Arsenal in the English League Cup final, 4-0 against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals and 3-0 at Chelsea in the league — and having one of the division's most exciting players in France playmaker Rayan Cherki. Arsenal, meanwhile, has lost three of its last five games in all competitions as it stumbles toward the end of a season that could still bring the Premier League and Champions League titles. Before the City-Arsenal match, Everton hosts Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, and it's also Aston Villa-Sunderland and Nottingham Forest-Burnley.

Reigning world champions Spain kept their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification hopes alive with a commanding 5-0 victory over Ukraine on Saturday at the Nuevo Archangel Stadium in Cordoba, Spain, Xinhua reports. The result came after Spain’s midweek defeat away to England, and the win ensured that their home clash against England on June 5 is likely to decide who tops the qualifying group and who must go through the playoffs. Spain, who had earlier beaten Ukraine 3-1 in the reverse fixture, took the lead after just 90 seconds when Lucia Corrales delivered a precise cross from the left for Edna Imade to head home. Ronaldo, Portugal eye World Cup push in Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan, Congo Despite dominating possession with over 70 percent and earning 10 first-half corners, Spain struggled initially to break down Ukraine’s disciplined defence. Ukrainian goalkeeper  made a single notable save in the first half, denying Alexia Putellas. In the final minute before the break, Olha Ovdiychuk nearly equalised with a powerful strike that hit the post and almost deflected in off Spanish goalkeeper Adriana Nanclares. Two minutes after the restart, Corrales and Imade combined again, with Imade scoring another header to double Spain’s lead. As temperatures rose above 30 degrees Celsius, Ukraine began to fade, and Spain added more goals. Vicky Lopez assisted Maria Mendez for the third in the 61st minute, while Eva Navarro’s shot deflected in for the fourth in the 70th minute. Lopez then sealed the emphatic win in the 75th minute, finishing after rounding the goalkeeper to complete the 5-0 scoreline.