United News of Bangladesh

Iran will play at least one match of the upcoming World Cup on American soil, although Friday’s draw ensured the long-standing geopolitical foes will not meet in the group stage. Iran, whose citizens remain under a U.S. travel ban and whose territory was hit by American airstrikes in June, will begin its tournament against New Zealand on June 15 in either Seattle or Inglewood, California. The team’s remaining group fixtures are expected to be held in Vancouver, Seattle or Inglewood, with FIFA set to finalize the full schedule on Saturday. The United States, meanwhile, has been grouped with Australia, Paraguay and a European playoff winner still to be decided in March. Iran’s involvement in the World Cup—co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico—has already stirred diplomatic friction. Last week, Tehran initially threatened to boycott the draw after several Iranian officials, including federation president Mehdi Taj and general secretary Hedayat Momebeni, were denied visas. The stance was later softened, with coach Amir Ghalenoei allowed to attend the event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, though his presence at the draw was not immediately confirmed. $2 billion Athletics stadium in Las Vegas expected to debut by 2028 Iran is among 12 nations covered by the June 5 U.S. travel ban, which also includes fellow World Cup participant Haiti. While exemptions apply to teams and support personnel, spectators are not included. The ban came as the Trump administration labeled Iran a “state sponsor of terrorism” and restricted entry to most visitors unless holding existing visas or qualifying under provisions for persecuted minorities. Later in June, the U.S. launched strikes using bunker-buster bombs and cruise missiles against Iran’s underground nuclear sites before declaring a ceasefire days into a 12-day conflict involving Israel. Ranked 20th globally, Iran remains a major Asian football power preparing for its seventh World Cup appearance. Star forward Mehdi Taremi—formerly of Inter Milan and Porto, now at Olympiakos—heads the squad. Among its future opponents, relations with Egypt are the most strained, rooted in Cairo’s 1979 peace accord with Israel. At the previous World Cup in Qatar, Iran’s campaign was overshadowed by unrest at home following the death of Mahsa Amini. Players refused to sing the national anthem before their opener against England, and clashes erupted between anti-government and pro-government fans. Many displayed “Woman, Life, Freedom” banners before Iran exited the tournament after a 1-0 loss to the U.S. Source: AP 

Dozens of soccer players and officials were arrested Friday in Istanbul as part of a wide-ranging investigation into a betting scandal that has rocked Turkish football. Among those detained in early morning raids were top players Mert Hakan Yandas of Fenerbahce and Metehan Baltaci of national champions Galatasaray. Former referee and commentator Ahmet Cakar, along with current referee Zorbay Kucuk, were also taken into custody. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for 46 suspects, with 35 already detained, including chairs and vice-chairs of several professional clubs. Prosecutors said Baltaci placed bets on his own team’s games, while Yandas allegedly bet through intermediaries. Seven others were arrested over suspicious financial transactions linked to betting. $2 billion Athletics stadium in Las Vegas expected to debut by 2028 All suspects were detained under a law aimed at preventing disorder in sport, which criminalizes match manipulation and carries sentences of one to three years, with higher penalties if linked to betting markets or professional leagues. The Turkish Football Federation has been investigating referees and players since October, temporarily banning over 100 professionals last month. Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu pledged to safeguard Turkish football from “scandal, decay, and corrupt relationships.” Source: AP 

Officials confirmed Thursday at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting that the Athletics are on schedule to open their roughly $2 billion stadium in Las Vegas. The A’s, planning to relocate to Las Vegas before the 2028 season, have met year-end milestones, including starting the concrete phase, positioning cranes, and installing the first buttress and concrete column. A’s President Marc Badain, who previously helped ensure Allegiant Stadium was completed on time for the 2020 NFL season while serving as Raiders president, is again playing a key role. Mortenson-McCarthy, the contractor behind Allegiant, is also handling construction of the Athletics’ new venue. “I feel great about (the progress),” Badain said. “Obviously, we know the workforce. We know the construction firm, and the (supervisor) is the same super that delivered on Allegiant. When he tells me things are good, I don't worry.” Ceremonial groundbreaking on the 33,000-person capacity domed stadium located on the Las Vegas Strip occurred June 23. The A's Ballpark Experience Center opened Tuesday in Las Vegas to give fans a chance to view the stadium in detail and take part in other immersive experiences. The price tag has gone up considerably twice, rising from $1.5 billion to $1.75 billion to the current estimate. A's vice chairman Sandy Dean indicated he didn't expect the cost to increase much more. “I think we're through a lot of the processes and design that were contributing to escalation,” Dean said. “Our strong goal is to keep it to that.” Nevada and Clark County have approved up to $380 million in public funds for the ballpark, and the A's have said they will cover the remaining expenses. Owner John Fisher has been seeking investors, but Dean said he didn't have an update on that effort. “I think the most important thing is that starting in December of 2024, we were able to describe the financing for the stadium as being complete,” Dean said. “We have the ability to bring in some investors. We thought, in particular, if we have Las Vegas investors, that will be a positive.” Steve Hill, CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said A’s officials have not yet asked for their share of public assistance. “It will probably be sometime next year,” Hill said. This Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting occurred one day short of the one-year anniversary of when it approved lease, non-relocation and development documents, the last major hurdles before construction. The lease and non-relocation agreements each cover 30 years. Catherine Aker, vice president of communications and community, told the Authority the A’s already are heavily involved in Las Vegas, and in the past three years the club has supported every youth baseball and softball team in the area. Las Vegas' Little League representative won the United States championship before losing to Taiwan in the international title game. The A’s this year played the first of at least three seasons at a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento, California. They played their previous 57 seasons in Oakland, California. Management has been constructing a roster to be competitive when the club arrives in Las Vegas. Several young players are under contract through at least 2028, including Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson, who finished 1-2 in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Kurtz was the unanimous choice.

For Lionel Messi, the MLS Cup final on Saturday will represent some endings. And, quite possibly, a new beginning. Messi and Inter Miami will take on Thomas Muller — one of his longtime rivals — and the Vancouver Whitecaps for Major League Soccer's championship. It's the first final for both clubs, which means MLS is about to have a first-time champion. “We know it’s going to be a very, very tough game. ... It's going to be a very, very special final," Messi said in remarks distributed by the team Thursday. But for Messi, it's the end of a couple eras. It's the last match planned at Inter Miami's current home, with the team set to move into a still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport next season. And barring some serious changes of heart, it'll be the last time he gets to play with longtime teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets — they're both retiring after Saturday — and possibly Luis Suarez as well. “I’m very grateful for the career I’ve had, the teams I’ve played for, everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve enjoyed, and well, it’s been a privilege,” Alba said in Spanish on Thursday. “Yes, it’s a week with a lot of emotions, knowing that it’s going to be my last game ... and hopefully, I end my career in the best possible scenario, in a final and we win.” It's not like Messi needs this win for his legacy; Argentina's star — a winner of 46 championships for club and country worldwide, the most in history — is widely considered the greatest player ever and Saturday's outcome won't help or hurt that reputation. Same goes for Muller, the German great who has been on the winning end of a World Cup final in which he played against Messi (and Javier Mascherano, now the Inter Miami coach). “It’s good that this final has come about and that we’re facing each other again,” Messi said. “We’ve already faced Vancouver and we understand the caliber of their team.” That said, Saturday will bring at least one first: If Vancouver wins, Muller will be the first player to win a World Cup and an MLS Cup. If Inter Miami wins, Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Busquets will become the first trio to say they were both a World Cup and an MLS champion. “We are going to have four World Cup winners on the pitch," Mascherano said. “I think it’s very, very interesting for the league.” Muller — part of more than 30 trophy wins for club and country himself — was asked how the MLS Cup ranks on his list. “At the moment, I rank it No. 1," Muller said. “Because it’s the only final that we are talking about. It’s upcoming. At the moment, for me, this final on Saturday is the most important thing in my life.” He then paused a bit. "That’s a good line, ah?” he asked, laughing at his joke. But clearly, the MLS Cup is something that both teams want badly. For Inter Miami, it's a chance to prove that bringing in the Barcelona foursome — Messi, Alba, Suarez and Busquets — was all worth it. For Vancouver, which beat Inter Miami twice this season in the CONCACAF Champions League, it's a chance to win a trophy and go through Messi to get it done. “Obviously, they were much better than us in April,” Mascherano said. “But the situation is not the same. We are in a different situation. We arrive to this final with confidence, with some different players. And we know that they have a very, very good team.” Of late ... Inter Miami is 10-2-1 in its last 13 matches, going back to the regular season. The team has been particularly dominant in three win-or-go-home matches during these MLS playoffs, winning those by a combined score of 13-1. Vancouver is 7-1-5 in its last 13 matches and has given up a total of 17 goals in its last 17 matches against MLS opponents. Home edge The team playing in its home stadium, or home market, has won 11 of the last 14 MLS Cup titles. Of the three that lost in that scenario, two fell in penalty kicks. Vancouver won at Inter Miami in April in the CONCACAF semifinals. Inter Miami is 16-2-2 across all competitions at home since. “We’ve been ready for this this whole season," Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. "The pressure, it comes with it. It's a privilege and it’s fun and I think you know our guys are going to lean into it and enjoy it. Home team, away team, I don’t think it matters.”

Luciano Spalletti returns to Napoli on Sunday for the first time since guiding the club to its first Serie A title in more than three decades — an occasion he admits will be highly emotional. This time, he returns as Juventus coach. “There will be burning emotion for me because I have so many friends waiting for me there,” Spalletti said. “It won’t matter how I am welcomed, but the feeling I have toward them is that of someone who loves them.” Spalletti left Napoli in 2023 after leading the team to its first league crown in 33 years, saying he needed a year-long break. Just three months later, he replaced Roberto Mancini as Italy’s coach following Mancini’s unexpected resignation. Spalletti was dismissed from the Italy job in June, and Juventus appointed him in October after firing Igor Tudor following a poor start to the season. Juventus currently sits seventh in Serie A, but only five points behind joint leaders Napoli and AC Milan. The Bianconeri have not won the league since 2020, when they capped a run of nine consecutive titles—an era launched under Antonio Conte, now the Napoli coach. Conte, who also spent 13 years as a Juventus player, acknowledged the emotional weight of this weekend’s encounter but sought to keep the focus on the competition. “At the end of the day it’s a match and there are three points at stake,” Conte said. “I have great respect for them, but on the field everyone will try to take the three points home.” Key matchups The top four in Serie A are separated by just one point in an exciting title race. Co-leader Milan visits Torino on Monday with the host on a five-match winless run. However, Torino has proved tricky for the top sides. It has managed draws against Bologna and Juventus and beat Napoli and Roma. Inter and Roma are a point behind the top two. Inter hosts Como in a regional derby on Saturday with the visitor just three points below the Nerazzurri. Roma visits relegation-threatened Cagliari on Sunday. Sixth-placed Bologna is also just three points below the top four and travels to Lazio. Players to watch Pio Esposito has come from Serie B to scoring in every competition for Inter this season, as well as netting three for Italy. The 20-year-old scored in the Italian Cup on Wednesday and is already being touted as Italy’s next great center forward. Juventus is lamenting a serious injury to Dusan Vlahovic but hoping that can give an opportunity to Canada forward Jonathan David. David joined Juve in the offseason and has mainly been used as a substitute. He has scored in the Champions League and Serie A, but that was back in his debut in August. Out of action Juventus’ Federico Gatti and Vlahovic were set to undergo surgery on Thursday, the defender in Lyon and the forward in London. Gatti is expected to be back in around a month but Vlahovic will unlikely return before March. Napoli’s injury list keeps growing with Stanislav Lobotka out again. The midfielder missed most of October with an adductor injury and had a new muscle injury before Wednesday’s Italian Cup match. Off the field Italy will play its crucial World Cup qualifying playoff in Bergamo, Atalanta’s home stadium. Four-time World Cup winner Italy will host Northern Ireland on March 26 with the winner having to travel to face Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina. Italy is trying to end a remarkable 12-year wait to play on soccer’s biggest stage. The Azzurri are unbeaten in Bergamo with two draws and two 5-0 victories, including on coach Gennaro Gattuso’s debut in September.  

Bayern Munich remains unbeaten in 15 league and cup games against German opposition this season as Vincent Kompany's team prepares to face Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Key matchups Stuttgart could hope to take advantage of Bayern's tough schedule after Bayern struggled to match Union Berlin's physical intensity at times in its 3-2 win over Union in the German Cup on Wednesday. Bayern prevailed in part thanks to two own goals by Union players and was under pressure late in the game. Already eight points adrift of Bayern in second, Leipzig needs to avoid dropping further back when Ole Werner's team hosts Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Frankfurt is under pressure in seventh and risks failing to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages, too. Hoffenheim is riding high in fifth and faces third-placed Borussia Dortmund on Sunday knowing that a win would see it overtake Dortmund in the standings. Players to watch Harry Kane's header against Union in the cup on Wednesday took the England captain to 25 goals from 21 games for Bayern this season. Five more goals for England take his tally to 30 for club and country. Ibrahim Maza has three goals and two assists in his last five games in all competitions at Bayer Leverkusen in an attacking midfield role once filled by Florian Wirtz. Scoring the winning goal against Dortmund in the cup on Tuesday was another step forward. Leverkusen visits Augsburg on Saturday. Who's out? Bayern midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic is doubtful after he limped off against Union in the cup on Wednesday. Frankfurt's top scorer Jonathan Burkardt will reportedly be out until the new year with a muscle injury. His eight goals in 10 Bundesliga games mean that's a heavy blow. Off the field Mainz and Augsburg both go into the weekend's games with interim coaches. Last-placed Mainz parted company with Bo Henriksen, who led the team to sixth last season but has overseen a dismal run this campaign, punctuated by poor discipline. Benjamin Hoffman is in temporary charge ahead of Friday's game against Borussia Moenchengladbach. Augsburg fired ex-Germany striker Sandro Wagner on Monday after the team lost eight of its 12 Bundesliga games with him in charge. Manuel Baum returns as coach until the winter break.

Mohamed Salah was again absent from Liverpool’s starting lineup on Wednesday, marking the second straight Premier League match in which manager Arne Slot opted to leave out the Egyptian star — a move that may hint at a shifting role for the veteran forward in his ninth season at Anfield. Salah began on the bench against Sunderland and entered only at halftime, failing to find the net in a 1-1 draw. He did not feature at all in Sunday’s 2-0 win over West Ham, the first time Slot had left him out of a league lineup since taking charge in 2024 — a title-winning season powered largely by Salah’s 29 league goals. Liverpool win raises questions over Salah’s future role Slot admitted Salah was frustrated after being dropped but praised his professionalism. Still, the manager retained Dominic Szoboszlai on the right flank, citing defensive balance. Liverpool faces three more matches — two league fixtures and a Champions League tie — before Salah departs for the Africa Cup of Nations. Slot declined to confirm whether he will start against Leeds on Saturday. Salah has scored four league goals so far this season. Source: AP 

Erling Haaland hit his 100th Premier League goal on Tuesday as Manchester City survived a fierce late surge from Fulham to secure a 5-4 victory and move within two points of the league summit. Haaland opened the scoring in the 17th minute at Craven Cottage, becoming the fastest player to reach the milestone, doing so in just 111 matches — surpassing Alan Shearer’s previous mark of 124 games. Despite cruising to a 5-1 lead, City were pushed to the brink as Fulham rallied and nearly equalized in stoppage time when Josh King’s shot was cleared off the line. “It’s not good enough, and we all know that. We have to improve,” Haaland told Sky Sports after the match. Tijani Reijnders and Phil Foden added first-half goals for City, while Emile Smith-Rowe pulled one back for Fulham before the break. Foden struck again early in the second half, and a Sander Berge own goal appeared to put the game beyond doubt — until Fulham stormed back. Alex Iwobi curled in a second, and Samuel Chukwueze netted twice in six minutes, setting up a tense finish. Josko Gvardiol’s last-ditch clearance ultimately preserved the three points. Manager Pep Guardiola said he had no explanation for his team’s defensive lapses. “It’s the Premier League — what can I say?” Romero rescues SpursCristian Romero delivered for Tottenham with a spectacular overhead kick five minutes into stoppage time to earn a 2-2 draw at Newcastle. Bruno Guimaraes put Newcastle ahead in the 71st minute after a dominant first half, but Romero equalized shortly after with a near-post header. Anthony Gordon restored Newcastle’s lead from the penalty spot in the 86th minute, only for Romero’s late acrobatics to deny the hosts all three points and halt Spurs’ run of three straight losses. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe called the late goal “heartbreaking,” noting his team’s repeated struggles to protect leads. Liverpool win raises questions over Salah’s future role ElsewhereEverton rebounded from their loss to Newcastle at the weekend with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, sealed by Jack Grealish’s 78th-minute strike — his second of the season while on loan from Manchester City. Source: AP 

Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday sparked fresh debate about whether the club is beginning to prepare for life without Mohamed Salah after head coach Arne Slot left the 33-year-old on the bench for a Premier League match for the first time since April 2024. Slot’s decision followed weeks of scrutiny over Salah’s form. The forward, who has been central to Liverpool’s success for nearly a decade, has struggled this season and will soon join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations. Slot said Salah still has a strong future at the club but accepted that current performances have made selection decisions more difficult. Liverpool’s reshaped lineup delivered a much-needed result after a long spell of poor form that included nine defeats in 12 matches. Alexander Isak scored his first league goal since his record move from Newcastle, while Florian Wirtz played a key role in midfield. Cody Gakpo assisted Isak’s opener and added a second goal in stoppage time. Slot restored Joe Gomez at right-back, which strengthened Liverpool’s defence after conceding 10 goals in their previous three games and freed Dominik Szoboszlai to return to an attacking role. Salah watched from the bench as Liverpool kept a clean sheet and secured only their second league win since mid-September. Analysts said the decision to leave him out was justified. Former England captain Alan Shearer said Salah “cannot complain” because of his dip in form and called the move a necessary step for a team looking to recover. Despite his recent struggles, Salah’s record remains exceptional. Since joining Liverpool in 2017, he has scored 250 goals in 419 appearances and holds a league win rate of 64 percent. Liverpool have won 263 matches in all competitions with Salah in the team. Slot is expected to decide soon whether Salah returns to the starting lineup when Liverpool host Sunderland on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Isak said the goal ended a frustrating drought and he hopes it will help him build momentum after a slow start to his Liverpool career.   With inputs from BBC

Inter Miami booked a place in the MLS Cup final for the first time in the club’s history as Lionel Messi inspired a 5-1 victory over New York City FC in the Eastern Conference final on Saturday. Tadeo Allande stole the show with a stunning hat trick, scoring in the 17th, 23rd and 89th minutes, with the first two goals assisted by Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who are set to retire at the end of the season. Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia added the other goals for Miami. Messi set up Silvetti's 67th-minute strike, recording the 405th assist of his career for club and country — believed to be the highest assist tally in football history. Inter Miami, the No. 3 seed in the East, will host the MLS Cup final on December 6 against either San Diego or Vancouver. This marks a dramatic turnaround for the club, which had never advanced beyond the first postseason round in its first five seasons. NYCFC’s lone goal came from Justin Haak in the 37th minute. Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023 when the club was mired at the bottom of the MLS table, has since helped transform its global profile. With a new stadium set to open next season and the Argentine star signed through 2028, Miami now stands just one win away from its first league title. Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz and members of the U.S. women’s national team were among those in attendance, as Messi once again proved to be the main attraction on and off the field.