Foxborough has threatened to pull the plug on World Cup matches taking place at Gillette Stadium if it does not receive vital security funding - Daily Mail
England's World Cup group game has been plunged into chaos after a US stadium licence row threatened to pull matches at Gillette Stadium - Daily Mirror. Five-second countdowns for throw-ins and goal-kicks are poised to make their debut at this summer's World Cup, as football's governing bodies gear up to introduce a series of measures aimed at accelerating the pace of play - Daily Express. Zinedine Zidane has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to become the new manager of France after the World Cup - Daily Mirror. World Cup minnows Curacao have suffered a major blow with veteran coach Dick Advocaat stepping down four months before the tournament - The Sun. The planned World Cup fan zone in New York has been cancelled - in the latest blow to the tournament - The Sun.
How long until they learn that if you introduce changes at a major tournament it's going to cause problems as players get used to them? Far better to bring them in globally for at least a season before, so they're properly integrated into the game.
BBC to use influencers as part of it’s coverage for the World Cup. https://www.thetimes.com/sport/foot... director of sport,to many live sports events.
🚨🚨| FIFA will “monitor the situation” in Iran after U.S. military action. Iran have qualified for the World Cup and are scheduled to play their group games in the United States.[@espn] pic.twitter.com/Je1ih8Fhqr— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) February 28, 2026
What I think might happen is America will ban Iran and tell FIFA overuse it and we cancel the World Cup. FIFA will not risk losing the World Cup entirely for a country that doesn’t have many allies.
In his 1980 State of the Union address, President Jimmy Carter called on the United States to boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics over the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan, a decision that angered American sports fans and greatly contributed to the loss of his reelection campaign later that November to Ronald Reagan. I doubt the heads of government participating in the World Cup in America have the political spine Jimmy Carter had.
Reagan backed the boycott. Here in the UK Thatcher was a strong supporter of it and wasn’t happy when only a few sports boycotted it while the likes of Athletics and Swimming attended.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Iran are considering withdrawing from the World Cup after the strikes today. All their 3 group games are scheduled to be played in the United States.— @marca pic.twitter.com/qKN1RCwLMG— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) February 28, 2026 If they do withdraw logically it should be Iraq replacing them as they in the inter confederation playoffs. Or if it’s after then a nd Iraq have qualified UAE. But Trump and Infantino might use it to offer someone random a spot.
Iran is expected to withdraw from the World Cup. Let’s see who Trump proposes should get their place. I’m sure him and not Infantino will decide.
I would imagine if Iran did actually drop out Iraq, who are in the inter confederation play off would go instead, and UAE would replace Iraq in the play offs. When the dust settles there is probably a good chance Iran will go anyway.
On Iranian TV this morning they have been saying they not going. Cant see them formally doing so by the playoffs through or if they do FIFA accepting it. By June there could have a pro American goverment in place!. So I would imagine the USA would want their spot open in case that happens.
A hell of a lot of things will have to play out, no point predicting if Iran are going to be at the World Cup today when the reality will be very different in 3 months time.
Fifa is optimistic Iran will be at the World Cup despite reported doubt at its national federation following military strikes by the United States - The Telegraph.
Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are viewed as the most likely beneficiaries should Iran withdraw from the World Cup - The Guardian
NEW: President Trump tells me: “I really don’t care” if Iran plays in the World Cup this summer. “I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”Iran is also absent from a FIFA team planning event that is going on in Atlanta right now.…— Sophia Cai (@SophiaCai99) March 3, 2026 In Other News the US Supreme Court’s verdict on the Birthright citizenship case looks set to coming out in late May or June - maybe even during a World Cup where America has players who are only really eligible because of it!
The intercontinental World Cup playoffs are in doubt with officials from the Iraq Football Association [IFA] in crisis talks with Fifa over concerns they may be unable to take part in the final scheduled for Mexico later this month - The Guardian
Urgent talks between FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation and the Australian government are taking place over whether it is possible to extend the Iran women’s team’s stay in the country for their own safety.More from @jwhitey98 ⬇️https://t.co/GvbsgCf0j8— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) March 9, 2026