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#FIFA #World #Cup #Iran #absent #Vancouver #meetings #due #visa #issues #weeks">FIFA World Cup 2026 — Iran absent from Vancouver meetings due to visa issues weeks before WC Iran’s representatives was absent from a meeting of football leaders in Vancouver on Tuesday, leaving the country’s participation in the upcoming World Cup still in question.
That topic wasn’t covered at the convening of Asia’s top football leaders today with FIFA president Gianni Infantino presiding, and Iran’s Sports Minister last week announced Iran’s plans to be “proud” participants in this summer’s World Cup hosted by the United States in North American venues.
Yet the Iranian team and its officials still face visa complications, a fact underscored by their absence at Tuesday’s meeting.
A report by The Athletic confirmed that Iran’s Tuesday absence was due to visa issues, a problem that could prevent their presence at the overall FIFA Congress gathering this Thursday.
AFC general secretary Windsor John expressed some public optimism about Iran’s potential attendance at the larger gathering, saying that awards presented to each Asian qualifying country would be presented to Iran “once they arrive.”
Iranian officials had previously encountered difficulty acquiring visas to attend the World Cup Draw in Washington D.C. last December. That predated combined American and Israeli attacks on Iran which began in late February, complicating the situation further.
In recent weeks, Iran has lobbied FIFA to move all of its scheduled matches to Mexico, but that request has not been met.
Leaders of both Iran and the United States have engaged in hostile rhetoric since, with President Donald Trump posting on social media, “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
Other U.S. government officials, such as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been more moderate, assuring the safe passage of athletes, support staff and family, yet stopping short of guaranteeing U.S. entry to anyone beyond that scope, including executives, journalists, and trainers.
“The problem with Iran would be not their athletes, it would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them,” Rubio said in public comments last week.
The FIFA president conveyed a tone of tolerance in his remarks Tuesday.
“Now, even more, we have to show the world that we are here and we are united, and we can come together from all over the world in a peaceful environment, that we can unite the world,” Infantino said.
Iran is in Group G and is scheduled to play New Zealand (June 15) and Belgium (June 21) in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle (June 26)
Published on Apr 29, 2026
Iran’s representatives was absent from a meeting of football leaders in Vancouver on Tuesday, leaving…
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#Deadspin #Red #cards #approved #players #covering #mouths #World #Cup">Deadspin | Red cards approved for players covering mouths at World Cup
Apr 22, 2026; Morristown, New Jersey, USA; An MLS match ball is displayed during an event for the opening of the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center. The complex has been selected as Brazil’s training home for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
One new rule permit officials to issue red cards for any players who cover their mouth during a confrontation with an opponent or to any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee.
This change stems from a Champions League match when Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni said racially abusive comments directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior while pulling his jersey up over his mouth to hide what he was saying. Vinicius was visibly emotional after the confrontation, and Prestianni received a six-match ban from UEFA for the incident.
The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
The other new amendment permit officials to issue red cards for any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee. It also applies to any team official who convinces his team’s players to leave the field in protest of a call.
IFAB said in its statement that all 48 teams competing in the World Cup will be informed of these amendments in the coming weeks.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
Apr 22, 2026; Morristown, New Jersey, USA; An MLS match ball is displayed during an event for the opening of the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center. The complex has been selected as Brazil’s training home for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
One new rule permit officials to issue red cards for any players who cover their mouth during a confrontation with an opponent or to any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee.
This change stems from a Champions League match when Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni said racially abusive comments directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior while pulling his jersey up over his mouth to hide what he was saying. Vinicius was visibly emotional after the confrontation, and Prestianni received a six-match ban from UEFA for the incident.
The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
The other new amendment permit officials to issue red cards for any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee. It also applies to any team official who convinces his team’s players to leave the field in protest of a call.
IFAB said in its statement that all 48 teams competing in the World Cup will be informed of these amendments in the coming weeks.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
Apr 22, 2026; Morristown, New Jersey, USA; An MLS match ball is displayed during an event for the opening of the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center. The complex has been selected as Brazil’s training home for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
One new rule permit officials to issue red cards for any players who cover their mouth during a confrontation with an opponent or to any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee.
This change stems from a Champions League match when Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni said racially abusive comments directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior while pulling his jersey up over his mouth to hide what he was saying. Vinicius was visibly emotional after the confrontation, and Prestianni received a six-match ban from UEFA for the incident.
The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
The other new amendment permit officials to issue red cards for any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee. It also applies to any team official who convinces his team’s players to leave the field in protest of a call.
IFAB said in its statement that all 48 teams competing in the World Cup will be informed of these amendments in the coming weeks.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
Apr 22, 2026; Morristown, New Jersey, USA; An MLS match ball is displayed during an…
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#PSG #Bayern #Munich #Champions #League #winner #wins #recordbreaking #UCL #semifinal">PSG v Bayern Munich — Champions League winner wins 5-4 in record-breaking UCL semifinal
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) battled past visitor Bayern Munich 5-4 in a pulsating Champions League semifinal first leg on Tuesday that had a record number of goals at this stage of the competition.
In a match that will go down as an instant classic, PSG came from a goal down to lead 5-2 with two goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele before Bayern struck twice in three minutes just before the hour to improve its chances for next week’s return leg in Munich.
The match pitted the most attacking Champions League teams of the season against each other and it quickly lived up to its billing with a relentless pace and with Bayern coach Vincent Kompany in the stands, serving out a suspension, and his assistant Aaron Danks in the dugout.
Harry Kane converted a 17th-minute penalty to beat PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, and become the first English player to net in six successive Champions League fixtures. The England captain then delivered a well-timed pass for Michael Olise but his close-range shot was cleared off the line.
The host should have levelled when Dembele broke through but his finish flew well wide in the 23rd minute. Kvaratskhelia did it much better with a trademark move and a low shot after cutting into the box.
Bayern hit the post following a solo run by Olise and his deflected pass but it was PSG which scored again in the 33rd with Joao Neves’ glancing header.
There was plenty of drama left in the first half with Olise making amends for his earlier miss and drawing Bayern level with a 41st-minute shot after being given far too much space around the box.
PSG was then awarded a stoppage-time penalty and Dembele powered his spot kick past Manuel Neuer to put his side back in front.
PSG picked up where it left off after half-time and carved out a two-goal lead when Kvaratskhelia drilled in a 56th-minute effort and before Bayern had any time to recover, the French side struck again, this time Dembele beating Neuer once more with a low drive off the post two minutes later.
The host looked to be running away with the game but Bayern refused to buckle and matched it with two goals of its own in a three-minute span from Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz to greatly improve its chances for the return leg in Munich.
PSG’s Senny Mayulu rattled the woodwork in the 86th minute as both sides kept up the frenetic pace until the final whistle.
Published on Apr 29, 2026
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) battled past visitor Bayern Munich 5-4 in a pulsating Champions League semifinal first leg on Tuesday that had a record number of goals at this stage of the competition.
In a match that will go down as an instant classic, PSG came from a goal down to lead 5-2 with two goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele before Bayern struck twice in three minutes just before the hour to improve its chances for next week’s return leg in Munich.
The match pitted the most attacking Champions League teams of the season against each other and it quickly lived up to its billing with a relentless pace and with Bayern coach Vincent Kompany in the stands, serving out a suspension, and his assistant Aaron Danks in the dugout.
Harry Kane converted a 17th-minute penalty to beat PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, and become the first English player to net in six successive Champions League fixtures. The England captain then delivered a well-timed pass for Michael Olise but his close-range shot was cleared off the line.
The host should have levelled when Dembele broke through but his finish flew well wide in the 23rd minute. Kvaratskhelia did it much better with a trademark move and a low shot after cutting into the box.
Bayern hit the post following a solo run by Olise and his deflected pass but it was PSG which scored again in the 33rd with Joao Neves’ glancing header.
There was plenty of drama left in the first half with Olise making amends for his earlier miss and drawing Bayern level with a 41st-minute shot after being given far too much space around the box.
PSG was then awarded a stoppage-time penalty and Dembele powered his spot kick past Manuel Neuer to put his side back in front.
PSG picked up where it left off after half-time and carved out a two-goal lead when Kvaratskhelia drilled in a 56th-minute effort and before Bayern had any time to recover, the French side struck again, this time Dembele beating Neuer once more with a low drive off the post two minutes later.
The host looked to be running away with the game but Bayern refused to buckle and matched it with two goals of its own in a three-minute span from Dayot Upamecano and Luis Diaz to greatly improve its chances for the return leg in Munich.
PSG’s Senny Mayulu rattled the woodwork in the 86th minute as both sides kept up the frenetic pace until the final whistle.
Published on Apr 29, 2026
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) battled past visitor Bayern Munich 5-4 in a pulsating Champions…
