Deadspin | Jacob Lopez looks to continue Athletics’ torrid pitching vs. Mets Apr 5, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Jacob Lopez (57) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images The matchup of the Athletics’ stingy pitching staff and the New York Mets’ suddenly punchless offense went as one might expect on Friday. The A’s will look to continue suffocating opponents Saturday afternoon when they visit the Mets in the middle contest of a three-game interleague series. Left-hander Jacob Lopez (0-1, 6.48 ERA) is slated to start for the Athletics against Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (0-1, 3.09). A quintet of pitchers for the Athletics combined to allow just six hits in 4-0 win on Friday. The shutout was the second straight for the Athletics, who had three pitchers — Jeffrey Springs, Justin Sterner and Hogan Harris — combine for a one-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday afternoon. The Athletics received a surprise boost Friday from J.T. Ginn, who made his first start of the year and allowed just one hit — a bunt single by Jared Young — over four innings. Mark Leiter, winning pitcher Jack Perkins, Scott Barlow and Elvis Alvarado recorded the final 15 outs for the A’s, who haven’t allowed a run since the first inning of Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Yankees — a 26-frame span in which they’ve surrendered just eight hits. “Awesome job again tonight,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said on Friday. The repetition wasn’t nearly as satisfying for the Mets, who have lost their last three games by a combined score of 18-3. The skid followed a four-game winning streak in which New York outscored the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks 28-8. That dominance came despite playing all but one inning without left fielder Juan Soto, who is expected to be out until late this month with strained right calf suffered April 3. The Mets are batting just .200 (20-of-100) over the last three games, during which they’ve used three different No. 3 hitters — Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr. and Young — while Bo Bichette bats second in place of Soto. Polanco has sat out the last two contests due to bursitis in his left Achilles. New York didn’t get a runner into scoring position Friday until the sixth inning, when Francisco Lindor and Bichette led off with singles before Lindor was thrown out by Nick Kurtz trying to scramble back to third base on Young’s grounder to first. “Soto is irreplaceable, he’s one of the best hitters in the game,” Lindor said. “But guys understand that we’ve got to get it done.” Neither Lopez nor Senga factored into the decision in their previous starts last Sunday. Lopez gave up three runs over 4 1/3 innings in the Athletics’ 12-10, 10-inning win over the Houston Astros, while Senga allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings in the Mets’ 5-2 victory over the Giants. Lopez threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in his lone previous appearance against the Mets on May 5, 2024, when he was pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays. Senga is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in two career starts against the A’s. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Jacob #Lopez #continue #Athletics #torrid #pitching #Mets

Iranian football officials are set to meet soon with FIFA in Zurich about their World Cup games in the United States in June.

Iran’s top football official Mehdi Taj said on Friday “we have many issues to discuss” on his return home from Canada where he failed to attend FIFA’s annual congress held on Thursday in Vancouver.

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström has invited an Iranian delegation to its headquarters by a May 20 deadline, a person familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing sensitivity of the issue.

That target date in Zurich is three weeks before the Iran squad is due in the U.S., staying at a training base in Tucson, Arizona, to prepare for three group games in Inglewood, California and Seattle.

“Our position is that we will soon have a meeting with FIFA,” Taj told Iranian media on Friday.

Iran is an Asian football power but its ability and willingness to come to the World Cup has been questioned since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on February 28. The tournament is being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico,

On Thursday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened his keynote speech to global football leaders — with only Iran missing of the 211 member federations — insisting again that Iran will come and play as scheduled in the U.S.

At the White House later Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed his support for Iran’s team, adding: “If Gianni said it, I’m OK.”

Trump and Infantino have closely allied over the World Cup preparations which has challenges, beyond Iran with fans from several African countries, over granting entry visas and security concerns.

Taj and two more Iran officials had issues this week on landing in Toronto en route to Vancouver where they were expected at the FIFA annual meeting.

ALSO READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian FA chief was denied entry for FIFA event

Taj, who is also a vice president of Asia’s football body, detailed on Friday the problems with Canadian authorities though he said he was not deported.

“In Canada they asked us, ‘Are you members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?’ We told them, ‘In Iran, 90 million of us are IRGC,’” Taj was reported as saying in Iranian media.

After being detained for two hours at Toronto airport, the Iran football delegation which had arrived from Istanbul was told it could continue the journey.

“There was some discussion and he said, ‘It’s up to you,’ and then we decided as a group to go back” to Istanbul, Taj said. “They did not officially deport us, there is nothing labeled as deportation in our file, but in practice it was like that.”

Taj had a valid visa to enter Canada after he was denied one by the U.S. to attend the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. At that event, Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize.

Iran has World Cup group games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, respectively, from June 15-26. The first two games are at the NFL stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and the third is at the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium.

If Iran advances as runner-up in its group, the team could face the United States in the round of 32 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on July 3.

The Iranian football league shut down after the war started and is not due to resume before the World Cup. The squad played two warmup games in March at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where it could return this month to prepare for the World Cup that opens on June 11.

Published on May 02, 2026

#FIFA #World #Cup #Iran #football #officials #meet #FIFA #Zurich #plan #games">

FIFA World Cup 2026 — Iran football officials to meet FIFA in Zurich and plan for games in US Iranian football officials are set to meet soon with FIFA in Zurich about their World Cup games in the United States in June.Iran’s top football official Mehdi Taj said on Friday “we have many issues to discuss” on his return home from Canada where he failed to attend FIFA’s annual congress held on Thursday in Vancouver.FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström has invited an Iranian delegation to its headquarters by a May 20 deadline, a person familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing sensitivity of the issue.That target date in Zurich is three weeks before the Iran squad is due in the U.S., staying at a training base in Tucson, Arizona, to prepare for three group games in Inglewood, California and Seattle.“Our position is that we will soon have a meeting with FIFA,” Taj told Iranian media on Friday.Iran is an Asian football power but its ability and willingness to come to the World Cup has been questioned since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on February 28. The tournament is being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico,On Thursday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened his keynote speech to global football leaders — with only Iran missing of the 211 member federations — insisting again that Iran will come and play as scheduled in the U.S.At the White House later Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed his support for Iran’s team, adding: “If Gianni said it, I’m OK.”Trump and Infantino have closely allied over the World Cup preparations which has challenges, beyond Iran with fans from several African countries, over granting entry visas and security concerns.Taj and two more Iran officials had issues this week on landing in Toronto en route to Vancouver where they were expected at the FIFA annual meeting.ALSO READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian FA chief was denied entry for FIFA eventTaj, who is also a vice president of Asia’s football body, detailed on Friday the problems with Canadian authorities though he said he was not deported.“In Canada they asked us, ‘Are you members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?’ We told them, ‘In Iran, 90 million of us are IRGC,’” Taj was reported as saying in Iranian media.After being detained for two hours at Toronto airport, the Iran football delegation which had arrived from Istanbul was told it could continue the journey.“There was some discussion and he said, ‘It’s up to you,’ and then we decided as a group to go back” to Istanbul, Taj said. “They did not officially deport us, there is nothing labeled as deportation in our file, but in practice it was like that.”Taj had a valid visa to enter Canada after he was denied one by the U.S. to attend the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. At that event, Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize.Iran has World Cup group games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, respectively, from June 15-26. The first two games are at the NFL stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and the third is at the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium.If Iran advances as runner-up in its group, the team could face the United States in the round of 32 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on July 3.The Iranian football league shut down after the war started and is not due to resume before the World Cup. The squad played two warmup games in March at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where it could return this month to prepare for the World Cup that opens on June 11.Published on May 02, 2026 #FIFA #World #Cup #Iran #football #officials #meet #FIFA #Zurich #plan #games

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Iranian football officials are set to meet soon with FIFA in Zurich about their World Cup games in the United States in June.
Iran’s top football official Mehdi Taj said on Friday “we have many issues to discuss” on his return home from Canada where he failed to attend FIFA’s annual congress held on Thursday in Vancouver.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström has invited an Iranian delegation to its headquarters by a May 20 deadline, a person familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing sensitivity of the issue.
That target date in Zurich is three weeks before the Iran squad is due in the U.S., staying at a training base in Tucson, Arizona, to prepare for three group games in Inglewood, California and Seattle.
“Our position is that we will soon have a meeting with FIFA,” Taj told Iranian media on Friday.
Iran is an Asian football power but its ability and willingness to come to the World Cup has been questioned since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on February 28. The tournament is being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico,
On Thursday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened his keynote speech to global football leaders — with only Iran missing of the 211 member federations — insisting again that Iran will come and play as scheduled in the U.S.
At the White House later Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed his support for Iran’s team, adding: “If Gianni said it, I’m OK.”
Trump and Infantino have closely allied over the World Cup preparations which has challenges, beyond Iran with fans from several African countries, over granting entry visas and security concerns.
Taj and two more Iran officials had issues this week on landing in Toronto en route to Vancouver where they were expected at the FIFA annual meeting.
ALSO READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian FA chief was denied entry for FIFA event
Taj, who is also a vice president of Asia’s football body, detailed on Friday the problems with Canadian authorities though he said he was not deported.
“In Canada they asked us, ‘Are you members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?’ We told them, ‘In Iran, 90 million of us are IRGC,’” Taj was reported as saying in Iranian media.
After being detained for two hours at Toronto airport, the Iran football delegation which had arrived from Istanbul was told it could continue the journey.
“There was some discussion and he said, ‘It’s up to you,’ and then we decided as a group to go back” to Istanbul, Taj said. “They did not officially deport us, there is nothing labeled as deportation in our file, but in practice it was like that.”
Taj had a valid visa to enter Canada after he was denied one by the U.S. to attend the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. At that event, Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize.
Iran has World Cup group games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, respectively, from June 15-26. The first two games are at the NFL stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and the third is at the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium.
If Iran advances as runner-up in its group, the team could face the United States in the round of 32 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on July 3.
The Iranian football league shut down after the war started and is not due to resume before the World Cup. The squad played two warmup games in March at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where it could return this month to prepare for the World Cup that opens on June 11.
Published on May 02, 2026

#FIFA #World #Cup #Iran #football #officials #meet #FIFA #Zurich #plan #games">FIFA World Cup 2026 — Iran football officials to meet FIFA in Zurich and plan for games in US