Deadspin | Surging Knights visit scuffling Kraken as they battle for playoff position Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vegas Golden Knights forward Nic Dowd (26) and forward Cole Smith (22) celebrate Smith’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images At this time of the season, a glance at the standings doesn’t always tell the full story. For example, take the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken — who are set to meet Thursday night in Seattle. The Golden Knights (36-26-16, 88 points), winners of four straight games since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as coach, are even with Edmonton in points atop the Pacific Division but are in second place because they have three fewer regulation wins. The Kraken (32-34-11, 75 points) are clinging to their Western Conference playoff hopes despite six consecutive losses — the last five by multiple goals — and a 1-8-2 record over their past 11 games. The Kraken are in seventh place in the wild-card race. Eighth-place Calgary, with 73 points, already has been eliminated. The Golden Knights are coming off a 2-1 victory Tuesday at Vancouver, the team that’s last in the NHL’s overall standings. “Good teams win those games. Teams that don’t get there in the end lose those games,” Tortorella said. “To me, it’s a good sign for the hockey club.” Fourth-liner Cole Smith scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, defenseman Brayden McNabb also tallied and goaltender Carter Hart made 10 saves. “We’re doing a really good job of going north, and I think when you do that, you stay out of your end, you don’t play defense, you don’t mess around with the neutral zone, and then you end up playing more offense,” said Golden Knights center Nic Dowd, who assisted on the winning goal. “And then, in my opinion, our (defensemen) are doing a great job of allowing our forwards to play offense by pinching, keeping pucks in, making us go north. I think it starts in our back end.” Tortorella said he was encouraged that the Golden Knights won with their top point producers — Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev, Ivan Barbashev and Tomas Hertl — all kept off the scoresheet. “On a night where it was just a grind, we just stayed with it and we got a goal by a defenseman, we get a goal by Cole Smith, which I think is a really good sign for our team, not leaning on the top guys all the time,” Tortorella said. “Just stayed with it and we checked forward most of the night, certainly wasn’t pretty … we found a way to win.” The Kraken have won both of their meetings with Vegas this season — 2-1 in Seattle on Oct. 11 and 3-2 on Jan. 31 in Sin City — with the teams also set to meet April 15 in Las Vegas. Seattle is coming off a 6-2 loss Monday in Winnipeg and a 5-2 defeat Tuesday at Minnesota. “It’s another loss, and it’s a 5-2 loss and another empty-net goal against, and I sit here and I say, ‘I thought we played a pretty good hockey game,’” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said. “And it’s like, ‘Really? You do?’ It’s another loss, but I do actually think we played pretty good (Tuesday). We out-chanced them and we just can’t get out of our own way.” A Kraken turnover led to Minnesota’s tying goal 38 seconds into the second period. Seattle later appeared to regain the lead, but it had a goal disallowed on video review because of goaltender interference. “I liked our first period, and then after that, I mean, we didn’t generate much,” said defenseman Brandon Montour, who scored one of Seattle’s goals. “Same stuff,” he continued. “Turnover at the blue line, odd-man rush goal. A guy backdoor by himself, goal. Spin around in the slot to a guy backdoor by himself, goal. Empty net. I guess you could say another easy one for the opposing team. Mental mistakes that obviously have been hurting us for the last little bit.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Surging #Knights #visit #scuffling #Kraken #battle #playoff #position

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