MI vs RCB, IPL 2026: Kieron Pollard dials down Rohit Sharma–Virat Kohli narrative ahead of marquee clash Having played with and against the two veterans who will once again command attention on Sunday night, Kieron Pollard sought to dial down the Rohit Sharma–Virat Kohli narrative ahead of Mumbai Indians’ marquee clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium.Pollard, now Mumbai Indians’ batting coach, insisted that the contest was bigger than individual rivalries, even as he acknowledged the value of the two stalwarts.“You say it’s a Rohit-Kohli show. I look at it as Mumbai Indians versus RCB. Let the individuals enjoy this phase of their careers. They are still performing, they are still doing well. And even if they are not, they deserve the right to decide certain things,” Pollard said on Saturday.“I’m happy that there are experienced guys still around. You need them to guide the younger players coming through, who will be the superstars in the next 10 to 15 years.”ALSO READ | Virat Kohli signs Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s cap, pens sweet messageWith Rohit set to turn 39 later this month and Kohli just a year younger, Pollard also brushed aside concerns around age, pointing to examples of longevity in modern cricket.“Imran Tahir is playing somewhere in the world at 46 or 47. MS Dhoni is still playing at 44. Fortunately, I’m still playing around the world at 39. Different things motivate individuals to continue playing,” he said.“These guys have done well for cricket overall. We tend to focus on age and what they should or shouldn’t do. We should honour players who have put smiles on our faces over time and let them decide when it’s time.”Published on Apr 11, 2026 #RCB #IPL #Kieron #Pollard #dials #Rohit #SharmaVirat #Kohli #narrative #ahead #marquee #clash

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