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#Canadian #government #allocates #million #FIFA #World #Cup #security">Canadian government allocates $145 million for FIFA World Cup 2026 security The Canadian government will allocate up to $145 million for security during the upcoming World Cup, Canada’s public safety minister announced on Wednesday.
Thirteen matches are set to take place in Toronto and Vancouver during the June 11-July 19 tournament, which Canada is hosting alongside the U.S. and Mexico.
“This funding will support provinces and municipalities in their efforts to ensure people remain safe while enjoying the tournament, and ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to deliver a safe and well-managed event,” Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said at a news conference in Toronto.
Toronto will see about $45 million of the money, while $100 million will be set aside for Vancouver.
The investment builds on the $220 million the federal government has already allocated to the Canadian host cities.
Ottawa previously allocated up to $320 million for hosting the tournament. (
Published on Apr 30, 2026
The Canadian government will allocate up to $145 million for security during the upcoming World…
Sports news
#Afghanistan #exiles #dream #Olympic #stage #FIFA #recognition">Afghanistan exiles dream of Olympic stage after FIFA recognition
Scattered across the globe after fleeing Taliban rule in Afghanistan, the country’s exiled women footballers are daring to dream of uniting on the Olympic stage after being given a path back to international football.
Global governing body FIFA approved a rule change on Wednesday allowing them to play official international matches, building on the FIFA-backed Afghan Women United team set up last year for players living outside their homeland.
Goalkeeper Fatima Yousufi, now based in Melbourne with many of the exiles, said the players were overwhelmed when they heard the news.
“One hundred percent emotional. Tears of joy — because we never stopped representing Afghanistan in our hearts,” the 24-year-old told Reuters in a video call.
“And now the world is finally recognising that. But at the same time … many girls in Afghanistan still don’t have this opportunity, so this moment is also for them.”
READ | Afghan women’s refugee team allowed to play in FIFA tournaments
Prior to the Taliban’s takeover, Afghanistan had 25 women players under contract, most of whom now live in Australia.
Afghan Women United is currently undergoing a selection process, with FIFA hosting regional selection camps in England and Australia.
While Afghanistan will not be eligible to qualify for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year, it could still compete in qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“Thinking about all those (opportunities) coming up, (those) events will be the greatest thing that could happen for the team,” said Yousufi, who plays for South Melbourne FC while studying.
“So hopefully we will make that.”
HARROWING EXIT
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, women’s sport has effectively disappeared in Afghanistan, while access to education and employment opportunities for women have been severely curtailed.
Like a number of her teammates, Yousufi’s departure from Afghanistan was harrowing.
Toting only a backpack with a few clothes and a bottle of water, Yousufi was evacuated on a plane from Kabul to Dubai with assistance from the Australian government.
She arrived in Australia in a daze, thinking about everything she had lost.
“Even our identity, we had to delete everything. We had to, you know, disappear from the public to be just safe during the time,” she said.
“It was such a dangerous time, but I’m glad we made it alive and we made it out here and today we’re playing.”
Yousufi has since been reunited with her parents and all of her siblings in Melbourne.
Life as an immigrant in Australia has been a major adjustment but the footballing goals remain the same.
“In Afghanistan, I was dreaming of seeing the Afghanistan team in the World Cup,” she said.
“And I think if we are going to make that happen, it will be the greatest thing that could happen for Afghanistan women’s soccer.”
Published on Apr 30, 2026
Scattered across the globe after fleeing Taliban rule in Afghanistan, the country’s exiled women footballers are daring to dream of uniting on the Olympic stage after being given a path back to international football.
Global governing body FIFA approved a rule change on Wednesday allowing them to play official international matches, building on the FIFA-backed Afghan Women United team set up last year for players living outside their homeland.
Goalkeeper Fatima Yousufi, now based in Melbourne with many of the exiles, said the players were overwhelmed when they heard the news.
“One hundred percent emotional. Tears of joy — because we never stopped representing Afghanistan in our hearts,” the 24-year-old told Reuters in a video call.
“And now the world is finally recognising that. But at the same time … many girls in Afghanistan still don’t have this opportunity, so this moment is also for them.”
READ | Afghan women’s refugee team allowed to play in FIFA tournaments
Prior to the Taliban’s takeover, Afghanistan had 25 women players under contract, most of whom now live in Australia.
Afghan Women United is currently undergoing a selection process, with FIFA hosting regional selection camps in England and Australia.
While Afghanistan will not be eligible to qualify for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year, it could still compete in qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“Thinking about all those (opportunities) coming up, (those) events will be the greatest thing that could happen for the team,” said Yousufi, who plays for South Melbourne FC while studying.
“So hopefully we will make that.”
HARROWING EXIT
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, women’s sport has effectively disappeared in Afghanistan, while access to education and employment opportunities for women have been severely curtailed.
Like a number of her teammates, Yousufi’s departure from Afghanistan was harrowing.
Toting only a backpack with a few clothes and a bottle of water, Yousufi was evacuated on a plane from Kabul to Dubai with assistance from the Australian government.
She arrived in Australia in a daze, thinking about everything she had lost.
“Even our identity, we had to delete everything. We had to, you know, disappear from the public to be just safe during the time,” she said.
“It was such a dangerous time, but I’m glad we made it alive and we made it out here and today we’re playing.”
Yousufi has since been reunited with her parents and all of her siblings in Melbourne.
Life as an immigrant in Australia has been a major adjustment but the footballing goals remain the same.
“In Afghanistan, I was dreaming of seeing the Afghanistan team in the World Cup,” she said.
“And I think if we are going to make that happen, it will be the greatest thing that could happen for Afghanistan women’s soccer.”
Published on Apr 30, 2026
Scattered across the globe after fleeing Taliban rule in Afghanistan, the country’s exiled women footballers…
Sports news
#Chelseas #Mudryk #appeals #CAS #fouryear #doping #ban #Reports">Chelsea’s Mudryk appeals to CAS over four-year doping ban – Reports
Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to appeal against a four-year doping ban handed to him by England’s Football Association (FA), British media reported on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian was charged with anti-doping rule violations in June last year after a sample taken in 2024 produced an adverse finding for a prohibited substance, reported to be meldonium. Mudryk had said that the adverse finding came as a “complete shock” as he had never knowingly used a banned substance.
Having joined Chelsea in January 2023 for an initial fee of €70 million ($81.83 million), Mudryk was provisionally suspended in December 2024 and the 25-year-old has not played since.
“CAS confirms it has received an appeal by Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on 25 February 2026,” it said in a statement to the BBC and the Times.
“The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled.”
The FA said it could not comment because the case is ongoing. Reuters has contacted CAS for comment.
Meldonium is the same substance Maria Sharapova tested positive for, with the Russian tennis player initially being banned by the International Tennis Federation for two years before an appeal led to her suspension being reduced to 15 months.
Published on Apr 29, 2026
Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to appeal against a four-year doping ban handed to him by England’s Football Association (FA), British media reported on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian was charged with anti-doping rule violations in June last year after a sample taken in 2024 produced an adverse finding for a prohibited substance, reported to be meldonium. Mudryk had said that the adverse finding came as a “complete shock” as he had never knowingly used a banned substance.
Having joined Chelsea in January 2023 for an initial fee of €70 million ($81.83 million), Mudryk was provisionally suspended in December 2024 and the 25-year-old has not played since.
“CAS confirms it has received an appeal by Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on 25 February 2026,” it said in a statement to the BBC and the Times.
“The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled.”
The FA said it could not comment because the case is ongoing. Reuters has contacted CAS for comment.
Meldonium is the same substance Maria Sharapova tested positive for, with the Russian tennis player initially being banned by the International Tennis Federation for two years before an appeal led to her suspension being reduced to 15 months.
Published on Apr 29, 2026
Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to appeal…
