Brazil star Bruno Guimaraes insisted Monday his team should get "the respect they deserve" as they get ready to kick off their bid to win a record-extending sixth World Cup.

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States, a sports ministry official told AFP on Monday.

France international Ibrahima Konate has agreed a four-year deal with Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Monday.

The final group match between Bangladesh and hosts Maldives in a four-nation invitational tournament descended into ugly scenes on Sunday night as neither side got what they desperately wanted -- a victory.

The 35-year-old stopper Kim Seung-gyu is hoping to add to his 86 caps when South Korea face the Czech Republic on Thursday's opening day of the tournament in North America. But it has come at a personal price, missing the birth of his daughter.

The United States enter under immense pressure, knowing a strong run on home soil could elevate soccer’s status nationwide. Led by Christian Pulisic and a talented young squad, they are favourites to top the group.

The referee’s whistle hadn’t even blown when the crowd flooded the field. Tens of thousands. Yellow-and-green jerseys, white shirts, bare-chested bodies -- all rushing in the same direction. Cameras swiveled. Flashes lit up the stadium. Azteca had one sound at that moment: untamed, ecstatic, unbearably beautiful screaming.

"It makes no sense to me," Galavi complained. "Sport is supposed to be a symbol of peace, so when you mix politics and sports, it doesn't work."

The incident occurred roughly four miles from where England are set to train at the Swope Soccer Village.

With just three days remaining for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world’s attention is firmly fixed on the superstars ready to grace the pitch in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Yet, beneath the boots of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland lies what is arguably the greatest engineering feat in sporting history -- the grass itself.

Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine on Sunday, five years after suffering a cardiac arrest during the European Championships.

Brazil's search for a reliable right back took another painful twist on Sunday when Wesley was dropped from their World Cup squad after suffering a left thigh muscle injury, with Atalanta midfielder Ederson called up in his place.

Iran's World Cup squad landed in Mexico on Sunday under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row, after the United States -- in open military conflict with Tehran -- refused to issue visas for some team support staff.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement on Saturday recommended approval of Bangladesh Television's (BTV) proposal to acquire the all-media broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 directly from FIFA at a cost of Tk 72.71 crore.

“If you think about it, my international career lasted only three weeks.”

Just days before Mexico hosts the World Cup's opening match, thousands of people packed the capital's main thoroughfare Saturday in a bid to set a new record for the largest-ever human wave.

Even though Eduardo Camavinga was left out of France's World Cup squad he was at hand when Les Bleus arrived at their Masachusetts base, taking a brief course at Harvard University.

Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan sees the opening match in the World Cup against Belgium as the most difficult game in the "highly competitive" Group G.

Switzerland's Granit Xhaka is calmness personified when talk turns to the FIFA World Cup 2026. It will be his fourth edition of the global showpiece, after Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. The midfielder has featured in 12 World Cup matches -- a Swiss record -- and has worn the captain's armband since the end of 2019, something he does not take for granted.

Iran's World Cup squad is expected to arrive in Mexico early Sunday (Sunday evening, as per Bangladesh Time) under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington, after the United States refused to issue visas for some team support staff.