Speaking at the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas on Monday, Schirgi was specifically asked about Iran, whose participation in the World Cup is uncertain due to the war waged on the country by Israel and the United States.

The Iraqis are due to face either Suriname or Bolivia on March 31 in the Mexican city of Monterrey for a place in the World Cup finals, but with Iraqi airspace closed until April 1, Arnold's squad is unable to gather or travel.

On July 16, 1950, the skies above Rio de Janeiro carried not just the glare of the sun, but the blazing pride and golden dreams of an entire nation, Brazil. Rising beside the shores of Guanabara Bay stood the newly built concrete giant -- the Maracana Stadium. It was not merely a structure of brick and cement; it was a vast temple of hope, ambition and supremacy for nearly 200 million Brazilians.

From 1930 to 2022, a total of 2,720 goals have been scored in 964 matches across 22 editions of the FIFA World Cup. Yet among those thousands of strikes, some are far more than mere statistics – they are enduring stories etched into football folklore.

Like the heroes of ancient Greek tragedies -- triumphant, revered, yet ultimately undone by a single moment of human weakness -- the night of July 9, 2006 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium felt like a modern retelling of a timeless drama. And at the centre of it stood one man: Zinedine Zidane, both the story’s unrivalled hero and its tragic villain.

The final of the first FIFA World Cup was not just a match—it was a nerve-wracking battle between two neighboring rivals: Uruguay and Argentina. Held at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, on July 30, 1930, that match remains etched in the annals of football history.

He was not weeping. His head was not dramatically bowed. His body did not collapse. Yet around him unfolded one of football’s most poetic tragedies. At its centre stood Roberto Baggio.

From Austria’s ‘Wunderteam’ in 1934 to Hungary’s ‘Magical Magyars’ in 1954, or Brazil’s artistic 1982 side, the World Cup stage has repeatedly turned into a graveyard for pre-tournament favourites.

"I really don't care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They're running on fumes," Trump told Politico.

World football's governing body is remaining cautious regarding the possibility of Iran pulling out of the World Cup.

Today, the FIFA World Cup is more than a sporting contest. It is emotion, identity and a global celebration that grips billions. Yet the story of its birth is one of doubt, resistance and an unyielding dream that refused to fade.

FIFA has sparked fresh confusion over ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup after sending out emails to thousands of supporters announcing an “exclusive” 48-hour purchase window -- without specifying when it would begin.

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino told AFP on Tuesday he was "very reassured" about Mexico's hosting of games in the World Cup, in his first comments on the violence triggered by the killing of a drug cartel leader.

Weeks after FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned that tickets made available on resale sites were likely to come with an exorbitant price tag, those fears have come to pass on world football's own platform.

The four-legged robots are designed to enter dangerous areas and broadcast live video back to security forces, who can watch before taking action during the football tournament.

"Political disputes should be settled at the political level, and sport should be left to be sport."

FIFA said in a statement it had received applications from fans in all of its 211 member nations and territories for the tournament staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Brazil forward Neymar has started rehabilitation following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Dec. 22 as he aims to secure a spot on the 2026 World Cup roster.

Fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) had been among the most prominent critics of FIFA's pricing strategy for 2026.

With less than six months to go before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, organizers are bracing for what could be their most challenging opponent yet: extreme heat.