Iran twice came from behind to salvage a 2–2 draw against New Zealand in a World Cup opener overshadowed by geopolitical tensions, protests and months of conflict with the United States. The result leaves Team Melli still searching for a breakthrough on football's biggest stage.
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!We’re almost a 25th of the way through the Geopolitics World Cup – four games down, 100 to go – so it’s the perfect time to reflect on what we’ve learned and noticed so far. Continue reading...
The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday with a record 48 teams vying for the most coveted prize in football and a slew of controversies over ticket prices, geopolitical tensions and visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration casting a pall over the beautiful game’s quadrennial extravaganza.
Haiti have been made to find new jerseys on the eve of the 2026 World Cup, after Fifa deemed certain elements to be too political in nature. In a statement responding to the decision, kit manufacturer Saeta confirmed that it had worked with Fifa to ensure the design would meet requirements, even having “successfully implemented the requested modifications” during the mandatory review process.
