With 100 days to go until the World Cup, the Iran war has added a new layer of complexity to the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.How the conflict will affect the worlds most watched sporting event is the latest issue facing organizers already grappling with cartel violence in one of Mexico's host cities, scaled-back plans for fan festivals in the U.S. and criticism from fans against soaring ticket prices.Officials of the qualified teams are meeting with FIFA staff in Atlanta this week. The tournament kicks off on June 11 when Mexico plays South Africa in Mexico City. It will be the biggest World Cup ever with 48 participating teams, up from 32 at the previous tournament in Qatar.Here's a look at some of the issues drawing scrutiny as the countdown began.A backdrop of geopolitical tensionIt's not unusual for international politics to overshadow a global sports event like the World Cup at least in the early stages before the soccer action takes over the headlines.In 2022, Qatar's treatment of migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community drew headlines off the field. LGBTQ+ rights, the annexation of Crimea and the poisoning of a spy in Britain were in focus when Russia hosted the tournament in 2018.In Brazil in 2014 and South Africa in 2010 there were concerns about crime and security.The 2026 tournament looks set to kick off amid a backdrop of political tensions involving the U.S. and the participating nations.Many have been hit by tariffs. Some are facing travel restrictions. Denmark, which can still qualify through playoffs in March, has been shaken by President Donald Trumps calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland. And with 100 days to go, the U.S. was in a military conflict with Iran, one of the first teams to qualify.Iran's status at the World Cup is unclearIran is set to play two group stage games in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle.However, whether the Iranian team will come to the U.S. is uncertain.What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope, Iran's top soccer official, Mehdi Taj, said last weekend as the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated attacks that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens more senior officials.Still, Iran has not announced it is withdrawing from the tournament, which no team that qualified has done in the past 75 years. Iran, the second-highest ranked team in Asia, was drawn in a group with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.I really dont care, if Iran participates, Trump told Politico on Tuesday. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. Theyre running on fumes.FIFA did not immediately respond to a request on whether Iran federation officials attended the Atlanta workshop.Fan festivals are being slimmed down Fan festivals have been a key part of the World Cup experience in the past two decades. They offer a chance for thousands of fans without match tickets to take part in the World Cup atmosphere by coming together to watch games on a big screen.Some of those plans are now being scaled back in the U.S.New York/New Jersey eliminated its Fan Fest in Jersey City, New Jersey, even though it had started selling tickets for an event scheduled to be open every day of the tournament.Planning to sell tickets was itself unprecedented for World Cup fan zones, which were free to enter since being launched at the 2006 edition in Germany.Seattle cut down its original plan and rescheduled it for smaller venues and Boston trimmed its event to 16 days.The chief operating officer of Miamis FIFA World Cup host committee said during a congressional hearing on Feb. 24 that it might cancel its event if it did not receive federal funding within 30 days. Kansas City, Missouri, Police Deputy Chief Joseph Maybin said the city had an immediate need for federal funds to prepare security.House Republicans said federal money may be held up by the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, caused by Democrats insisting restrictions be placed on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.Foxborough games threatenedThe New England Patriots stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is due to host seven World Cup games, starting with Haiti-Scotland on June 13 and ending with a quarterfinal on July 9. That is FIFAs plan.The Select Board of Foxborough has refused to issue a permit for World Cup matches at the stadium and set a March 17 deadline to be paid $7.8 million what the town estimates will be the cost of police and other expenses. Foxborough said it was not part of FIFAs hosting agreement with Boston.Pushback against FIFA's ticket pricesFIFA has about 7 million seats to fill for the World Cup matches and said last month it received 500 million ticket requests. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proclaimed all 104 games are sold out and yet some fans received emails last week offering an extra 48-hour window for tickets sales.FIFAs prices in December ranged up to $8,680 per ticket. After criticism, FIFA said it will offer a few hundred $60 tickets for every game to the 48 national federations in the tournament. Those federations will decide how to distribute them to their most loyal fans who attended previous games.Most seats on FIFA's ticket resale platform seeking to cut out the secondary market and earn FIFA extra 15% fees from buyers and sellers are well past the $1,000 mark.Cartel violence in MexicoMexicos ability to co-host the World Cup has been under scrutiny after a surge in violence last week in the state of Jalisco following the militarys killing of a powerful cartel boss.The states capital, Guadalajara, is set to host four matches during the group stage.Mexicos government insists the World Cup wont be affected and President Claudia Sheinbaum said theres no risk for fans coming to the tournament.Infantino told Sheinbaum that he has full confidence in Mexico as a World Cup host.The FIFA leader has repeatedly promised the 2026 World Cup will be the greatest and most inclusive.___AP Sports Writers Ronald Blum in New York and Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

With 100 days to go until the World Cup, the Iran war has added a new layer of complexity to the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.How the conflict will affect the worlds most watched sporting event is the latest issue facing organizers already grappling with cartel violence in one of Mexico's host cities, scaled-back plans for fan festivals in the U.S. and criticism from fans against soaring ticket prices.Officials of the qualified teams are meeting with FIFA staff in Atlanta this week. The tournament kicks off on June 11 when Mexico plays South Africa in Mexico City. It will be the biggest World Cup ever with 48 participating teams, up from 32 at the previous tournament in Qatar.Here's a look at some of the issues drawing scrutiny as the countdown began.A backdrop of geopolitical tensionIt's not unusual for international politics to overshadow a global sports event like the World Cup at least in the early stages before the soccer action takes over the headlines.In 2022, Qatar's treatment of migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community drew headlines off the field. LGBTQ+ rights, the annexation of Crimea and the poisoning of a spy in Britain were in focus when Russia hosted the tournament in 2018.In Brazil in 2014 and South Africa in 2010 there were concerns about crime and security.The 2026 tournament looks set to kick off amid a backdrop of political tensions involving the U.S. and the participating nations.Many have been hit by tariffs. Some are facing travel restrictions. Denmark, which can still qualify through playoffs in March, has been shaken by President Donald Trumps calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland. And with 100 days to go, the U.S. was in a military conflict with Iran, one of the first teams to qualify.Iran's status at the World Cup is unclearIran is set to play two group stage games in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle.However, whether the Iranian team will come to the U.S. is uncertain.What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope, Iran's top soccer official, Mehdi Taj, said last weekend as the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated attacks that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens more senior officials.Still, Iran has not announced it is withdrawing from the tournament, which no team that qualified has done in the past 75 years. Iran, the second-highest ranked team in Asia, was drawn in a group with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.I really dont care, if Iran participates, Trump told Politico on Tuesday. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. Theyre running on fumes.FIFA did not immediately respond to a request on whether Iran federation officials attended the Atlanta workshop.Fan festivals are being slimmed down Fan festivals have been a key part of the World Cup experience in the past two decades. They offer a chance for thousands of fans without match tickets to take part in the World Cup atmosphere by coming together to watch games on a big screen.Some of those plans are now being scaled back in the U.S.New York/New Jersey eliminated its Fan Fest in Jersey City, New Jersey, even though it had started selling tickets for an event scheduled to be open every day of the tournament.Planning to sell tickets was itself unprecedented for World Cup fan zones, which were free to enter since being launched at the 2006 edition in Germany.Seattle cut down its original plan and rescheduled it for smaller venues and Boston trimmed its event to 16 days.The chief operating officer of Miamis FIFA World Cup host committee said during a congressional hearing on Feb. 24 that it might cancel its event if it did not receive federal funding within 30 days. Kansas City, Missouri, Police Deputy Chief Joseph Maybin said the city had an immediate need for federal funds to prepare security.House Republicans said federal money may be held up by the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, caused by Democrats insisting restrictions be placed on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.Foxborough games threatenedThe New England Patriots stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is due to host seven World Cup games, starting with Haiti-Scotland on June 13 and ending with a quarterfinal on July 9. That is FIFAs plan.The Select Board of Foxborough has refused to issue a permit for World Cup matches at the stadium and set a March 17 deadline to be paid $7.8 million what the town estimates will be the cost of police and other expenses. Foxborough said it was not part of FIFAs hosting agreement with Boston.Pushback against FIFA's ticket pricesFIFA has about 7 million seats to fill for the World Cup matches and said last month it received 500 million ticket requests. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proclaimed all 104 games are sold out and yet some fans received emails last week offering an extra 48-hour window for tickets sales.FIFAs prices in December ranged up to $8,680 per ticket. After criticism, FIFA said it will offer a few hundred $60 tickets for every game to the 48 national federations in the tournament. Those federations will decide how to distribute them to their most loyal fans who attended previous games.Most seats on FIFA's ticket resale platform seeking to cut out the secondary market and earn FIFA extra 15% fees from buyers and sellers are well past the $1,000 mark.Cartel violence in MexicoMexicos ability to co-host the World Cup has been under scrutiny after a surge in violence last week in the state of Jalisco following the militarys killing of a powerful cartel boss.The states capital, Guadalajara, is set to host four matches during the group stage.Mexicos government insists the World Cup wont be affected and President Claudia Sheinbaum said theres no risk for fans coming to the tournament.Infantino told Sheinbaum that he has full confidence in Mexico as a World Cup host.The FIFA leader has repeatedly promised the 2026 World Cup will be the greatest and most inclusive.___AP Sports Writers Ronald Blum in New York and Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Harry Maguire's long-delayed Greek retrial has finally commenced on its fifth attempt, with proceedings taking place on the island of Syros.The Manchester United defender faces three charges: aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and attempted bribery stemming from an incident nearly six years ago.The England international was absent from the courtroom as his legal team works to overturn the allegations against him.Maguire's non-attendance was permitted under Greek law, allowing him to remain with his club ahead of Wednesday evening's Premier League fixture against Newcastle at St James' Park.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayThe incident dates back to August 2020, when Maguire was arrested during a family holiday on the Greek island of Mykonos following an altercation.He subsequently received a suspended prison sentence of 21 months.However, this conviction was automatically nullified when Maguire lodged an appeal, as is standard procedure under the Greek legal system.The path to retrial has been fraught with obstacles.LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Aryna Sabalenka shows off stunning ring as tennis star gets engaged to 80m partnerMan Utd legend's son given six-match ban after using homophobic insultFootball's most-controversial tactics as Arsenal come under fire for corner strategyThe first scheduled hearing in May 2023 collapsed due to the unavailability of Maguire's defence lawyer.A second attempt in February 2024 was derailed by industrial action among Greek legal professionals. Further postponements followed in March and October of last year.Concerns had emerged about whether the case would ever reach court before the statute of limitations expires in August 2028, eight years after the original incident.Maguire, who celebrates his 33rd birthday on Thursday, was not obliged to appear in person while his lawyers pursue efforts to clear his name.The centre-back is expected to feature in United's travelling party for the Newcastle clash this evening.He has recovered from the illness that saw him withdrawn during the second half of Sunday's 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.Maguire is believed to be in talks with United over a new contract.He has become a key player for Michael Carrick, with his resurgence coming after difficult periods under Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

US-Israeli strikes have destroyed at least 11 Iranian naval vessels, images reviewed by BBC Verify show.

Der Deutsche Behindertensportbund wird der Erffnungsfeier der Paralympics fernbleiben. Als Begrndung nennt der Verband organisatorische Grndung - und Solidaritt mit der Ukraine.[mehr]

Victime d'une rupture du ligament crois antrieur du genou droit, Rodrygo tire un trait sur la fin de saison avec le Real Madrid et dit surtout adieu la Coupe du monde avec le Brsil. Selon The Athletic, le joueur souffrait dj d'une rupture partielle depuis... 2023, mais avait continu jouer sans se faire oprer.

Aprs trois victoires en autant de matches, les Bleus s'apprtent vivre sans doute le plus grand test dans ce Tournoi des 6 Nations en se dplaant Murrayfield pour y affronter l'cosse. Le XV du Chardon est 2e derrire les Bleus toujours invincibles dans cette dition 2026. Face une quipe "complte" qui aura sans doute plus que faim de coq, Baptiste Serin s'attend une rception muscle.

ATP Tour has cancelled the Fujairah Challenger tournaments in the UAE after escalating Middle East tensions raised safety concerns. Players, officials and ball kids had earlier rushed for cover during a drone scare near the venue. The ATP also faced backlash for proposing a 5,000 charter flight for evacuation before reversing course and agreeing to cover players travel costs.

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