17/04/2026

SPORTS FRIDAY | APR 17, 2026

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Curacao, tiny island with big dreams

Infantino confirms Iran’s World Cup participation

“SMALL island, big dreams” reads a poster for the football team of the Caribbean island of Curacao – the small est country ever, by population, to qualify for football’s World Cup. Since Curacao clinched qualification with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Jamaica in November, the 160,000 inhabitants of the Dutch island famed for its eponymous sapphire liqueur are rid ing the crest of the Blue Wave, as the national side is dubbed. The qualification is expected to give tourism on the paradisical island of white sand beaches, which received 1.5 million visitors last year, a boost. Visitor numbers were already up 13% in the first three months of the year. “Football is putting us on the global map,” Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, himself a former footballer, told AFP in an inter view, predicting a visitor influx. Far from the luxury seafront hotels and Caribbean cruise ships that dock in the port of the capital Willemstad, a group of teenagers kick a ball around a

South American country and a mother from Curacao. The former striker told AFP he was “very happy” about Curacao’s qualifica tion. “It’s fantastic that the island is in the World Cup,” he said. “In my day, (football) was not that big on the island but the players have given Curacao visibility. “It’s important for the future, for the next generation,” added Kluivert, who coached the Curacaoan side between 2015 and 2016. Curacao has been drawn alongside Ecuador, Ivory Coast and four-time World Cup winner Germany in Group E, one of the toughest of the tournament. The optimism sweeping the island has infected the official fan store, where locals and tourists jostle for Curacao blue jerseys, caps and scarves. As he rings up sales Rovien Petronilia, the 21-year-old cashier, believes football’s greats will be humbled by lowly Curacao. “We will beat Germany!” he predicted. – AFP

dirt pitch in the low-income neighbor hood of Fuik. The players are from a foundation for young people from underprivileged backgrounds set up by former Dutch Curacaoan manager Remko Bicentini, who played professional football in the Netherlands and later coached Curacao. Neveron Alberto, one of Bicentini’s young disciples, dreams of being called up for the national team, but the road to selection is littered with obstacles for local players. The island owes its World Cup berth entirely to its Dutch-based diaspora, the president of Curacao’s football federa tion, Gilbert Martina, admitted. “All the players on the national team play in foreign leagues,” he said. The only team member born on in Curacao, Tahith Chong, moved to the Netherlands at the age of 13. The most famous Curacaoan is per haps former Ajax and Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert, who was born to a Surinamese father who played for the

FIFA PRESIDENT Gianni Infantino said yesterday that Iran will “for sure” participate in the 2026 World Cup despite the Middle East war. “Iran is coming for sure. We hope that by then the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help,” Infantino told broadcaster CNBC . “But Iran has to come, they represent their people, they have qualified, the players want to play,” he said of the team’s upcoming matches scheduled in the United States in June. Infantino had made similar comments in March, when he attended an Iran-Costa Rica friendly in Antalya, Turkey, even though US President Donald Trump had previously suggested that Iranian players might not be “safe” in the United States. Iran is scheduled to play its three Group G matches in the United States – two in Los Angeles, one in Seattle – with their base for the tournament in Tucson, Arizona. Iran’s participation in the global tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico had been thrown into doubt by the conflict launched by the United States and Israel on Feb 28. “Sports should be outside of politics,”Infantino said yesterday.“If there’s nobody else that believes in building bridges and keeping them intact and together, we are doing the job,” he said. The World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, starts on June 11. – AFP

Bad move! Carragher blasts Slot for benching Mohamed Salah against PSG

Ekitike to miss WC: Deschamps LIVERPOOL and France forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a seri ous injury in his club’s Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, his national team coach Didier Deschamps said yesterday. The 23-year-old crumpled in a Injuries have been a major factor in a disastrous season for Liverpool as they sit fifth in the Premier League and will end the

Ű BY WILL CASTLE

by the tactical choice. “The manager will have his reasons, but Isak is nowhere near fit,” Carragher told CBS Sports Golazo . “Mohamed Salah didn’t play the first leg so he’s not like some of the players who played last week and then played at the weekend in the Premier League. “He played in the Premier League and scored a goal. He’s still one of Liverpool’s best goalscorers. He’s used to this system. Isak’s never even played with Ekitike before. “I don’t think Arne Slot is the type of manager who would be thinking ‘I remember what you did to me a few months ago, calling me out publicly.’ “Certain managers in the past, maybe Alex Ferguson, might think something like that. I don’t think Arne Slot would. “Is it because he’s already announced he’s leaving? It’s something like ‘I’m going with the players who are going to be here next year.’ “That’s the only thing I can think of. Even that doesn’t make sense. It’s about the here and now. I’m flabbergasted.” The former Liverpool defender also lamented £100 million (RM520m) man Florian Wirtz’s regression in form, failing to stamp his mark on yet another game for the Reds. Wirtz seemed to have found his feet after a slow start at Anfield, scoring six and assisting five across the months of January and February, but he has failed to inspire since returning from a back injury. “He hasn’t delivered so far,” Carragher admitted. “The best way you’d describe him is that he’s neat and tidy. There’s no real punch at the end of it. “He looks nice between boxes, he’s a lovely foot baller as you’d expect for that price tag. But, when you’re talking about the players he is up against in Vitinha and Neves, he couldn’t lay a glove on them in the first game. When you think of what Liverpool spent, they basically got nothing. We know he’s signed a five year deal, he’s here for a long term. “It’s only the second time he’s started with Ekitike and Isak. The other was the 5-1 win against Frankfurt. That bodes well, but it has been very underwhelming.” – The Independent The 28-year-old saw red for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair after a VAR review. United caretaker boss Michael Carrick was angered by a decision he called “one of the worst I’ve seen” and the club are understood to have appealed against the suspension. Teenager Ayden Heaven could line up along side 20-year-old Leny Yoro at the back against Chelsea. United are third in the Premier League, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea. – AFP

J AMIE CARRAGHER has blasted Arne Slot’s deci sion to bench Mohamed Salah for a “nowhere near fit” Alexander Isak as Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint Germain. Liverpool required another famous Anfield come back to flip their quarterfinal tie on its head after a dis mal first leg in Paris but failed to come close in that

campaign with out silverware. “Losing a player is something we have had many times this season, but it is espe cially hard for him because you never want to be injured, espe cially at this time of the season,“ added Slot. – AFP

heap holding his lower right leg with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon during the first half of Liverpool’s 2-0 quarterfinal second-leg defeat to European champions PSG on Wednesday. “Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike’s) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup,” Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation. “This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team. I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff.” Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield for a fee of £79 million (RM410m) last year. Since winning his first France cap in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Ekitike has been a regular in Les Bleus ’ set-up, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his eight caps. “It looks really bad, but diffi cult for me to say how bad, Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after Wednesday’s match.

regard, instead losing 2-0 on the night to PSG and 4-0 on aggregate. Slot opted to start the game with Isak, making his first start after four months injured, leading the line while Hugo Ekitike was on the right, chosen ahead of Salah, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season. Ekitike suffered a season ending injury on the half hour mark which meant Salah did get onto the pitch earlier than

expected, while Isak was replaced at half time after an ineffec tive 45 minutes. Carragher was

not under the impression that Slot’s decision to drop Salah related to any grudge he might hold after the tirade the Egyptian went on earlier in the season, but was still left baffled

Mohamed Salah reacts after Liverpool’s defeat to Paris SG at Anfield on Wednesday. – REUTERSPIC

Man Utd’s Maguire out of Chelsea match after extra one-game ban

HARRY MAGUIRE will miss Manchester United’s Premier League game away to Chelsea on Sunday (3am Malaysian time) after being handed an addi tional one-match ban for his reaction to being sent off at Bournemouth. The 33-year-old was shown a straight red card at the Vitality Stadium last month for a foul on Evanilson, with Junior Kroupi scoring from the ensuing penalty as the Cherries secured a 2-2 draw. Maguire also missed Monday’s 2-1 home

insulting words and/or behaviour towards the fourth official following his dismissal. The defender subsequently admitted the charge,” a statement read. Maguire’s absence adds to United’s defensive woes, with fellow centrebacks Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez also sidelined. Dutchman De Ligt has not featured since November due to a back problem, while Argentina international Martinez begins a three-match ban this weekend after his sending off against Leeds.

defeat by bitter rivals Leeds. England’s Football Association said fourth offi cial Matthew Donohue submitted a report, saying Maguire insulted the officials as he left the pitch. Maguire claimed the offensive comments were not targeted at anyone. But the FA yesterday said Maguire had been hit with the extended ban and a £30,000 (RM156,000) fine. “It was alleged that Harry Maguire acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or