20/06/2026

SPORTS SATURDAY | JUNE 20, 2026

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2026 WORLD CUP

Small nations, big statements

Los Angeles on Monday. But the Iranian federation said its request was turned down. “Given that the game will be played at 12pm local time in Los Angeles (Mon, 3am Malaysian time), the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match,” the spokesman said. “The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training ses sion, and finalize preparations. “Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the Iran files complaint

IRAN’S World Cup team will lodge a complaint with Fifa claiming they are being subjected to travel restrictions during the tournament in North America, the Iranian foot ball federation spokesman said yesterday. “Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tour nament well in advance, Iran’s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organizers, affect ing the implementation of its tech nical staff’s plans,” the spokesman said. Iran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States two days before their next match, against Belgium in

request was once again denied.” The US administration has pushed back against the Iranian claims. Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Fifa Task Force, said on Monday that Iran had been informed in advance that they would be allowed to come into the United States only on the day before the game. They’ll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up. He added that the procedure would be the same for Iran’s final group game against Egypt in Seattle on June 27. – AFP England boss quick to praise ‘reliable’ Bellingham, ‘decisive’ Rashford match for his display in Dallas, where Bellingham justified his inclusion ahead of friend Morgan Rogers with a fine display and excellent goal moments into the second half. “You can rely on Jude in these moments,” Tuchel said as attention turns to Wednesday’s meeting with Ghana. “He loves these pressure games. That brings out the best in him, so that’s an easy decision to let him play and to trust him. “Also, because of the last 16 days, 17 days, how he bought into the idea of team spirit and brotherhood, and into the idea of how we want to play football, which is slightly differ ent to his position in Real Madrid. “The tough, tough decision was today to say to Morgan Rogers that he will not start because he deserves 100 per cent to start, and he did ever so well for us and then for me. “I think Jude was very reliable and did his very best to be a top team player for us.” Bellingham’s goal set the tone for an enhanced second half against Croatia, whose goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic did brilliantly to keep England at bay until Rashford’s later goal. It was a cool finish from a player who spent last season on loan from Manchester United at Barcelona, who spent big bringing in England rival Anthony Gordon on the eve of the World Cup. “He struggled for us to be decisive when he started, but he was always trying and got a bit unlucky for a long time,” Tuchel said of Rashford. “We just had a talk (on Tuesday) where I told him that I’m very, very impressed with his last 16 days – how he was in camp, how he pushes on the field. “He is totally invested in every meeting. He is very, very fast in translating a meeting onto the pitch, what we want tactically. “He pushes on a very respectful level with Anthony Gordon on the position, so at the moment he’s in a very good place. “I was so happy that he was the one to unlock this long spell, where he was not deci sive for us from within the game, and hope fully he can keep this up.” – The Independent “They are here, representing seven million people. So I would like to see you defending that jersey … you can destroy the coach, that is fine.” Midfielder Matias Galarza sat beside Alfaro, looking awkward at times during a heated press conference that ran well over the allotted time. “Well, it’s difficult to speak now, isn’t it,” Galarza said, drawing laughter from the media. “Obviously that game was a shock to us … The US game chapter … that’s how we see it.” – Reuters

THE World Cup’s expanded 48-team format was widely criticised as a recipe for mismatches and meaningless group-stage games, but the opening round of fixtures has instead offered a compelling counterargument: the gap between football’s aristoc racy and its aspiring challengers appears smaller than ever. European champions Spain were held to a score less draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal were forced to settle for a point against the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Belgium were frustrated by Egypt and France laboured for more than an hour against Senegal before Kylian Mbappe rescued them. Far from diluting the competition, the tournament’s expansion has given emerging football nations a larger stage on which to demonstrate how much the global game has evolved. Cape Verde’s draw with Spain was perhaps the clearest illustration. Spain dominated possession with 74% of the ball but struggled to create meaningful chances against a disciplined opponent, while striker Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player on record since 1966 not to register a touch in the opening 30 minutes of a World Cup match. Portugal’s frustrations were similar. Roberto Martinez’s side completed 740 passes against Congo but managed only one shot on target as the African side, appearing at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, executed their game plan with remarkable dis cipline. “We knew it was a game that required patience,” Spain captain Rodri said. “We couldn’t put it in. We cre ated chances, but couldn’t finish. That’s how they play.” The performances have challenged pre-tourna ment predictions that the expanded finals would be full of one-sided contests. Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin had warned of “a huge number of matches that are completely unin teresting”, while critics argued Fifa’s decision to increase the field from 32 to 48 teams was driven pri marily by commercial considerations. Instead, debutants Haiti pushed Scotland all the way, Qatar claimed their first-ever World Cup point with a late equaliser against Switzerland, Jordan emerged from a 3-1 defeat by Austria feeling the scoreline flat tered their opponents, and Uzbekistan showed con siderable resilience against Colombia. Smaller nations are no longer arriving merely to participate. Many now feature players developed in elite academies or hardened in Europe’s leading leagues, while the tactical and technical disparities that once allowed traditional powers to coast through the early rounds have narrowed significantly. “I do believe that the distance that separates the teams – when we look at the African teams, they’re progressing,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. “We haven’t seen an African team winning the World Cup, but we did see a team reach the semifinals.” Austria coach Ralf Rangnick agreed. “There is not going to be one easy opponent,” he said. “I think it is an enriching experience for all of us.” The heavyweights are unlikely to panic. Tournament history is littered with slow starts by eventual champi ons, while the expanded format also offers greater margin for error with third-placed teams advancing to the knockout rounds. Yet the opening week has already delivered an unmistakable message. The World Cup may be big ger than ever, but it has also become more competi tive, with nations once dismissed as outsiders increas ingly capable of standing toe-to-toe with football’s established powers. – Reuters

Tuchel hails ‘leader’ Kane

BY SIMON PEACH

E NGLAND BOSS Thomas Tuchel hailed Harry Kane as an “absolute leader” after the captain’s “com plete performance” as the Three Lions opened their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia. Tuchel was effusive in his praise of Kane as well as fellow goalscorers Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford, with Bellingham putting England back in front after the first half ended 2-2 and substitute Rashford adding the gloss to a fine second half display. Kane’s first half brace saw him equal Gary Lineker’s 10-goal record as England’s top scoring player at a World Cup. Both of his efforts against Croatia were quickly cancelled out, but he led by example

throughout a Group L victory that ended with the skipper producing a fantastic goal saving block to deny Josko Gvardiol.

Tuchel said: “If you see the commitment of our captain, of our num ber nine, in the extra time to block a crucial shot

after a set piece with all his body

and his com mitment to buy into a defensive action like this, then you know everything about his performance today. “Complete performance, absolute leader and he is all in – he’s all in physically, he’s all in mentally, and he’s all in.” Kane was named player of the

Thomas Tuchel

Shoot at me, not them: Furious Paraguay coach tells off media

why? Because when the World Cup is over, I will be gone, but they will stay. They will remain and they will keep on representing the country,” Alfaro said, waving his finger repeatedly during a packed press conference. “Please hit me. Hit me. I’m going to chin up and take all of your punches. But I’m only asking you to defend the play ers, they are the most valuable asset that the national team has.” Paraguay, known as “La Albirroja”, last played in the World Cup in 2010, where they were eliminated by eventual cham

pions Spain in a dramatic quarterfinal that marked their best run in the tourna ment. Alfaro said Paraguay had been “overwhelmed and steamrolled on all fronts” against the United States but had since regrouped. But as he tried to focus on the upcom ing matches, he became visibly vexed by questions about his opening game selection and went into another long tirade. “I closed the US chapter on Saturday and you’re bringing me back to this US chapter,” he said.

PARAGUAY coach Gustavo Alfaro yester day vented his fury over criticism his players endured after their opening World Cup hammering by the United States, telling media to lay off his team and send all of the punches his way. Alfaro took full responsibility for Paraguay’s 4-1 defeat by co-hosts the United States last week and said his players must be left alone so they can get their Group D campaign back on track. “Criticise me. You can shoot at me but not at them. Protect them. You know