By Kunle Solaja, Manhattan, New York

Arriving in New York from Vancouver, Canada, after an exhausting eight-hour hop-step-jump journey through Minneapolis was hardly the ideal way to begin another chapter of a World Cup adventure.

The body pleaded for rest, but the demands of the FIFA World Cup waited for no one. With matches unfolding across 16 cities in three countries, there were reports to file, developments to monitor and deadlines to meet. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.

Still, even in the midst of football’s biggest festival, there must be room for exploration beyond the confines of stadiums, media centres and mixed zones.

My temporary base in Brooklyn offered a calm and peaceful atmosphere, a sharp contrast to the New York I first encountered nearly four decades ago. Looking out at the quiet neighbourhood, I found it difficult to reconcile this serenity with the popular image of New York as the city that never sleeps.

A relation, Folasade Olabiran, who lives in Denver, Colorado, welcomed me with a message: “Welcome to New York, the city that never sleeps.”

Ironically, after the tiring journey from Canada, all I wanted to do was sleep. For a moment, I wondered whether I had somehow found myself in the wrong New York.

My host, Kayode Ogunleye, a former colleague from Concord Press in the 1990s, quickly set the record straight.

“New York has many faces,” he explained. “You are in Brooklyn. The heartbeat of New York is Manhattan.”

That settled it.

Soon enough, we were heading for Manhattan and, more specifically, the world-famous Times Square.

For most visitors to New York, a visit to Times Square is almost obligatory, much like seeing the Statue of Liberty or taking a stroll through Central Park. Its giant electronic billboards, dazzling lights, theatres and endless human traffic have made it one of the most photographed locations on earth.

With my longtime friend and former colleague, Kayode Ogunleye, who doubled as my unofficial tour guide during my visit to New York’s iconic Times Square.

As we approached the famous intersection, memories came rushing back from an entirely different New York experience—one that remains among the most challenging episodes of my travelling career.

It was 1987.

I had travelled to Canada to cover the FIFA Under-16 World Championship in Montreal. Financial constraints, however, forced me to cut short my stay before Nigeria’s quarter-final match against Australia. I decided to return home through New York, where I was scheduled to connect with a Nigerian Airways flight to Lagos.

The plan seemed straightforward.

It turned out to be anything but.

After an overnight Greyhound bus journey from Montreal, I arrived in New York early on a Sunday morning. At the border town of Champlain, I was singled out for immigration checks, perhaps because I was the only African passenger on the bus. Fortunately, the process lasted only a few minutes.

From the Port Authority Bus Terminal, I boarded the subway towards JFK Airport. Along the way, two Haitians, a young man and a young woman, offered to assist me in purchasing train tokens. They collected my money and disappeared without a trace.

It was my first lesson in New York street survival.

Eventually, I found my way to JFK Airport, tired but relieved.

That relief vanished moments later.

At the Nigerian Airways counter, there was nobody in sight. Assuming the staff had not yet resumed work, I waited patiently. A young Nigerian who introduced himself as Femi Peters also came to make enquiries. After asking me about the cost of a Lagos-New York return ticket, he thanked me and left.

Concerned by the prolonged absence of airline staff, I approached the airport information desk.

The news I received felt like a thunderbolt.

My flight had departed the previous night.

The airline operated only two weekly services. The next flight would not leave until Wednesday—three days away.

With my money exhausted and nowhere to stay, I broke down in tears.

It was at that lowest moment that fate intervened in the form of Femi Peters.

Seeing my distress, he offered to help.

Unable to take me into the family home where he was staying, he nevertheless did everything within his means to assist a stranded compatriot. He drove me into the city, bought snacks and allowed me to rest in his car before his night shift as a cab driver.

That evening, he purchased a ticket for me at a 24-hour cinema where I could safely spend the night.

I remember drifting in and out of sleep, worried about the luggage I had left in the trunk of his car. Then, at about 2 a.m., he reappeared with more drinks and snacks.

It was an act of kindness I have never forgotten.

The next morning, he drove me to the Nigerian Consulate General. I can’t recall the location now.

A sympathetic consular officer listened to my story and offered me a $50 cheque to cover accommodation until my departure. More remarkably, he attempted to persuade me to remain permanently in the United States.

At 27, newly married and the father of a six-month-old baby, the idea never crossed my mind.

The officer pointed out that my wife could easily relocate to join me. He spoke of opportunities in America and the many people back home eager to migrate.

But for me, the decision was simple.

I had a family waiting in Nigeria and an obligation to return.

Looking back nearly four decades later, I remain grateful for that decision.

With the $50 cheque in hand, I searched unsuccessfully for affordable accommodation. For another night, the cinema became my temporary shelter. It was only on the eve of my departure that I managed to secure a room in a modest hotel opposite a New York Times office.

Seven years would pass before I returned to the United States, this time to cover the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Now, in 2026, standing in Times Square alongside Kayode Ogunleye, the memories felt as vivid as ever.

We arrived at the famous intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue just after midday. The crowds were immense. Tourists from every corner of the globe jostled for photographs beneath giant digital screens. Street performers entertained passers-by. Traffic flowed endlessly around the square.

Yet, according to Kayode, what we were seeing was merely a preview.

“It is like this throughout the night,” he said.

Hundreds of thousands of pedestrians and tourists throng the iconic Times Square at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York, one of the busiest and most vibrant public spaces in the world.

 

As I looked around, I understood why Times Square has earned its reputation as one of the busiest pedestrian spaces on Earth.

Nearly forty years after arriving in New York as a stranded young reporter with little more than hope and determination, I was back again—older, wiser and covering my tenth World Cup journey.

The city had changed.

So had I.

Yet the excitement, unpredictability and wonder of travel remained the same.

From Times Square, our next destination would be another iconic New York landmark—the 9/11 Memorial.

That story, however, is reserved for the next chapter of this travelogue.

 

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK

For 92 long years, Egypt carried the burden of a World Cup record they would rather forget. On Sunday night in Vancouver, that painful chapter finally came to an end.

Africa’s first-ever World Cup representatives and the continent’s most decorated nation in the Africa Cup of Nations finally tasted victory on football’s grandest stage, coming from behind to defeat New Zealand 3-1 in a dramatic Group G encounter.

Inspired by the brilliance of captain Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs not only secured their first World Cup win but also scored three goals in a World Cup match for the first time, rewriting a piece of history that had haunted generations of Egyptian footballers.

The triumph was particularly significant for a nation whose World Cup journey has often been one of frustration. Egypt made history as Africa’s pioneer at the 1934 World Cup but then endured a 56-year absence before returning in 1990. Despite their dominance in African football, World Cup success had remained elusive—until now.

When New Zealand defender Finn Surman powered home a header from a corner kick in the first half, it appeared Egypt’s miserable World Cup fortunes might continue. The All Whites executed a disciplined game plan and took a deserved lead into the interval, leaving Egyptian fans fearing another night of disappointment.

But the second half belonged to Salah and his rejuvenated teammates.

After a subdued opening 45 minutes, Egypt emerged transformed. Their pressure finally paid off in the 58th minute when Mostafa Zico rose to head home Mohamed Hany’s cross, restoring parity and igniting belief among the thousands of Egyptian supporters inside the stadium.

Nine minutes later, the moment the fans had been waiting for arrived.

Salah, still capable of producing moments of magic at 34, surged down the right flank, exchanged a quick one-two with Zico and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner to complete the turnaround.

“It is a great achievement for all the players. It’s a great win. It’s a great vibe. The next game is very important,” Salah said after leading his country into the history books.

The Liverpool icon was not finished. In the 81st minute, he nearly added a second goal before providing the corner kick from which substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet glanced home a diving header to put the result beyond doubt.

Egypt’s defence had to withstand late pressure from a desperate New Zealand side, while Hossam Abdelmaguid was forced off with a suspected concussion after suffering a facial injury. Yet nothing was going to deny the Pharaohs their date with destiny.

As the clock ticked deep into stoppage time, Egyptian supporters whistled impatiently for the final whistle. When it eventually came, an ear-splitting roar erupted around the stadium.

Players embraced on the pitch while coach Hossam Hassan celebrated by parading around the stadium draped in an Egyptian flag.

“My feelings are the same as those of the Egyptian people because I am one of them,” Hassan said.

“The stadium felt as if we were in Egypt. The fans made it feel as though we were playing in Egypt. I told the players, ‘We’re playing in Egypt.’ The stadium was full, like Cairo Stadium.”

The victory lifted Egypt to the top of Group G with four points following their opening 1-1 draw against Belgium. New Zealand, who also surrendered a lead in their 2-2 draw against Iran, remain bottom with one point after suffering another painful collapse.

New Zealand captain Chris Wood acknowledged the challenge posed by Salah and the Egyptian attack.

“You can’t just focus on one player,” Wood said. “He can pop up with a goal at any time, and he showed that. He’s a good player, but there are also a lot of other boys in that team who create problems.”

With a final group match against Iran looming, Egypt now stand on the brink of another historic achievement—a place in the knockout rounds. For a nation that waited nearly a century for a World Cup victory, the dream suddenly feels very much alive.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Iran’s national team left a heartfelt message in their locker room at SoFi Stadium after Sunday’s goalless draw with Belgium, thanking the city of Los Angeles for its hospitality and expressing pride in their World Cup campaign despite the challenges they have faced, Reuters reports.

The 0-0 stalemate kept Iran’s hopes of advancing from Group G alive ahead of their decisive final group match against Egypt in Seattle.

According to Reuters, the Iranian delegation left a handwritten note that reflected both gratitude and national pride after completing their second match in Los Angeles.
The note reads:

“From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast. Thank you, Los Angeles for your hospitality.

“We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor, and leave with dignity.”

The message, released by Iran’s Football Federation, also paid tribute to the team’s supporters, thanking those who gave their “heart, voice and soul” during the two Group G matches played at SoFi Stadium. It concluded with a call for peace, mutual respect and friendship among nations, Reuters reported.

A handwritten message left by the Iranian national soccer team in their SoFi Stadium locker room on Sunday thanking Los Angeles for its hospitality during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, at a location given as Inglewood, California, U.S., in this picture released June 21, 2026. Iranian Football Federation via Telegram/Handout via REUTERS 

Iran have endured a unique logistical challenge at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Reuters reports that the team has been based in Tijuana, Mexico, throughout the tournament and has had to commute to the United States for matches because of restrictions governing their stay in the country.

The restrictions have also affected the delegation, with several Iranian team officials and staff members reportedly barred from entering the United States.

U.S. authorities have indicated that Iran’s travel arrangements would continue to be reviewed, while discussions on easing some of the restrictions remain ongoing, according to Reuters.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has repeatedly voiced frustration over the situation, arguing that his side has faced obstacles unlike those encountered by any other team at the tournament.

Despite those challenges, Iran have remained competitive on the pitch. They opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium before earning another point against Belgium on Sunday.

The two draws leave Iran firmly in contention for a place in the knockout rounds, with a crucial encounter against Egypt now set to determine their fate in Group G.

For now, however, the team’s parting message from Los Angeles has underlined a desire to focus on sportsmanship and goodwill amid a World Cup campaign shaped by both football and diplomacy.
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