World Cup
Ronaldo cleared to play opening matches at World Cup
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to play his side’s opening matches at next year’s World Cup after FIFA suspended the final two games of a three-match ban on Tuesday.
Ronaldo was sent off in Portugal’s penultimate qualifying match against Ireland in Dublin earlier this month for an elbow into the back of Dara O’Shea during a 2-0 defeat.
The red card meant Ronaldo missed Portugal’s final group game, a 9-1 win over Armenia which secured qualification, and FIFA confirmed that the 40-year-old had been given a three-match ban, but barring a repeat incident, he will not serve any further punishment.
“In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the serving of the two remaining matches has been suspended under a one-year probation period,” a FIFA statement said.
“If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately at the next official match(es) of the Portuguese representative team.”
Article 27 allows FIFA’s judicial body “to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure”.
Beyond citing article 27, FIFA did not say in its statement why the ban had been suspended. Reuters has contacted FIFA for an explanation.
The red card, which was upgraded from an initial yellow card after a VAR check, was Ronaldo’s first in 226 international appearances for Portugal.
Ronaldo, who extended his contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr until 2027 in June, will be playing at his sixth World Cup finals and targeting the one major trophy missing from his list of honours.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward was part of Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning team, and has also won two Nations League titles and is the record scorer in international football with 143 goals.
The draw for the 2026 World Cup, which takes place in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, will be held on December 5 in Washington.
-REUTERS
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The White House refuted reports that the United States denied visas for five members of Iraq’s national team ahead of next month’s World Cup.
The State Department sent a statement on Wednesday to Front Office Sports in response to online reports involving five players, including Luton Town forward Ali Al-Hamadi.
“Currently, there are no known issues affecting the Iraq National Team players, and they remain on track to compete in the World Cup,” the statement reads. “We maintain daily communication with FIFA and will continue to prioritise these players in accordance with the President’s Executive Order, ensuring an incredible and safe tournament.”
The Iraqi Football Association also quashed the rumours that had circulated on social media on Tuesday.
“The news is false, and the truth is that all the national team players have obtained entry visas to America,” it said, per the Iraqi news site The New Region, adding that the players are also in the process of getting Canadian visas.
Iraq is in a tough Group I for this summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America, along with France, Senegal and Norway. Iraq is scheduled to play games in Foxborough, Mass. (June 16 vs. Norway), Philadelphia (June 22 vs. France) and in Toronto (June 26 vs. Senegal).
-Reuters
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With less than a month to the start of the FIFA World Cup, Morocco have lined up three warm-up matches as new coach Mohamed Ouahbi seeks more time to fine-tune his squad ahead of the global showpiece in the United States.
The North Africans, who stunned the football world by reaching the semi-finals at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, appointed Ouahbi in March following the resignation of Walid Regragui.
Since taking over, Ouahbi has handled only two matches, drawing against Ecuador and defeating Paraguay as he began shaping his team for the tournament.
According to the Moroccan Football Federation, the Atlas Lions will open their preparations with a closed-door friendly against Burundi on May 26 at the team’s training centre in Sale.
They will then face Madagascar on June 2 in Rabat in what is expected to serve as the team’s official send-off before departure for the World Cup.
After arriving in the United States, where Morocco’s base camp will be located in Basking Ridge, the team will conclude their preparations with a clash against Norway on June 7 in New York City.
Reports indicate that Morocco will begin camping on May 22, although the final squad is not expected to be announced until a week later.
Morocco have been drawn in Group C of the World Cup, where they will open their campaign against Brazil on June 13 in New York before taking on Scotland in Boston on June 19. Their final group match will be against Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta.
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As preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, health authorities in Toronto are taking a creative approach to public awareness by distributing free football-themed condoms ahead of the tournament.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) announced that it will offer limited-edition condoms inspired by football as part of efforts to promote safer sex during the global football spectacle, which runs from June 11 to July 19 next year.
More than 300,000 visitors are expected in Toronto during the tournament, prompting city officials to combine football excitement with sexual health education through the CondomTO initiative.
The special-edition condoms feature six football-themed designs and slogans, including “Block those shots!”, “What a finish!” and “Peaches & Cream.” One of the designs reportedly displays a peach and eggplant positioned in front of a football goalpost.
According to Toronto Public Health, the condoms and other safer-sex supplies will be available at four TPH-operated sexual health clinics across the city.
Health officials said the initiative is aimed at encouraging responsible sexual behaviour, reducing stigma surrounding sexual health discussions and connecting residents and visitors with available healthcare services.
“Studies show that using a condom every time you have oral, anal or vaginal sex decreases the risk of sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections, HIV and/or unplanned pregnancy,” Toronto Public Health stated on its website.
Canada will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico in the first-ever 48-team edition of the tournament.
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