On Friday, the 26-year-old officially joined Toronto FC from Norwich City, ending a transfer saga that saw him relegated to the Canaries' youth teams. Now, he returns to North America for a transfer fee that could balloon to $27 million, should add-ons hit, making him the most expensive incoming player in MLS history, surpassing LAFC's Son Heung-min. He also becomes the latest American talent in his prime playing years to join the league, seeking a step forward. That trend has been growing, in particular over the last year, with Paxten Aaronson moving to the Colorado Rapids from Germany and Matt Turner returning to the New England Revolution after spells in England did not go to plan. By making the move, prime-age national team players can potentially find more playing time, a chance to play closer to home and often higher wages—all of which Sargent will embrace in Toronto, despite not playing within the United States. “Everybody has their own reasons,” Sargent told Goal. While his spell at Norwich had gone well, scoring 71 goals and 24 assists in 240 matches across all competitions, it was clear he needed a change. “Experiencing MLS, doing that with Toronto, is really exciting,” he added. Off the field, my family, having friends be able to visit, seeing family more often, but also being in a bigger city and experiencing that.” For Toronto, his addition marks the latest step in their efforts to bring the club back to its glory days, which saw three MLS Cup final appearances between 2016 and 2019 and a title in 2017. He now becomes the central piece to a restructured spine as well, with his scoring potential likely reliant on the dynamic playmaking abilities of another USMNT-capped player, who returned to MLS after a short European spell, midfielder Djordje Mihailovic. Should those two begin to gel together, the club and their personal outlooks change dramatically. His only other USMNT goals across his 29 caps came in 2018 friendlies against Bolivia and Peru, as well as another Nations League clash with Cuba. Given those struggles and his lack of playing time at the club level, he is almost certain to be left off manager Mauricio Pochettino's squad for March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. At the moment, he is likely sixth on the depth chart behind Folarin Balogun, Haji Wright, Patrick Agyemang, Ricardo Pepi and fellow MLS striker, Brian White. While he takes some time to adjust, the plan is clear—be in a better place personally, get Toronto FC back to the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time since 2020 and score often enough to find a way back into the national team picture. Ben Steiner is an American-Canadian journalist who brings in-depth experience, having covered the North American national teams, MLS, CPL, NWSL, NSL and Liga MX for prominent outlets, including MLSsoccer.com, CBC Sports, and OneSoccer. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

FIFA wants all qualified teams to take their place at the World Cup Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images FIFA says it is focusing on “everybody participating” in this summer's World Cup in the wake of the American military attack on Iran. Iran has retaliated with its own missile attacks on Israel and U.S. air bases in the Gulf region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. It is scheduled to be based at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. World Cup officials in Los Angeles are monitoring developments. We had a meeting (the AGM) today and it would be premature to comment on that in detail. “We had a final draw in Washington where all teams participated and of course our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating.” The White House, U.S. State Department and Iran Football Federation have also been contacted for comment. Iranian nationals are already prohibited from traveling to the United States under U.S. President Donald Trump's so-called travel ban. The ban, enacted in June 2025, carves out exemptions for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event.” But last year, multiple Iranian delegates had visas denied ahead of December's World Cup draw. When asked why, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House's World Cup task force, said at the time that “every visa decision is a national security decision”. When asked if he was concerned that members of the team and staff would not be able to get visas for the World Cup, he said — through his translator, an Iranian football federation official — that “everybody, FIFA, is trying. As they promised, they will do their best [so that] all the team, staff and the players [can] be present here for World Cup participation.” The singles final, scheduled to be played between Daniil Medvedev and Tallon Griekspoor this afternoon, was cancelled after Griekspoor pulled out with an injury he sustained in yesterday's semi-final.

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said his organization is focused on all teams participating at the 2026 World Cup in the wake of the United States' military strikes on Iran. The U.S. launched missile attacks on Iran on Saturday, Feb. 28, with President Donald Trump calling the mission a "major combat operation." Iran has retaliated with attacks on U.S. air bases in the Gulf region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. Iran was drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Team Melli is scheduled to play two group stage games in Los Angeles (June 15 and 21) and one in Seattle (June 26). "We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world. "We had the finals draw in Washington in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating. Visitors from Iran are already set to be barred from entering the United States for the World Cup. In December, Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj warned that some national team players and staff may also be denied U.S. visas for the World Cup due to their military background. Several Iran national team players have served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite branch of the Iranian military that the U.S. government has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The U.S. State Department has not ruled out the possibility that some Iranian players could see their visas denied.

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said his organization is focused on all teams participating at the 2026 World Cup in the wake of the United States' military strikes on Iran. The U.S. launched missile attacks on Iran on Saturday, Feb. 28, with President Donald Trump calling the mission a "major combat operation." Iran has retaliated with attacks on U.S. air bases in the Gulf region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. Iran was drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Team Melli is scheduled to play two group stage games in Los Angeles (June 15 and 21) and one in Seattle (June 26). "We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world. "We had the finals draw in Washington in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating. Visitors from Iran are already set to be barred from entering the United States for the World Cup. In December, Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj warned that some national team players and staff may also be denied U.S. visas for the World Cup due to their military background. Several Iran national team players have served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite branch of the Iranian military that the U.S. government has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

FIFA will 'monitor developments' in Iran in the wake of military action being launched against them by the United States, their secretary general has said. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that “major combat operations” were underway after launching missile strikes on Iran alongside Israel on Saturday morning. Iran have qualified for the World Cup, which will be held across America, Canada and Mexico this summer. “I read the news [about Iran] this morning the same way you did,” said Mattias Grafstrom, who was at the International Football Association Board's annual general meeting in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday, via ESPN. “We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world. “We had the finals draw in Washington in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating. President Donald Trump confirmed missile strikes had been launched on Saturday(Image: Annabelle Gordon/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Iran are scheduled to play two of their group games in Los Angeles, with the third taking place in Seattle. All flights into and out of Dubai Airport have been suspended amid the fallout from US strikes on Iran, leaving players participating in the Dubai Tennis Championship stranded. It was confirmed that all flight operations at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) had been halted after the city was hit by an explosion on Saturday. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more. Please note that your preferences are browser specific.

Get three Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich predictions from our soccer expert, before Saturday's 12:30pm ET Bundesliga clash (2/28). Our betting expert expects Dortmund to share spoils when they host Bayern, just days after their crucial Champions League match against Atalanta. Bayern Munich haven't failed to impress this season, scoring 85 goals against Bundesliga opposition. Two months later, the gap has decreased by just one point. Bayern tend to start strong, having won 14 of their 23 first halves this term. Dortmund have won one less in the same period. Notably, they eventually won that match as well. Niko Kovac's team have conceded a similar number of goals as their opponents this season. However, it will be challenging for them to contain Bayern's offensive players, at least in the opening half. Die Roten have what it takes to provide great returns on this prediction. Bayern's attack will be a major focus of this match. Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, and Michael Olise have a combined total of 51 Bundesliga goals this season. Kane, who has scored 28 goals, is a particularly significant player in this fixture. However, Serhou Guirassy has been equally formidable for Dortmund's standards. Although he failed to score against Leipzig, his offensive ability is a constant threat. However, given his recent form, it is probable that he will find opportunities against a Die Roten defence that has consistently conceded goals. Dortmund trailed Leipzig by two goals at halftime in their last match. They made a comeback after the restart following an own goal by Romulo Cardoso. They will relish their late chances against a Bayern side that have failed to keep a single clean sheet across eight Bundesliga matches since the start of the year. Backing both teams to score offers great value in a rarely disappointing Der Klassiker derby. In their last match, Borussia Dortmund required a stoppage-time goal from substitute Fabio Silva to secure a point at the Red Bull Arena. Since then, Dortmund have improved their performance despite losses in cup competitions. Bayern won their previous match 3-2 at home against Eintracht Frankfurt, despite conceding two goals in the final 15 minutes. Despite their overall league dominance, Vincent Kompany's side have lately been shaky in defence. However, they will be encouraged by Manuel Neuer's return. Bayern failed to maintain their own undefeated home record at the Allianz Arena, as their regional rivals Augsburg secured a 2-1 victory in late January. That remains their only league loss this term. Both clubs have suffered only one loss during this campaign. Therefore, it is unlikely that one side will outperform the other over 90 minutes. Borussia Dortmund expected lineup: Kobel, Reggiani, Anton, Bensebaini, Ryerson, Sabitzer, Bellingham, Nmecha, Svensson, Beier, Guirassy Bayern Munich expected lineup: Neuer, Stanisic, Upamecano, Kim, Davies, Kimmich, Luis Diaz, Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise, Harry Kane

Referees will be given the power to start a five-second countdown if they feel players are taking too long over throw-ins and dead-ball goal kicks, and substitutions must be completed in no more than 10 seconds, otherwise the substitute must stay off for at least one minute. The IFAB also decided at its annual general meeting in Wales on Saturday to enforce a period of at least one minute off the field for any player whose injury forces a stoppage in play. The Premier League has been trialling a 30-second period, but some within the IFAB did not feel this was long enough to serve as a deterrent. Other competitions had tested longer periods, with two minutes trialled at last year's Arab Cup. Changes agreed on Saturday will officially become part of the laws of the game from July 1 but will be adopted at this summer's World Cup which kicks off on June 11. Lawmakers are adamant VAR checks on corners must not delay the kick being taken and will only be used to spot obvious errors. Corner-kick checks will be an option, rather than a mandatory part of the VAR protocol. VARs will also only check incorrectly-awarded second yellow cards. The IFAB will also hold consultations to develop measures where players leave the field of play as an act of protest against a referee's decision or team officials instigating such action and where players cover their mouth when confronting opponents during matches. The Africa Cup of Nations final was delayed by a walk-off by Senegal, while Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni is alleged to have racially abused Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match last week while his mouth was covered by his shirt. UEFA is investigating the incident and Prestianni denies racially abusing Vinícius

What started as a happy accident led to a top-10-ranked international soccer team naming Alexandria, Virginia, as its base camp during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In January, the Croatian Football Federation confirmed that its men's national team selected Episcopal High School as its training facility and that it will stay at Hotel AKA Alexandria in Old Town during the monthlong tournament. “Honestly, I stumbled on the application process to host,” Dan O'Neill, director of auxiliary programs at Episcopal, told WTOP. “I was, as a soccer fan, was searching for tickets, and how you get on the ticket list three, four years ago, and that's when I realized FIFA was looking for host sites.” “Not only when they're away from their home away from home, they can actually feel like they're living in a local, small town, while having the accessibility of a big, cosmopolitan city.” O'Neill told WTOP its newest field, only five years old and located in between its track, will be the main training pitch for Croatia. Croatia will also have access to the school's weight room and one of its gymnasiums. Because the school is a closed campus, Croatia will have privacy to conduct its training. “The private training environment is really important to these teams and being able to run their sessions in a private environment where they can really concentrate on the work they need to do,” O'Neill said. The school is no stranger to hosting soccer teams. Last year, Episcopal served as a base camp for Al Ain FC of the United Arab Emirates during the FIFA Club World Cup. Thibeault told WTOP that hosting during the Club World Cup was a prerequisite for consideration as a World Cup base. In a news release, the Croatian Football Federation said it analyzed more than 60 sites and compiled a shortlist after learning the locations of its group-stage matches. Following a site visit in Alexandria, head coach Zlatko Dalić and his staff “unanimously agreed” that the Virginia city was the team's best choice. “Alexandria was the first choice of our staff, and I am therefore confident that we will have everything the national team needs there — a top-class training center, a comfortable hotel, and peace and quiet,” Croatian Football Federation President Marijan Kustić said. “This is really an opportunity for our community to show who we are and how we are such a welcoming destination,” he told WTOP. There was no “cash outlay” in securing Croatia, O'Leary said. Instead, the city will take care of other related costs, including permit fees, security, police and ambulance services. O'Neill said FIFA conducted a site visit in February to ensure the fields at Episcopal were recovering well after January's winter storm. The Visit Alexandria team has begun putting together lists of restaurants and places of worship for players and their families to visit during their stay. O'Leary said some of their visitor materials and brochures will also be translated into Croatian. “They're going to be with their friends and family traveling with them, and so, we want to make sure that we really roll out the red carpet for the team and those that travel with them.” Practice will be closed to the public, and the boarding school will operate as normal, including offering summer camps and visits. There will be a higher level of security surrounding the team as well, O'Leary said. Fans are instead encouraged to follow Visit Alexandria for future collaborations with FIFA and Croatia, including possible watch parties during the tournament. “This is just something our community is really, really, truly buzzing about, from city hall into the neighborhoods,” O'Leary said. “It really is a big deal for our community, and we're ready. Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Measures to address loss of tempo in matches and cut down on time-wasting will also be introduced, including new countdowns on goal-kicks, throw-ins and substitutions. And former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's proposal for changing the offside law will finally be trialled in the Canadian Premier League when its new season begins in April. World governing body Fifa has strongly supported expanding the remit of VAR when it can quickly fix decisions that are clearly wrong. However, many leagues had said measures that could increase delays would not be acceptable. There was more support for the idea VAR should look at incorrectly awarded second yellow cards. In a notable incident earlier this month, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu was sent off for a second booking after Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni went to ground under minimal contact. Referee designator Gianluca Rocchi said he was "very sorry" for a decision that was "clearly wrong" and "VAR could not be used to rectify it". In the past two seasons, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has found 17 players were wrongly sent off for two cautions. The KMI Panel has found seven missed second yellows in 2025-26, though that aspect will not be added to VAR protocol. It is felt looking at potential second yellows would be too intrusive and would open up a review for every challenge by any player on a caution. A series of measures to tackle 'tempo disruption' and 'time lost' have also been approved. A substituted player must leave the field within 10 seconds, and if they fail to do so their replacement will not be immediately able to come on. Their team must play with one fewer player for at least 60 seconds and until the ball next goes out. Players who go off injured will also have to stay off for an extended period - doubling the Premier League's 30-second regulation to one minute. Fifa had trialled two minutes - also used in MLS - in the Arab Cup in December, but leagues had concerns about unintended consequences such as a player having to leave the field when injured and their team conceding a goal. There will be exemptions, including when the opposition player has been booked or sent off, if a substitution is being made, or if the player is to take a penalty. Ifab technical panels have discussed the issue at length, but there is no common ground on an effective solution. A proposal to take an outfield player off was proposed but rejected. It was felt that could cause an injured goalkeeper not to seek treatment for fear of hampering their team. Is VAR any better in the rest of Europe's top leagues? At present, a defender can only be sent off if the player fouled is through on goal, but that will now be expanded so it covers team-mates of the attacker. The fouled player may not have a scoring chance but if they could have passed to team-mate who would, that may be 'Dogso' next season. It has taken six years, but Wenger's big idea to fix offside will finally be tried out. But the Canadian Premier League then put itself forward to trial it. Critics have suggested so-called 'daylight offside' would give too much advantage to the attacking team. However, it seems likely Ifab would seek more extensive trials, especially as the Canadian league does not have VAR. In practice, corners can almost always be quickly checked before they are naturally taken - as we saw during the successful trial at the Arab Cup in December. Having spent many hours sitting next to video assistant referees watching dozens of matches, I can say it is a slick, seamless process to quickly ascertain that the corner was correctly awarded by the on-field referee team (or otherwise). Premier League: Man City visit Leeds after wins for Liverpool, Everton & Brentford T20 World Cup: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka but New Zealand progress to semis - reaction Liverpool put five past West Ham to move fifth An occult-tinged crime shakes a Welsh village to its core 'Clubs refused to look at me after my crash' - Antonio on Qatar move How do Man City's Muslim players adapt to Ramadan? Cadillac and Audi - the same ambition but two very different projects India overpower Zimbabwe to restore hopes of semi-final spot. VideoIndia overpower Zimbabwe to restore hopes of semi-final spot 'He had it all' - Taylor pays emotional tribute to Virgo. Video'He had it all' - Taylor pays emotional tribute to Virgo 'I had some potential, but my personality was preventing me from reaching it' 'It would be catastrophic' - are Spurs too big to go down? How safe is bare-knuckle boxing as it fights for mainstream appeal?

Paris Saint-Germain's request to postpone a Ligue 1 fixture sandwiched between their Champions League double header with Chelsea, has been granted. PSG and Chelsea face a repeat of last summer's Club World Cup final in next month's eagerly-awaited Champions League round of 16. The reigning holders, who sneaked through with a 5-4 aggregate win over Monaco in midweek, are already plotting favourable conditions ahead of the double header against Chelsea. On Friday, the French giants asked Ligue 1's governing body – the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) – to postpone their match against relegation-threatened Nantes set for March 14 to allow for extra days of rest between the two fixtures. PSG will host Liam Rosenior's men on Wednesday, March 11 with the return leg taking place at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, March 17. On Friday, the LFP released their match schedule for week 26 in France's top-flight but confirmed just eight of the nine matches that weekend. A LFP statement on Saturday confirmed that PSG's request had been granted. "The exact date and time of this match will be determined later." France's other European representatives Lyon, Strasbourg and Lille have not requested similar changes, while the Premier League have not historically moved fixtures to accommodate European competition. PSG are hoping the move will ease fatigue and injury issues that have swept through their squad this season. It is not the first time that Ligue 1 chiefs have shifted domestic fixtures to support its teams on the European stage. With Ligue 1's financial situation in disarray owing in-part to the league's nominal television broadcast deal, protecting its UEFA coefficient while boosting its club's chances in Europe has become a priority. PSG were the beneficiaries of a fixture change in last season's run to Champions League glory. In between, their quarter-final double header against Aston Villa, their match against Nantes was postponed until the following week despite Les Canari's opposing the change. In the 2023/24 season, their Ligue 1 fixture at Nice scheduled between two Champions League semi-final ties with Borussia Dortmund was also moved to a later date. Ironically, PSG are yet to see any benefit of postponing fixtures between European ties. Luis Enrique's men were beaten 3-2 at Villa Park despite advancing on aggregate, while slipping to a 1-0 defeat in the second leg against Dortmund. The PSG boss says he is looking forward to facing Chelsea after avoiding another meeting with former club Barcelona. It will be interesting to play against one of the best English teams, who we know well. This is our pathway and we are used to it. They have to play against us, that is what I think.” This service is provided on talkSPORT Limited's Terms of Use in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy.

Joao Pedro and Robert Sanchez have become key players for Chelsea(Image: Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Chelsea and PSG will battle it out for a place in the quarter-final, where they will lock horns with either Galatasaray or Liverpool. If the Blues manage to make it as far as the semi-final, they could come up against Manchester City – so long as they overcome Real Madrid at the first hurdle and beat one of Bayern Munich or Atalanta. Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page The Blues enjoyed a 3-0 win over PSG at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, waltzing to victory in spectacular fashion. Then, upon the full-time whistle, tensions boiled over and Joao Pedro ended up on the deck following an altercation with Luis Enrique and Gianluigi Donnarumma. Joao Pedro goes down after a scuffle with Gianluigi Donnarumma and Luis Enrique Although Enrique didn't apologise to Pedro after the game, he admitted that he regrets his involvement in the altercation, "My objective and my intention, as always, is to try to win over the players so that there are no more problems. And from there, there is a series of shoves from a lot of people, which I think we should all avoid and which should not happen again." PSG and Chelsea players clashed at fulltime in the Club World Cup(Image: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images) Meanwhile, Joao Pedro, who put the third and final nail in the PSG coffin, said: "I don't need to talk about them. I don't want to talk too much about them because you know how it works. Robert Sanchez celebrating at the Club World Cup final(Image: Getty Images) "Give us PSG man so we can get them out and they will have no excuse this time as well," said Sanchez. The Spain international, who was brilliant at the Club World Cup, has since become a key player for Chelsea. He'll be looking to continue his promising vein of form when the Blues lock horns with PSG next month... Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings Please note that your preferences are browser specific.

Recognized as one of the most prestigious international women's soccer tournaments in the world, the SheBelieves Cup returns in 2026 with matches played in Nashville, Columbus, and New Jersey. Three top nations from around the world will join the United States as they begin to gear up for qualification to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in a little over a year's time. MORE: USWNT roster for the 2026 SheBelieves Cup Every year the four-team tournament has featured a different lineup of women's national teams from around the world. "Inspired by the U.S. Women's National Team, SheBelieves is a movement to encourage young women and girls to reach their dreams, athletic or otherwise. The campaign was originally launched in the run-up to the 2015 Women's World Cup and has evolved into a special bond between U.S. Soccer and its fans, taking a powerful message of empowerment and that of believing in yourself into communities across the nation. "As one of the most popular women's teams in the United States, the WNT is the prime example that dreams are attainable if you set your mind to it and go after what you want. Through dedication, teamwork, perseverance and success, the U.S. Women's National team inspires new generations of young girls and women to be better and strive for better. The other competitors are Argentina, Canada, and Colombia. Previously, more European nations took part, but the rise of Europe-based tournaments in the same international window has seen no teams from that continent play in the SheBelieves Cup since 2022. The SheBelieves Cup is a four-team round-robin format, with all four participants contesting three matches. The tiebreakers are goal differential, then goals scored, then head-to-head results, and finally fair play rankings. This has been the SheBelieves Cup format for the entirety of its existence, except for one year in 2024, when the tournament was contested as a four-team mini bracket due to the scheduling of the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup later that year to cut down on matches played. Kyle Bonn is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday that the FIFA team will review security and transport plans in the country, ahead of this year's World Cup, scheduled to start in June this year. Earlier, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Sheinbaum in a phone call on Thursday that he has "full confidence" in Mexico as a World Cup host. Sheinbaum said Infantino assured her that Mexico would host the World Cup. "He assured me that the World Cup would be held in our country," she said. "We agreed that a FIFA team would definitely come to review several issues. But the killing of El Mencho, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) on February 22, 2026, during a military operation, has raised serious security concerns for fans who were planning to travel to Mexico later this year. Many tourists were also caught up in the violence, even though there are no reports of any foreigners being killed by the gang. Viral videos and photos showing cartel members torching vehicles, banks, and supermarkets across more than a dozen Mexican states had resulted in many calling for the shifting of the matches scheduled in the country to other venues. "I told him [Infantino] that Sunday was a special situation and that we have returned to normal, with all the safety measures that have been in place for some time now, so they can rest assured," Sheinbaum said on Friday. Before Sunday's operation, Mexico was projected to receive between 5 million and 5.5 million international visitors for the FIFA World Cup, generating an economic impact of approximately $3 billion for the country. Stay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and US news.

Josh Sargent joined Toronto from Norwich City in England's second-tier League Championship on Friday, ending a difficult situation in which the striker was exiled to the under-21 squad after he refused to play in an FA Cup match last month. Sargent, 26, was signed as a designated player through the 2030-31 Major League Soccer season. "Regardless of the manner of his departure, Josh has been a significant part of the club's recent story, contributing greatly and captaining the team on many occasions," Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper said in a statement. Sargent is a Missouri native who signed with Germany's Werder Bremen in 2018 and joined Norwich three years later. "He brings high-level experience in some of the strongest leagues in the world and international pedigree at just 26 years old. He is a proven goal scorer, with a winning mentality and the intelligence that will lead our attack for years to come," Toronto general manager Jason Hernandez said. He played in all three group stage matches at the 2022 World Cup. But he hasn't scored an international goal since November 2019 and was not on the U.S. roster for last summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup. His last international appearance was when he started in a September friendly against South Korea. Toronto acquired St. Louis' right of first refusal for Sargent in exchange for $500,000 in General Allocation Money over the next two years and additional funds if performance metrics are met.