The planned slate of qualifying games included Iraq-Jordan, Iran-Syria, Lebanon-India and Qatar-Saudi Arabia. FIBA postponed four 2027 World Cup qualifying games that were set for early next week in Lebanon and Qatar, the international basketball federation announced Saturday. President Donald Trump announced on social media that heavy bombing in Iran would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective.” Iran launched retaliatory airstrikes Saturday at Israel and U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf region, including in Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. “In light of the developments today in the region, FIBA has decided to postpone all games in groups C and D of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers that were scheduled for Monday, March 2,” the organization said in a statement. Monday's planned slate of qualifiers included Iraq-Jordan, Iran-Syria and Lebanon-India, which were to be held in Zouk Mikael, Lebanon, and Qatar-Saudi Arabia, which was to be held in Doha, Qatar. “FIBA remains in close contact with the national federations concerned,” according to the statement, “and is taking necessary measures with respect to the safety and security of teams, officials and staff involved in those games.” Over six qualifying windows between November 2025 and March 2027, 80 national teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe will compete for 32 berths in the final tournament, which Qatar will host in late summer 2027. Devon Henderson is a staff writer for The Athletic. He has covered the Summer Olympics, College Football Playoffs, and the Men's Final Four while at Arizona State University and was an intern at the Southern California News Group, where he covered the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Sparks, and LAFC.

US President Donald Trump and Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino have forged a close relationship In little over 100 days, the United States will co-host a football World Cup that Iran have qualified for. "For Tehran, this is not a short 12-day war or a contained round of escalation that can be paused and reset," said Dr Sanam Vakil - director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at international affairs think-tank Chatham House. "This new stage of conflict is existential and clearly about regime survival. Fifa - football's world governing body - has said it is monitoring developments but, at this stage, officials are privately saying they expect Iran to be at the World Cup. On Saturday, Fifa's general secretary Mattias Grafstrom said "our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating." If Iran were to boycott the tournament, Fifa rules dictate they could be replaced with an alternative team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Iran's women's team, meanwhile, are preparing for their first match of the Asia Cup in Australia. At a pre-match news conference on Sunday, Iran coach Marziyeh Jafari stuck to football, saying the tournament was a chance to show "the potential of Iranian women". Iran's men's football team celebrated qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after a draw with Uzbekistan in March US President Donald Trump last year signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries - including Iran - from entering the US, citing an effort to manage security threats. But if Iran do play, there is now likely to be even more scrutiny on safety around the team's matches, and the squad's planned training base in Arizona. During their second match against Wales, there were even confrontations between fans with opposing views about Iran's government, and given Trump's hopes for regime change there, it is possible a similar scenario could play out this summer. "We are in uncharted territory in that we are just over three months away from the start of the World Cup and the hosts have just launched a war of aggression against a participating country," says Nick McGeehan of human rights advocacy group FairSquare. "If Iran withdraws its team - an outcome that seems entirely plausible - Fifa is likely to breathe a sigh of relief given the scope for protest and unrest." But even if Iran are absent, security will be even more of a focus, especially given the event will also be used to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, and Trump is expected to be a highly visible presence, as he was at the Club World Cup and Ryder Cup last year. The conflict began just days after US government officials were warned there could be "catastrophic" security consequences if the 11 US cities hosting matches do not receive funding that has been frozen amid a partial government shutdown, with preparations said to be behind schedule. In December, Fifa awarded Trump its inaugural 'Peace Prize' at the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony, saying he had "played a pivotal role" in establishing a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians, and that he had sought to end other conflicts. In January, Trump also told Cuba to "make a deal" or face consequences. Trump has fiercely defended his foreign policy, insisting he is acting in the United States' interests. Trump's decision to attack Iran has received both support and condemnation, but what is certain is it will lead to more scrutiny of Fifa's decision to align itself with him, with critics arguing it undermined the governing body's political neutrality. The motion said such events "should not be used to legitimise or normalise violations of international law by powerful states". Fifa insists as an organiser of football events it has a statutory duty to remain neutral, and this is not the first time it has come under pressure over the political actions of a World Cup host. Russia was eventually banned by Fifa in 2022 over its invasion of Ukraine, after a number of European countries refused to compete against it. What is clear is that in the past 48 hours, what was an already complicated political landscape for the World Cup has become even more challenging. Premier League: Arsenal go back in front against Chelsea through Timber header Iran, the US, and a World Cup that starts in three months An occult-tinged crime shakes a Welsh village to its core Iran, the US, and a World Cup that starts in three months 'Not fair to fans' - how VAR denied Burnley one of greatest comebacks Cadillac and Audi - the same ambition but two very different projects 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?

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.

But Macario has had a difficult start to 2026, as an injury and an uncertain club future have slowed her progress. The Chelsea forward was left off the USWNT's SheBelieves Cup roster, which head coach Emma Hayes said was due to a heel injury. “My understanding is that there has been a heel injury that I think she's getting closer and closer with every day, but she's not available for selection yet at Chelsea,” Hayes said after naming her roster last week. “I don't know when that is going to come. I don't know if it's one week, two, three weeks away, but I know she's not available for selection.” Macario has earned 29 caps for the USWNT since her debut in 2021, scoring 16 goals. Macario was left off Chelsea's Champions League squad for the knockout stage, which is likely due to her ongoing heel injury. The forward has made 12 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions this season, including three in the Champions League, scoring two goals. A recent report from ESPN suggested Macario is close to joining the San Diego Wave. Hayes side will close the tournament against Colombia on March 7 in Harrison, New Jersey.

The U.S. women's national team will have to wait a little bit longer for the return of Sophia Wilson. Wilson was not named to the team's roster for the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, which begins on Sunday, March 1 with a match against Argentina. The Portland Thorns attacker did not play at all in 2025 as she was on maternity leave, giving birth to daughter Gianna in September. Though USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said in January she was hopeful Wilson would be ready for the SheBelieves Cup, it ultimately wasn't to be for the 25-year-old. “She's just not ready,” Hayes said after naming her roster. "As much as I want her to be part of this squad, that's the reality — Portland didn't deem her ready.” Wilson has tallied 24 goals and 11 assists in 58 caps with the USWNT, forming a part of the team's "Triple Espresso" front line along with Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson. With Swanson also still out on maternity leave, Hayes cheekily acknowledged that the trio's return would have to wait. “First off single shot, for this camp, of coffee,” Hayes said. Hayes' side will close the tournament against Colombia on March 7 in Harrison, New Jersey.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. President Donald Trump blamed Democrats for the partial government shutdown on Tuesday night during his State of the Union address, after Senate Democrats again blocked Republicans' attempt to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The ongoing government shutdown over Homeland Security funding could disrupt security planning for the FIFA World Cup, raising concerns among lawmakers as U.S. cities prepare to host matches this summer. Congressional Republicans warn that with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shuttered amid the funding lapse, host cities in both blue and red states gearing up for the games later this year could fall behind in planning. "I think it'll be a concern real fast if we're not able to get [DHS] reopened," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital. Several U.S. cities are set to host matches, including East Rutherford, New Jersey, New York, Boston, Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle. DHS is the chief agency responsible for securing host cities as local officials prepare for an influx of fans from around the world. The agency has been shuttered for two weeks, with negotiations between the White House and Senate Democrats stalled. Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., told Fox News Digital he frequently discusses World Cup preparations with local officials but has not yet heard concerns about the shutdown's impact. "I mean, look, if that's the concern that Republican senators have, then have them press the White House to move forward on these negotiations," Kim said. "You know, I just feel like they are not moving forward with the urgency that the American people want to see." Congressional Democrats have blocked funding for DHS in a bid to enact reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but neither side has reached an agreement on a path forward. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital it was clear to him the shutdown could affect the effort to prepare for the World Cup, though he said he had not yet heard concerns from local officials. Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, Jan. 14, 2025. Senate Democrats argue there has been little urgency from the White House to move toward reopening DHS, citing a slowdown in negotiations over the past week. They have put the responsibility for ending the shutdown on the Trump administration, despite Republicans publicly pushing back against several of their demands, including requiring ICE agents to obtain judicial warrants and refrain from wearing masks, among other changes. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told Fox News Digital she had not heard from officials in Boston about possible disruptions to World Cup preparations. She argued Democrats' demands that ICE adhere to the same rules as local police forces were reasonable. Warren dismissed the criticism as typical political posturing. Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by

Before his death in a military operation in Jalisco, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho" and identified by authorities as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), had reportedly secured tickets to several 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Guadalajara. According to a column by journalist Óscar Balderas published in Milenio back on December 5, a high-level source said Oseguera had obtained tickets for four matches scheduled at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. The tickets, the column said, were not only for personal use but were intended as gifts for "strong and discreet allies in politics and business," reinforcing influence networks ahead of a year of heightened international scrutiny. Balderas also previously reported that Mexican authorities had asked U.S. officials to avoid any action against Oseguera in 2026 to prevent potential unrest during the World Cup. According to the column, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi accepted intensified action against other targets instead. Those claims have not been publicly confirmed by either government. Guadalajara is scheduled to host four group-stage matches of the tournament, while Mexico City and Monterrey will also hold games. President Sheinbaum echoed Infantino, adding that there is "no risk" for visitors to Guadalajara. "All guarantees, no risk," she stated during a daily press conference, noting that additional security measures are being implemented. Authorities have said preparations include enhanced surveillance and coordination with federal forces.

The Qatar football federation postponed all tournaments and matches until further notice on Sunday amid global tensions following the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran. The QFA did not specifically mention the strikes when it announced the postponements on X, adding only that "new dates for the resumption of competitions will be announced in due course." There are disruptions at Qatar's Doha airport as the strikes on Iran affected flights across the Middle East and beyond. Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar closed their airspace on Saturday. Iranian missiles could be seen being intercepted above Doha on Saturday night and into Sunday morning. There is still no clarity on whether Argentina and Spain's Finalissima will still take place at Doha's Lusail Stadium. - FIFA to 'monitor developments' in Iran ahead of 2026 World Cup - Iran women's national team: 'Let's just focus' on Asian Cup The friendly match is due to take place on March 27 in a fixture that will pit Lamine Yamal against Lionel Messi for the first time. Spanish publication AS reported the game is "up in the air," but as of Sunday afternoon, a Royal Spanish Football Federation source told ESPN there was no news of a potential suspension. Earlier on Sunday, Asian football's governing body postponed continental club championship playoffs scheduled in the Middle East this week, saying AFC Champions League Elite round-of-16 games will be rescheduled. Information from Associated Press and ESPN's Sam Marsden was used in this report.

How The NBA, Hip-Hop Inspire Each Other Four Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League fixtures have been postponed following the U.S. and Israeli military attack on Iran. The AFC also confirmed fixtures in the federation's Champions League Two and Challenge League, including the tie involving Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, had been postponed until further notice. Monday's matches between Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates and Iranian side Tractor FC in Dubai, and Al Duhail of Qatar and Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli in Doha, have both been postponed. The AFC Champions League matches in Australia, South Korea and Malaysia will go ahead as planned. The quarter-final tie between Al Wasl of the UAE and Saudi's Al Nassr, set to take place in Dubai, has been impacted, alongside the match between Qatari side Al Ahli and Al Hussein of Jordan, which was due to be played in Doha. Former Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, ex-Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, France international N'Golo Kante, former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho and seven-time England international Ivan Toney are among those who had been due to be involved in the postponed fixtures. “The AFC will continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation and remains resolute in ensuring the safety and security of all players, teams, officials, and fans,” an AFC statement read. The Qatar Football Association also confirmed on Sunday that all matches in the country had been postponed “until further notice”. The U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on major Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, on Saturday after weeks of mounting diplomatic tension. Iran has retaliated with its own missile attacks on Israel and U.S. air bases in the Gulf region, including in the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. Iran's women's national team begin their AFC Women's Asian Cup group stage campaign against South Korea in Australia on Monday. Australian news agency AAP reported during Sunday's pre-match press conference a question regarding the killing of Khamenei to coach Marziyeh Jafari and captain Zahra Ghanbari was shut down by an AFC media representative. A wide corridor of airspace over the Middle East has been closed following the strikes, with Israel, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan shutting down air traffic. UK nationals in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey and Oman have been instructed to “remain vigilant” and take shelter if advised to do so. The UK foreign office has warned against travel to parts of the Middle East, including parts of Turkey since Friday, due to the heightened risk of regional tension. The Football Association (FA) remains in contact with the UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regarding travel and security. Turkey are also due to play Malta in a women's World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. Ali Rampling is a Deputy Managing Editor at The Athletic. Ali attended Loughborough University, and originates from Ipswich.

Explore our soccer expert's Arsenal vs Chelsea predictions, pre Sunday's 11:30am ET Premier League clash (03/01). Our betting expert expects a cracking London derby this weekend. Arsenal should kick on from last week's victory against Spurs with a win here. They've only lost three league matches all season — and just once at the Emirates Stadium. Chelsea are on a similar run; they're unbeaten across their last six league outings. However, home stalemates with Leeds and Burnley could be a concern for their travelling supporters. None of the Blues' away victories this season came against teams that are above them in the table ahead of this weekend. Arteta's men are unbeaten against these opponents across the last 10 head-to-heads, winning seven of them. Arsenal have won both legs of the League Cup semi-finals recently, so you'd expect them to walk away with three points on Sunday. Arsenal and City are level in terms of goals scored this season, with 56. Chelsea have seen 69% of their away dates in the league produce goals for both teams. Meanwhile, that stat goes down to 49% for Arsenal's home fixtures. Viktor Gyokeres was once labelled a failed Arsenal signing by some pundits. However, as of February 2026, he tops all Premier League players in goals across competitions this year. Gyokeres scored a brace last week in the North London derby, but it was his movement and link-up play that stood out. He's now registered 10 Premier League goals in 26 appearances for the club. Viktor appears to be peaking at a crucial moment for the Gunners. With seven goals in his most recent 10 appearances, he is the man to back this weekend. Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta's men, they play after Manchester City this weekend. Arteta's men must gear up for another tough London derby, hosting Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, this Blues team have improved significantly under their new manager. Liam Rosenior has done a wonderful job at the helm since taking over in January. That said, Chelsea have faltered recently, dropping points much like the Gunners did against Wolves. That result has put their Champions League ambitions in jeopardy. Arsenal expected lineup: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Magalhaes, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Eze, Rice, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres Chelsea expected lineup: Sanchez, James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Gusto, Caicedo, Santos, Palmer, Fernandez, Neto, Pedro

Al-Nassr boss Jorge Jesus has moved to allay fears regarding the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese forward was forced off during his side's hard-fought victory on Saturday. The Saudi Pro League title race took a dramatic turn as the Riyadh giants secured a 3-1 win over Al-Fayha, but the sight of their captain limping off injured late in the second half left fans concerned. The veteran Portuguese international endured a frustrating evening before his premature exit. In the opening exchanges, Al-Nassr were awarded a controversial penalty after Mohamed Simakan went down under minimal contact. However, Ronaldo, usually unerring from 12 yards, scuffed an early penalty wide of the left post. Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Chris Smalling's Al-Fayha took a surprise lead just before the break through an Abdulelah Al-Amri own goal. Speaking to the media following the final whistle, Jesus was adamant that Ronaldo's exit was a precautionary measure rather than a response to a major tear or strain. The veteran coach explained that the decision to hook his star man was based on managing his workload during a high-intensity period of the season, stating in his post-match press conference: "He felt muscular fatigue. The medical department will assess his condition, but what he felt was just muscle fatigue." Jesus noted that he had anticipated the hosts would flag physically as the clock ticked down. In the second half, we made things easier for ourselves and managed to turn the result around." "I knew that Al-Fayha would enter the second half with less physical capacity and would not be able to keep up with us. That's what we exploited in the best way," he revealed. Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting The victory puts Al-Nassr two points above Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League standings, with Al-Hilal trailing by one more point, although the fitness of the former Real Madrid star will continue to be monitored closely ahead of their upcoming fixtures.

Haji Wright cannot be stopped these days. Haji Wright scoring for the USMNT in 2024. Haji Wright cannot be stopped these days. The U.S. men's national team forward connected for his fifth goal in four games, helping Coventry City to a 2-1 home victory over Stoke. HAJI WRIGHT CAN'T STOP SCORING FOR COVENTRY CITY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/b087vZlSum Wright headed home a left-wing cross at the far post in the 11th minute, boosting his side into a 1-0 lead. After Stoke equalized, Jack Rudoni's 94th-minute goal gave Coventry its fourth win in a row. Coventry City (21-6-8, 71) extended its lead in the English Championship to eight points over idle Middlesbrough (18-7-9, 63), which plays at Middlesbrough on Monday. Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 28 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com.