AS PART OF A BUSY midweek of games and news, ASN has a complete news rundown – ranging from the CONCACAF Champions Cup where San Diego won an amazing game on the backs of young Americans kids to the UEFA Champions League where there were mixed results. Today, we will start on the domestic side. It was a wasteful and underperforming night in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Tuesday. This was one of the best CONCACAF Champions Cups games in recent memory for an MLS team against a Liga MX side. In the 12th minute, it was a disaster for San Diego when forward Marcus Ingvartsen conceded a penalty and was given a straight red card for a high kick on Marcel Ruiz that struck Ruiz in the head. Jesus Gallardo converted the penalty and San Diego was down a man and down a goal. The response from San Diego FC was remarkable, and it was led by a bunch of young kids. David Vazquez equalized and then later put San Diego ahead. Luca Bombino added two assists, including one to Andres Dreyer which put San Diego ahead 3-1. Duran Ferree, 19, made three saves and was only beaten on two penalty kicks (the second of which happened late in the game when Manu Duah was also sent off leaving San Diego to finish the game with nine players. Two goals for David Vazquez in San Diego FC's win, earning him Player of the Match ? It was an extremely impressive result for San Diego to keep fighting and not fold. A 3-2 advantage might not survive the second leg (which will be played a nearly 9000 feet above sea level) but head coach Mikey Varas has created a team that fights, wins, and is centered around several very young players. On top of that, San Diego is fun to watch. And these young players should be in the U.S. picture right now. Bombino is a heavy favorite to be on the Olympic team (which will begin in full later this year to start preparations for LA 2028) while Vazquez and Ferree should compete for spots on the team. Pedro Soma, who was a late substitute, is also in the mix for that Olympic team too. Nashville SC did well to hold Messi, De Paul, Berterame and the rest of the Inter Miami machine scoreless. But BJ Callaghan's team will be disappointed to not score at home despite having the chances. The fact that they only got half the job done means Miami is still the favorite in this series now getting to play the second leg in Florida with an even scoreline to start. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made four saves with his biggest coming when he denied U.S. Olympic hopeful Reed Baker-Whiting with a big save off a header late to keep the score 0-0. It wasn't pretty at all but the 3-0 edge should be more than enough for the Galaxy to prevail in the second leg in Jamaica. Philadelphia lost at home to Club America. The Union are off to a disappointing start in MLS and it shouldn't be surprising that they lost at home to one of Mexico's biggest and most successful teams. The Union are still trying to rebuild a base after the offseason departures of start players Tai Baribo, Jacob Glesnes, Kai Wagner, and Mikael Uhre. The Union had several chances to score in this game, with Indiana Vassilev missing a golden opportunity late in the game. "It was a one-direction game, and it's disappointing when we feel we could have done more."????? LAFC is seen as a contender in this tournament and is under a lot of pressure to be much better at finishing in the second leg. Homefield is typically a big advantage in this tournament but it is going to be hard for Alajuelense to keep LAFC at bay for another 90 minutes. It is about an hour drive from SoFi Stadium in Englewood where the U.S. will play its first World Cup game against Paraguay on June 12. After a terrible start to the season, Oscar Pareja is out in Orlando. The club announced his departure as being “mutual.” Pareja has been Orlando City's head coach since December 4, 2019 and built the team into a respectable playoff team after rough spells under Jason Kreis and James O'Connor. Prior to his arrival, the club had never qualified for the MLS playoffs but they did so every year since his hiring. In 2025, the club was sitting in a strong position but faded into the wild card spot where they lost to Chicago. Orlando City and Head Coach Oscar Pareja have mutually agreed to part ways. As one of the most respected figures in MLS, Pareja will likely find a new job within the league – if he wants one. Meanwhile, he leaves Orlando in a much better place than when he took the job. U.S. national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino traveled to Spain to watch Tottenham face Atletico Madrid in the Champion League. On his way to the Spanish capital, he was on a flight with Tottenham fans who serenaded him with songs of “we want you back.” Tottenham was blown out in the game 5-2 and are fading into an unexpected relegation battle. Spurs fans have made no secret of their desire to rehire Pochettino after the World Cup. Mauricio Pochettino was on a flight to Spain for the Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham match. Several Yanks kicked off their Champions League Round of 16 first legs this week. Bayer Leverkusen had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Arsenal when they conceded a later equalizer in the 89th minute after U.S. international Malik Tillman conceded a penalty. Tillman entered the game in the 74th minute for Bayer as it was looking to score a second goal and take a clear advantage back to London for the second leg. But Tillman's poor tackle on Noni Maduek resulted in a penalty for Arsenal. It continues what has been a wild first season for Tillman with the Bundesliga club. For the U.S, it is concerning because you simply do not know what version of Tillman you are going to get in big games. With Pochettino in the stands, Johnny Cardoso played all 90 minutes for Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in a convincing 5-2 win over Tottenham, who were awful. Cardoso did not stand out as much as many of his teammates, but he was still important to the tactical approach Diego Simeone used in this game. He sat deeper and made some important passes to help in attacking build-ups. Defensively, he worked with his teammates to shut down Tottenham. The best guess is that Pochettino was impressed and it would seem like a March call-up is coming. That doesn't mean there aren't questions about Cardoso's potential role within the U.S. team. If no, can he fit into another role? Can Pochettino bring someone to the World Cup who is yet to fit in with the team over last several years? If Cardoso gets the call-up in March, he really is under pressure to play well. He has the ability to do so, but cannot afford to simply be a passenger. Atalanta's Champions League run is essentially over as the Italian club lost to Bayern Munich 6-1 at home. Yunus Musah has been difficult to read as of late with up and down performances but he came into this game in the 55th minute with Atalanta already trailing 4-0. Of course, such analysis of his performance is useless as the intensity was drained from the game by the time he entered and he didn't do anything of note. It will be a close call if Atalanta wants to bring Musah back next year after his loan from AC Milan expires. Earlier this week, MLS banned Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah for life for violating the league's gambling policy. While both on Columbus in 2024, the league's internal investigation found both players bet extensively on league games in 2024 and 2025- including games involving the Crew. Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah have received lifetime suspensions from MLS for betting on matches, one incident they found was in a match against New York. Both Yeboah and Jones placed a bet on Jones to earn a yellow card in the match. Jones, 29, represented the United States at the 2017 U-20 World Cup and is currently without a club.

As reported by Sport, Carles Planchart and Xavier Aguilar, both members of Font's staff, with the latter set to take on the role of sporting director, met at the Four Seasons Hotel in Madrid with Ferran Sorriano, CEO of Manchester City, and Hugo Viana, sporting director of the Citizens. In the summer, Barcelona will have to address the issue of replacing Robert Lewandowski, whose contract expires on 30 June and, barring any surprises, will not be renewed. The direct contact that has taken place is giving an incredible boost to Font's presidential campaign. Through his staff, he has made it known that "The sporting management is more than active these days and is working on the transfer market, travelling and meeting with various clubs. We have important things to offer Hansi Flick." Only time will tell whether the move for Haaland is real or just an electoral ploy. Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting Haaland's agent, Rafaela Pimenta, denies the rumours on El chiringuito de Jugones: "We have a lot of respect and admiration for Barcelona, but there has been no contact with the management regarding potential transfer targets. Furthermore, as the player renewed his contract a few months ago, he is very happy at Manchester City. Everything is going very well for him and we really have nothing to discuss about a transfer when everything is going so well at City."

Plans to connect the celebration of Pride in Seattle with a scheduled FIFA World Cup match are continuing. However, fresh uncertainty has been cast over which teams will play in that Group G fixture on Friday, June 26, because of the Iran war. Iran and Egypt are protesting the designation of their World Cup match as a ‘Pride Match,' with the countries' anti-gay laws. For now, the tournament's match schedule still lists Iran vs Egypt at Lumen Field that night, but local organizers and fans are bracing themselves for change. The game became the focus of global interest following the draw in December and an initial report by Outsports, which established through official statements that the “Pride Match” plans would not be dropped, despite the two teams set to play in it both representing nations which retain anti-LGBTQ laws and whose governments regularly imprison and persecute gay people. Inevitably, there will be at least some knock-on effect on the “Pride Match” related festivities, which will take place outside the stadium and which continue to be worked on by the Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 (SeattleFWC26) Local Organizing Committee. If the Iranian Football Federation withdraws, FIFA would look to replace them with another national team. There is no likelihood of an imminent decision, particularly with inter-confederation play-off matches still to be played. Those games are set to be held in Mexico in late March, and will produce two more World Cup qualifiers. One of the teams involved is Iraq, who have been tipped as the most likely substitute for Iran, though FIFA retains sole discretion over replacements. As for the “Pride Match” game on June 26, that designation is almost certain to stay in place from the Seattle side, although it has not been endorsed or commented upon publicly by FIFA. While there have been few clear references from Seattle FWC26 organizers to any Pride-related plans since December, a “100 Days to Go” update issued last week did mention the “Pride Match” design contest, for which three finalists were announced back in November. “Players… will be able to collect this Pride Pin as they complete challenges and celebrate Pride Match Day,” wrote Hufana on Instagram. Eric Wahl, who is a member of Seattle's Pride Match Advisory Committee, told Outsports: “We had some really compelling entries in the artwork competition and did a lot of deliberation before selecting finalists, in addition to requesting tweaks to final design submissions. A post shared by ConceptShell Art and Design Studio (@shayla.ad) Outsports has reached out to Seattle FWC26 for an update. Their VP of Communications, Hana Tadesse, did say to FOX 13 Seattle this week: “All match scheduling decisions rest with FIFA. “At this time, SeattleFWC26 has not received any communication from FIFA indicating a change to our current match schedule, and our work continues uninterrupted.” As reported by KOMO News, Iranian Americans living in the Pacific Northwest find themselves torn. While there is great passion for the national team, known as “Team Melli,” many supporters have leveraged previous international matches to protest the Iranian government. The World Cup could also have offered a potential platform for political asylum requests, such has been seen this month around the Iranian women's team's participation in the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia. He explained to Outsports: “I can't help but feel sad for the Iranian national soccer team, whose hard work qualified them for the World Cup fair and square. The Egypt v Iran match in Seattle in June just happens to be the Pride match, & I think that is a good thing, actually. Wahl is the brother of acclaimed soccer journalist Grant Wahl, who frequently spoke out in support of LGBTQ rights during his career, including in Qatar while covering the last men's FIFA World Cup in 2022. For Eric Wahl, Grant's legacy and allyship have frequently come to mind during his involvement with the Pride Match Advisory Committee. “There's so much about this World Cup that Grant was uniquely suited to writing about, and I hoped my limited involvement would help me feel closer to him, which it has done to an extent,” he added. He is the founder and lead of industry network group Sports Media LGBT+, and works on the Football v Homophobia campaign. Jack Fletcher, a rising 18-year-old Man United player, has been suspended six matches for a gay slur he says he didn't mean. Justin Fashanu was the first male pro athlete to come out as gay while active in a team sport. He's remembered in a new exhibit at London's Queer Britain. The response of Benfica to Real Madrid allegations that winger Gianluca Prestianni used discriminatory language has been bleak. Bryan Swanson is a gay man at FIFA and, on the eve of Gianni Infantino's 10th anniversary as FIFA President, he says he has embraced him. Dan Woog is a Hall of Fame gay high school soccer coach. Five Team GB Olympians are given astonishing drag makeovers on the latest episode of “RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs the World.” Jake Adicoff blitzed the field in Wednesday's Winter Paralympics men's 10km event to win his second gold medal in as many days at Milano Cortina 2026. For Women's History Month, Outsports presents a group of 20 Olympians and Paralympians who all claimed titles while representing Team LGBTQ. Hockey referee Stephen Finkel, who played in college and has slept with NHL players, says 'Heated Rivalry' has its positives, but did not delve deeply enough into the homophobia in hockey. Jake Adicoff is now the first out gay man to be an individual Winter Paralympics champion. Pablo Torre hosts comedian Jay Jurden on his podcast, peeling back the homophobic bravado some men are increasingly using in sports. For March, Outsports publishes a series documenting their leadership.

ESPN's Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss if Iran will participate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after recent troubles with the United States. Trump wrote on the social media site Truth Social: "The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety. Iran, one of 48 teams in the tournament, is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 before finishing group play in Seattle against Egypt on June 26. "Given that this corrupt government assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," Ahmad Donyamali reportedly told Iranian state television. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the first day of attacks. He has since been succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei. Trump's message appears to depart somewhat from what the Republican president relayed Tuesday at the White House to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who later publicly said that Trump assured him the Iranian players and coaches would be welcome. A White House official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations, had confirmed Trump's message to Infantino about Iran's participation. On Thursday, the White House did not immediately clarify what Trump meant by "their own life and safety," such as whether he anticipated threats against them while in the United States after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began Feb. 28. Since June, Iran has been subject to a travel ban into the U.S. as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

U.S. President Donald Trump appears to have changed his position on Iran's participation at this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. United States President Donald Trump has said that he does not believe it is “appropriate” for Iran's men's soccer team to participate in the World Cup, warning that it may be a risk for “their own life and safety.” On Tuesday night, Infantino posted on Instagram to say he had met with Trump in Washington D.C. and that Trump “reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament.” For FIFA, it was a significant respite after Trump, in an interview with Politico last week, responded to a question about Iran's participation in the World Cup. “I really don't care (if Iran participates),” he said. “I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. Infantino hailed Trump's commitment this week, posting on Instagram to say he “sincerely thanked” the U.S. president and “it shows once again that Football Unites the World.” Yet now Trump appears to have changed his position once more. His post on Truth Social read: “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety. The Athletic has approached FIFA for comment, with a host nation's government appearing to threaten the safety and security of World Cup participants. The tournament has been plunged into uncertainty following the American and Israeli military attacks on Iran, which killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered retaliatory strikes by Iran across the Middle East. Iran's participation in the World Cup has become uncertain, with Iranian representatives missing last week from a World Cup planning meeting in Atlanta involving all competing federations. Trump's post on Thursday about the World Cup followed comments from Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new supreme leader, who said he wished to continue to block the key oil route across the Strait of Hormuz, which is likely to pose further challenges to oil markets, while also threatening further strikes on U.S. bases in the region. “Given that this corrupt (U.S.) regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the conditions to participate in the World Cup,” Ahmad Donyamali said, according to multiple translations of his comments from Persian to English.

US president's comments come day after sports minister said football team could not participate after ‘US killed thousands of our ​people' Ben has been the Telegraph's Sports Investigations Reporter since 2018. Before joining the Telegraph in 2013, Ben spent more than eight years at the Press Association, including as a football and rugby reporter. Ben has been the Telegraph's Sports Investigations Reporter since 2018. Before joining the Telegraph in 2013, Ben spent more than eight years at the Press Association, including as a football and rugby reporter. Donald Trump has told Iran's footballers they would be welcome at the World Cup but to stay away “for their own life and safety”. Trump, the US president, wrote: “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety. Donyamali said on Wednesday that Iran would snub the tournament over the involvement of Trump in airstrikes that killed Ayatollah Khamenei. “Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under ‌no circumstances ‌can we ⁠participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali told state television. The US and Israeli strikes started nearly two weeks ago and have led to a region-wide conflict in the Gulf. Iran was the only nation missing from ⁠a planning summit for World Cup participants held last week in Atlanta. Donyamali's comments followed a meeting on Tuesday evening between Trump and Gianni Infantino, who said the US president had provided assurances Iran would be “welcome” at the tournament. Earlier this month, Trump said he “really didn't care” if Iran took part, but he has also offered asylum to the whole Iranian women's squad if Australia would not grant refuge to them after the Asian Cup there. 🔴 Iran's women footballers refused to sing their country's national anthem before their Asia Cup match against South Korea on Monday nightFind out more ⬇️https://t.co/Ib8jmCELDx pic.twitter.com/pYYrZk9abT Six members of Iran's women's team delegation have now been granted humanitarian visas by Australia following the team's exit from the tournament. Five players had initially sought asylum and Australia's home affairs minister Tony Burke confirmed that a further player, and one member of the team's support staff, had since indicated their desire to remain in the country. The country's sports minister could hardly have been clearer when he said “under no circumstances” could the team play at a tournament co-hosted by a “corrupt regime” that played a major role in assassinating its supreme leader. Article 6.5 states: “If a Participating Member Association withdraws or a match cannot be played or is abandoned as a result of force majeure, the authorised Fifa organising body [including the Tournament Operation Centre] shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary.” Regulation 6.7 then states: “Fifa may decide to replace the Participating Member Association in question with another association.” The rules leave that entirely at Fifa's discretion, but it would be unthinkable for it not to be one of Iraq or the United Arab Emirates. That is because both come from Iran's confederation, the Asian Football Confederation, which is meant to have eight guaranteed spots at the World Cup. Iraq qualified for this month's intercontinental play-off in Monterrey, Mexico, where they are due to face the winner of a semi-final tie between Bolivia and Suriname. A play-off could also end up taking place between the UAE and the winner of Bolivia-Suriname if Iraq qualified by right. Under Article 6, Fifa can impose heavy sanctions on any country who withdraw from the World Cup. Fines range from $300,000 (£223,000) for pulling out more than 30 days before a match to $600,000 for doing so less than a month before kick-off. Any team who withdraw also face being forced to return all Fifa funding received for World Cup preparation and to repay any competition‑related contributions already distributed. Fifa also has the power to impose other penalties, including banning such a country from future competitions. Denmark, who finished below them in qualifying, replaced them with just 10 days' notice and went on to produce one of football's most stunning triumphs, winning the tournament. In 2022 World Cup qualifying, Poland were handed a bye to a play-off final after Russia were expelled from world football following the country's invasion of Ukraine. Last year, Fifa threw Mexican club León out of the expanded Club World Cup after they failed to meet tournament regulations on multi-club ownership. A play-off for their slot took place between LAFC and Club América, which was won by the US side.

Participation is in question amid ongoing war Fifa's Infantino said Trump assured Iran are welcome Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling Fifa's chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war. “The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” the US president said on his Truth Social platform. The comments came two days after Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he had received assurances from Trump that Iran would be welcome at the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada. “We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the Fifa World Cup 2026,” Infantino wrote in a Tuesday post on Instagram. “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States. “We all need an event like the Fifa World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.” On Wednesday, Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said “under no circumstances can we participate” in the World Cup. Donyamali was the first government representative to speak on the World Cup since the US began bombing Iran with backing from Israel earlier this month. Iran and Fifa have yet to give an official update on the country's participation. Iran have been drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in the tournament. Their three matches are scheduled to take place in the US, with two in ‌Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

We're still months away from an influx of global visitors arriving in Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup. But World Cup organizers here have welcomed a number of international guests in the past few weeks. And six matches, including four in the group stage, will be played at Arrowhead Stadium. “(Officials were) coming through to see the stadium, the practice facilities, the hotels where they will stay, and then, of course, those base camp teams really working with us to further define what their time in Kansas City will look like,” Kramer said. “So things like what time they think they will practice, that's really important information for us to share with law enforcement partners so they can start to plan for the escorts that the teams will need and for the security around the training sites, really understanding how every team is different.” Kramer said teams that visited Kansas City were here for various durations. “(Team USA) had a one-day official venue schedule with training site and stadium,” Kramer said. “I would assume it was a pretty quick turn for them, because there are obviously other sites they're going to. So really depended on, on how long, what their position in Kansas City is whether they're base camp in your group stage here or just have a potential game.” Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Kansas City area sports - only $1 a month

Kraft Sports and Entertainment, the Town of Foxborough, and Boston Soccer 2026 released a statement Wednesday, ensuring that Gillette Stadium will continue to host its seven designated World Cup games this summer. The statement also announced that Foxborough would not take on any costs associated with the World Cup, including security costs that BS 2026 and Kraft Sports have agreed to cover. Foxborough Select Board Chair Bill Yukna confirmed the deal in his own statement, saying that all of the town's funding concerns had been addressed. "I want to personally thank Kraft Sports & Entertainment and Robert Kraft for his involvement in bringing the funding concerns to a resolution," Yukna wrote. "We expect that any open issues in the license will be resolved before the 17th public hearing and we look forward to a very successful and safe World Cup event." Select Board Chair Bill Yukna, who described the Kraft Group and Boston Soccer 2026 as presenting "essentially an agreement with themselves." Wednesday's statement confirmed that an agreement was made between the entities. "We are grateful for the leadership and support of Senator Paul Feeney, Congressman Jake Auchincloss, Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and the efforts of public safety officials to develop a comprehensive security plan in partnership with local and federal partners," the statement read. “This tournament is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase our communities, support local businesses and bring people together through the power of sports. We appreciate the partnership with the Town of Foxborough, Boston Soccer 2026 and Kraft Sports + Entertainment to ensure a safe and successful event for everyone.” Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

The Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce is doing its part to get the community involved in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup by helping to host several fan festivals in North Jersey. Five communities will participate in what is essentially a tour of events called Flag Cities 2026. The events are presented by Goya. “We made some mistakes a bunch of years ago when the Super Bowl was in town and I said we wouldn't make those mistakes again,” Jim Kirkos, President and CEO of the Meadowlands Chamber, said. “We will hold activities in our communities in ways to make sure small businesses, local residents and the region at large have the ability and the opportunity to have some pride in the fact that these games are in our backyard.”

Enter your email below and we'll send you a one-time pin to log in. Reigning South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns will host Germany club RB Leipzig in a friendly on 29 May 2026. Mamelodi Sundowns are still enjoying the fruits that were planted by their appearance at the expanded Fifa Club World Cup in 2025. Although the tournament has drawn criticism from players and unions for fattening an already bloated soccer schedule, Fifa has always insisted that the rejigging of the global club tournament is for exposure and the expansion of soccer's global footprint. Leipzig's leapNow that German top-flight club RB Leipzig announced that it would be touring SA in May and would play a friendly match against serial South African champions Sundowns in May 2026, Fifa's stance seems to have some credibility. Granted, Sundowns and Leipzig share commercial partners such as Puma and Red Bull, but the German club's Managing Director, Johann Plenge, says what they saw of Sundowns at the World Cup caught their eye. The Pretoria giants beat South Korean Ulsan 1-0, before being edged 4-3 by Germany's Borussia Dortmund and then drawing 0-0 with Brazil's Fluminense to narrowly miss out on reaching the knockout stage. Despite this mixed bag of results, they did enough to capture global attention with their brand of exciting soccer. RB Leipzig Managing Director Johann Plenge says the team is visiting South Africa to help grow their global brand. (Photo: Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images) “We all followed the Fifa Club World Cup last year and we saw their performances. Especially when they played Borussia Dortmund,” Plenge said.“We wanted to have an ambitious opponent. We saw their quality at the Club World Cup. So, we want to mess with the best teams in town and we think Sundowns is a perfect match.” Growing the Leipzig brand globallyPlenge further explained that as much as Sundowns' World Cup displays had planted the seed for this visit to SA, it was also a continuation of their deliberate attempt to grow the Leipzig brand globally. They finished second and have not placed lower than seventh in that time. After going to the US in 2024 and Brazil [in 2025], we are now heading to SA to leave our footprint in a new market, not just as RB Leipzig, but as a Bundesliga club,” Plenge stated. Mamelodi Sundowns earned a number of new fans on the back of their 2025 Fifa Club World Cup appearance. (Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images) “We look forward to welcoming a formidable side like RB Leipzig to Pretoria. Having captained Mamelodi Sundowns against Barcelona in 2018, I personally know the players will be competitive,” the retired Kekana said. “We cannot wait to display our style of play – shoe shine and piano – to the world, once again.”2010 World Cup legacyThe match will be played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. The venue is named after South African football legend Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, who was considered one of the best football talents of his time. We can still hear the vuvuzelas echoing in our ears from 16 years ago. Jürgen Klopp effectIn addition to Leipzig, Red Bull owns Austrian soccer club Salzburg and also has a stake in French club Paris FC. Red Bull recruited former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp in January 2025 and made him its head of global soccer. In his role he oversees the entire international network of Red Bull-owned clubs. Due to the 2026 Fifa World Cup, RB Leipzig will be without one of the team's best players in Yan Diomande (left). Nevertheless they have promised to bring a competitive squad for their South African visit, on 29 May 2026. But also, within the broader football environment. So, Jürgen is very happy that he can help the club in building more relations around the world, such as Sundowns,” Plenge said. The exhibition match will be played on Friday, 29 May 2026. But with countries preparing for the 2026 World Cup, neither side will be at full strength. Nevertheless, they have promised an entertaining encounter. Mamelodi Sundowns are still enjoying the fruits that were planted by their appearance at the expanded Fifa Club World Cup in 2025. Although the tournament has drawn criticism from players and unions for fattening an already bloated soccer schedule, Fifa has always insisted that the rejigging of the global club tournament is for exposure and the expansion of soccer's global footprint. Now that German top-flight club RB Leipzig announced that it would be touring SA in May and would play a friendly match against serial South African champions Sundowns in May 2026, Fifa's stance seems to have some credibility. Granted, Sundowns and Leipzig share commercial partners such as Puma and Red Bull, but the German club's Managing Director, Johann Plenge, says what they saw of Sundowns at the World Cup caught their eye. The Pretoria giants beat South Korean Ulsan 1-0, before being edged 4-3 by Germany's Borussia Dortmund and then drawing 0-0 with Brazil's Fluminense to narrowly miss out on reaching the knockout stage. Despite this mixed bag of results, they did enough to capture global attention with their brand of exciting soccer. Especially when they played Borussia Dortmund,” Plenge said. “We wanted to have an ambitious opponent. We saw their quality at the Club World Cup. So, we want to mess with the best teams in town and we think Sundowns is a perfect match.” Plenge further explained that as much as Sundowns' World Cup displays had planted the seed for this visit to SA, it was also a continuation of their deliberate attempt to grow the Leipzig brand globally. They finished second and have not placed lower than seventh in that time. After going to the US in 2024 and Brazil [in 2025], we are now heading to SA to leave our footprint in a new market, not just as RB Leipzig, but as a Bundesliga club,” Plenge stated. Having captained Mamelodi Sundowns against Barcelona in 2018, I personally know the players will be competitive,” the retired Kekana said. “We cannot wait to display our style of play – shoe shine and piano – to the world, once again.” The venue is named after South African football legend Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, who was considered one of the best football talents of his time. We can still hear the vuvuzelas echoing in our ears from 16 years ago. In addition to Leipzig, Red Bull owns Austrian soccer club Salzburg and also has a stake in French club Paris FC. Red Bull recruited former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp in January 2025 and made him its head of global soccer. In his role he oversees the entire international network of Red Bull-owned clubs. So, Jürgen is very happy that he can help the club in building more relations around the world, such as Sundowns,” Plenge said. The exhibition match will be played on Friday, 29 May 2026. But with countries preparing for the 2026 World Cup, neither side will be at full strength. Nevertheless, they have promised an entertaining encounter. Join the 32,000 Maverick Insiders who contribute monthly (or annually) to our membership community and you can rest assured of getting the latest reporting every day without a hitch.

With the United States hosting this summer's World Cup, all eyes will be on Mauricio Pochettino and his squad as they aim to make history on home soil. After Mexico unveiled its new World Cup kit, the USMNT's outfitter followed suit, officially releasing the American team's home jersey this morning. The 2026 USA home shirt features wavy stripes in darker, brighter reds, with navy blue on the collar, cuffs, Nike logo and USMNT crest, and uses a ‘Sail' (creamy off-white) base. The Nike USA 2026 home jersey features a bold interpretation of classic American stripes. Instead of traditional straight horizontal stripes, Nike has created a rippled design that gives the uniform a sense of movement. The 2026 USA away jersey has been leaked. The jersey will also feature Aero-FIT technology - innovative cooling technology designed to move more air between skin and fabric, helping players to stay dry when the game heats up. The USMNT 2026 World Cup away jersey is carbon black with a charcoal gray star motif pattern subtly integrated into the fabric. All of the Nike 2026 World Cup home and away kits will be officially launched on Monday, 23 March 2026. Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

March 12 – The U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) will be based in one of soccer's most vibrant markets in the country, Southern California, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At the centre of that plan is Great Park in Irvine, Orange County, which will serve as the team's training base. “We are delighted to have Great Park as our training site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said. Constructed in 2017 on the former site of the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium accommodates more than 5,000 spectators. “We are honoured that the U.S. Men's National Team has chosen to train at the Great Park during the FIFA World Cup,” said Mayor Larry Agran. “Irvine is proud to welcome the players, coaches, and supporters from around the world to our great city for one of the world's most celebrated sporting events.” The Soccer Forward Foundation, U.S. Soccer's legacy and social impact initiative connected to the World Cup, will partner with the City of Irvine and local organisations, including Cal South, the State Soccer Association, to deliver community-based coaching development programming during the month of April. The initiative is designed to equip local coaches with training, tools, and resources to better support young players in their communities. “Through Soccer Forward, we are proud to partner with the City of Irvine and local organizations to equip coaches with the tools, training, and support they need to positively impact young people. Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1773305196labto1773305196ofdlr1773305196owedi1773305196sni@r1773305196etsbe1773305196w.kci1773305196n1773305196

The U.S. men's national team discovered who they were going to play at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5. The U.S. men's national team discovered who they were going to play at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5. On Wednesday, the Americans announced they would call the Orange County Soccer Club's home stadium in Irvine, Calif. as their Team Base Camp in June and perhaps July. The stadium has a 6,500 capacity. The USA will play Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif. on June 12, Australia in Seattle on June 19 and then the UEFA Path C winner in Inglewood, on June 25. 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. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.

If not listed, please contact your TV provider. Their participation has been in question since the U.S. and Israel's joint military operation began on Feb. 28 and on Wednesday, Iran minister of sport and youth Ahmad Donyamali said the national team would not take part as a direct result of the war. "Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," Donyamali told state television while referencing former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 during a series of missile strikes by the U.S and Israel. Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence." Donyamali's comments only cast further doubts but Iran's withdrawal from the World Cup has not been confirmed at this time, inspiring more questions than answers just three months before the summertime competition begins. Here's what we know – and don't – about the situation. FIFA has not commented on Iran's potential withdrawal from the World Cup, nor has there been confirmation from the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran. It is also unclear if the federation has begun a formal process to back out of participation at this summer's tournament. According to Regulation 6.5, "If a Participating Member Association withdraws or a match cannot be played or is abandoned as a result of force majeure, the authorized FIFA organizing body (including the Tournament Operation Centre) shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary." Additionally, Regulation 6.7 states, "If any Participating Member Association withdraws and/or is excluded from the FIFA World Cup 26, FIFA shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary. FIFA has two options: either reduce Group G to three teams, decreasing the number of games the remaining teams would play, or replace Iran with another team. FIFA's choice to expand the World Cup to 48 teams means 32 teams will advance to the knockout rounds – the winners and runners-up of all 12 groups plus eight third-place teams. The third-place teams will be ranked against each other to determine their qualification and placement in the round of 32. Should FIFA choose to replace Iran, they would likely select another team from the Asian Football Confederation to maintain the quotas the governing body established before World Cup qualification began. AFC's World Cup qualification format was not exactly straightforward, though that can also be said of several other confederations. There's just one issue – Iraq are dealing with their own World Cup qualification perils because of the Iran war. Iraq head coach Graham Arnold asked FIFA to reschedule the team's World Cup qualifier, currently slated for March 31 in Mexico, because airspace in that country is closed until April 1. Arnold himself theorized that Iraq would be the recipient of Iran's direct berth should they withdraw, though there is no confirmation that FIFA would go with that approach at this time, and otherwise suggested that Iraq play their intercontinental playoff match in the U.S. a week before the World Cup instead. Airspace in that country, though, is partially restricted because of the Iran war and Arnold himself is stuck in Dubai because of the regional conflict. Both matches to be played at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico FIFA declined to comment to CBS Sports on Iran's potential withdrawal from the World Cup, instead pointing towards a statement issued early Wednesday about president Gianni Infantino had with U.S. president Donald Trump. Last week, Trump told Politico that he "really does not care" if Iran play at the World Cup. There is no gambling offered on this site.