The top 32 teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026 are now confirmed after a dramatic and exhausting group stage that came to a close on Saturday.
As Tehran and Washington continue with their engagements following the signing of the MoU earlier this month, sources have told Al Arabiya that the two are set to hold the next round of negotiations in Switzerland on June 28 and 29.
Ten-man Paraguay secured a vital 1-0 victory over Turkey in a dramatic World Cup Group D match, breathing new life into their campaign while condemning Turkey to an early exit.
US president Donald Trump in recent weeks has renewed threats to make Canada the 51st US state, and said he might not renew the trilateral trade agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico -- the co-hosts of this year's World Cup.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner returns to the All England Club as the top seed and still the player to beat.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino praised his team's collective effort after their historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their World Cup opener. Folarin Balogun scored two goals, a first for a U.S. player since 1930, though Christian Pulisic's calf injury raised concerns. Pochettino credited extended training time for the team's strong start.
The United States men's national team secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their World Cup Group D opener, with Folarin Balogun scoring two goals and Giovanni Reyna adding another.
A shooting incident in San Jose, California, near a World Cup fan zone, resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. Police are investigating the incident as a homicide, which occurred at San Pedro Square, a popular gathering spot for World Cup watch parties.
British tennis players faced a dismal start to Wimbledon, with 11 home players, including top hope Katie Boulter, crashing out in the first round. Boulter suffered a surprising defeat to Grand Slam debutant Tyra Caterina Grant, adding to a record number of British exits on the opening days. While Katie Swan secured a much-needed win, the overall performance has been disappointing for the host nation.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly rebuked former US President Donald Trump's claims that she 'begged' for a photo-op at the G7 summit, dismissing his remarks as 'utterly fabricated' and asserting, 'Italy and I never beg.'
Ebrahim Azizi, Head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, warned the US against interfering with the Strait of Hormuz, asserting Iran's sovereignty after former President Donald Trump threatened to 'take over' the strategic waterway. Despite the heated rhetoric, Iran and the US have established a direct communication line to prevent incidents during a 60-day negotiation period.
The Iranian football team is facing significant travel restrictions in the US during the World Cup, requiring them to enter and leave within 24 hours of matches. This has led the Football Federation of Iran to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA, citing concerns over fair play and technical preparation, while US authorities maintain the measures are for safety and security.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, confirmed that the US will continue to assess Iran's travel arrangements for the tournament despite their complaints about restrictions.
Kidambi Srikanth edged out Japan's Yudai Okimoto in a three-game thriller to progress to the men's singles final of the US Open Super 300 badminton championships in Fuller, United States.
US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of bringing down an American military helicopter near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, prompting a strong declaration that the United States 'must' respond to this significant incident.
Donald Trump took the first flight on the newly refurbished Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8i previously owned by Qatar and gifted to the US presidential fleet. The jet features a new red, white, and navy blue livery, replacing the older robin's egg blue. Trump expressed excitement about the advanced security and features, noting it will serve as a "bridge" until new planes are delivered by 2028.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed a peace deal with the United States, stating that Tehran will enter a 60-day negotiation period only after verifying Washington's commitments to ending hostilities, lifting the blockade, and releasing Iranian assets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a significant policy shift, declaring that Israel's robust economy no longer requires American financial assistance. He also reiterated strong opposition to Palestinian statehood, affirmed an aggressive national defence strategy, warned of pre-emptive strikes against Iran, and confirmed the continued military presence in southern Lebanon.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will make an additional provision of USD 70 million in Q1 FY2027, bringing its total provision to USD 220 million, after the US Supreme Court declined to review a lower court ruling in a trade secrets dispute with Computer Sciences Corporation (now DXC Technology).
A new study projects that by 2100, only 38% of the world's population will reside in large cities, a significant reduction from previous estimates. This revised projection is based on a newly discovered urban life cycle, where the growth rate of large cities slows down as countries become more urbanised, contrasting with the rapid growth seen in less urbanised regions. The research highlights the importance of understanding these dynamics for future infrastructure and climate adaptation planning.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are reportedly heading to Switzerland for a new round of US-Iran negotiations, following a recently announced memorandum of understanding to end hostilities in West Asia and a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Following the signing of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran, US President Donald Trump reiterated the terms for a 60-day negotiation period, vowing that Tehran will receive "not ten cents" in financial relief.
Under US protocols, play is suspended immediately if lightning is detected within an eight-mile (13-km) radius of a stadium and can only resume after 30 minutes have passed without a further strike.
Mauricio Pochettino's gameplan worked a treat in the United States' 4-1 win over Paraguay in their World Cup opener on Friday, the hosts showcasing an attacking fluidity and positional interplay that overwhelmed the South Americans.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino downplayed his team's 3-2 loss to Turkey in a World Cup group stage match, emphasising that the United States still finished top of Group D.
The United States and Iran are scheduled to hold their initial round of talks in Switzerland on Friday, following a ceasefire agreement virtually signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
US Vice President JD Vance has postponed his visit to Switzerland for technical talks with Iranian negotiators, citing logistical issues. These negotiations are crucial for finalising the details of a recently signed peace deal between the US and Iran, which aims to end the conflict in West Asia and includes a 60-day period for technical discussions.
Ellyes Skhiri's own goal in Tunisia's 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands on Thursday took the total number of own goals at the FIFA World Cup 2026 to 12, equalling the record for most in a single tournament.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said the hydration breaks introduced in each half of matches at the World Cup add nothing to football while destroying the sport's cultural essence.
Australia's assistant coach Hayden Foxe states that the Socceroos are mature enough to handle media hype and social media comments ahead of their World Cup match against co-hosts the United States. Despite being written off by some US commentators, the team is confident after a strong start to the tournament, having defeated Turkey 2-0. Players are focused on the upcoming game, drawing motivation from past criticisms while remaining grounded.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced the official end of the war and warned that any Israeli attack on Lebanon would violate an agreement between Iran and the United States. He also stated that negotiations on nuclear issues and sanctions lifting would begin on Saturday, led by Iran's Parliamentary Speaker M B Ghalibaf and US Vice President J D Vance.
The Indian government has dismissed concerns that the use of E20 fuel could affect the validity of vehicle insurance policies, stating that the ethanol blending programme remains safe, consumer-friendly, and economically beneficial.
The United States football team secured its place in the World Cup knockout stage with a convincing 2-0 victory over Australia. An early own goal and an Alex Freeman header sealed the win, despite the absence of key player Christian Pulisic. The team's depth was highlighted as they dominated the match, moving to six points in Group D.
World Cup 2026 is on track to become the biggest betting event in history, with global wagers expected to exceed $50 billion as sportsbooks report record-breaking activity driven by the expanded tournament format and growing legal gambling markets.
In one of the biggest upsets ever seen at the World Cup, Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill saved the efforts of Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade before Jonathan Tah fired over the bar, paving the way for Jose Canale to blast home the decisive spot kick.
At the Iran-Belgium FIFA World Cup match, least one attendee wearing a pre-revolutionary flag shirt was detained for trying to run onto the pitch and Iranian player Alireza Jahanbakhsh said after the match that he doesn't want to keep focusing on the challenging situations faced by his team.
Kidambi Srikanth ended his impressive run with a runner-up finish at the US Open Super 300 badminton tournament after going down fighting in three games to Chinese Taipei's Su Li-yang.
A first World Cup win for seven-times African champions Egypt, 92 years after their debut, put them in charge though Iran's dogged performances in draws with Belgium and New Zealand means victory could also see them top Group G.
US Vice President J D Vance confirmed that peace talks with Iran are underway in Switzerland, with negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner already present. Vance plans to join soon, expressing confidence in the US's strong negotiating position despite a delay caused by recent Israel-Lebanon firing.
Iran footballers faces cheers and jeers in their come-from-behind 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their FIFA World Cup final opener in Los Angeles on Monday.
