Iran have launched a furious accusation against the USA in a fresh statement released just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup. Team Melli’s conflict with the host nation is nothing new, with complications previously arising over visa issues, safety concerns, and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Despite all of that, Iran will be competing in this summer’s major international tournament. They will base themselves in Mexico rather than Arizona in an effort to make their preparations as straightforward as possible given the geopolitical tensions. They face Egypt, Belgium and New Zealand in Group G, with their opener against the latter coming in Inglewood, California, on June 16.

According to the White House, Iran’s players have already been granted visas allowing them to enter the United States. However, several members of the travelling party’s backroom staff are still awaiting theirs, renewing hostilities at the worst possible time.

Iran Launch Furious Accusation Against USA Ahead of World Cup Opener

As reported by Iran’s state media agency Tasnim, a number of officials, including executive director Mehdi Kharati, the secretary-general of the football federation, Hedayat Mombini, and media director Mohsen Motamedkia, are yet to receive their visas. In a statement on Saturday afternoon, it has accused the USA of “hostile actions”:

Meanwhile, the Turkey-based Iranian Embassy also took to X, posting a similar statement slamming the US for ‘deliberately’ blocking staff members’ visas. “Why do you not say that visas were denied to a large portion of the managerial and executive staff, technical advisers and others who are an integral part of any national football team?” the Iranian embassy posted.

The statement continued: “You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level.”

Journalists Also Facing Visa Complications

It turns out that Iranian and African journalists were also coming up against the same struggles as Team Melli this weekend. In a letter set to FIFA, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) president Gianni Merlo wrote: “We find ourselves facing a long-standing and unacceptable problem for us journalists: the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues.

“We believe it is important to allow colleagues to attend the event and work, because their presence will be crucial to the image of sport and what it represents, especially in a country like the United States of America, where freedom of the press is a must.

“I hope FIFA can do everything possible to secure visas. We’re already significantly behind schedule, and many colleagues have already lost the opportunity to use plane tickets booked on time, and they’ll also face significant additional expenses.”

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic that the organisation had received the letter before adding that this was an immigration matter controlled by the host nations – the US, Mexico and Canada.

Newcastle United have opened talks with FC Koln over a deal to sign highly-rated winger Said El Mala to replace Anthony Gordon, according to TEAMtalk.

The Magpies are anticipating a busy summer transfer window after selling Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £70m, with their 12th-placed finish in the Premier League meaning they will have no European football for next season.

Eddie Howe is desperate to bring in attacking reinforcements as a result, while he plans a major squad overhaul, and a talented Bundesliga forward has now emerged as a real target.

Newcastle Open Talks for El Mala

El Mala, who has been described as a ‘one in a million talent’, has enjoyed a brilliant season with Koln in the Bundesliga, registering 13 goals and four assists in just 20 starts for the club.

Those performances have attracted strong interest from a number of clubs across Europe, including Premier League rivals Brentford. The Bees actually tabled a €45+5m bid (£43m) for the 19-year-old, but have since been informed he doesn’t want to join them.

However, that bid was accepted by Koln, and it has now opened the door for other clubs to try and agree terms with the winger, including Newcastle.

Newcastle have now opened talks with the Bundesliga club to agree terms over a deal, while they also want permission to speak to the German winger.

However, the big sticking point so far has been that his representatives are his parents, and they are pushing for any club that signs Said to also sign his older brother Malik, who also plays for the Bundesliga side.

Newcastle Pushing for Gordon Replacement

Newcastle know that selling clubs will be aware they have money to spend after selling Gordon, and they know he needs to be replaced. That is likely to see asking prices raised as a result whenever they knock on the door, so they have to be smart.

El Mala is an unbelievable talent, and Newcastle now know the formula that Koln would be willing to accept to let him leave. That gives them some leverage in talks, and now a deal relies on them agreeing terms with the player and his representatives.

He is clearly ready to make the step up to the next level, and will have seen how players like Gordon and Alexander Isak developed at St James’ Park, which could well be appealing to him.

There is much excitement with the 2026 World Cup nearly upon us. One of the greatest things about football is it’s abilty to unite. Just look at the way Arsenal’s Premier League triumph was celebrated just as joyously in north London as it was in New York and Kampala.

While the world can be a difficult place, sport provides an escape for many. Take, for example, Alphonso Davies. The left-back was born in Buduburam, a Ghanaian refugee camp, after his parents had fled the civil war in Liberia, but is now the face of Canadian football.

He will no doubt represent one of the three host-nations with great pride this summer, but Davies isn’t the only footballer who will play for a World Cup nation different to the one of his birth. The 20 best have been named and ranked below.

Mateo Kovacic – Croatia (Born in Austria)

Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic has enjoyed a stellar career, playing for many of the best clubs in Europe. He started Dinamo Zagreb before joining Inter Milan, and then spent four years with Real Madrid – winning La Liga and three Champions League titles – before moving to Chelsea, where he won another Champions League trophy.

Now 32, Kovacic plays for Manchester City and won the Premier League under Pep Guardiola in 2024. With Croatia, his best moment came in 2018, as he was part of the side that went all the way to the World Cup final in Russia, before losing to France. However, the midfielder was actually born in Linz, Austria, although represented Croatia at multiple youth levels before making his debut for the senior national team in 2013.

Hakan Calhanoglu – Turkiye (Born in Germany)

He may be 32 now, but Hakan Calhanoglu remains one of the best central midfielders on the planet, and proved that this season as he helped Inter Milan with Serie A, making 22 appearances and scoring nine goals. It’s the second time he won the league with Inter, while he’s also lost two Champions League finals with the club, in 2023 and 2025.

Although representing Turkiye, Calhanoglu was born in the German city of Mannheim. His parents were both Turkish, however, and he’s played for the country at international level from the under-16s onwards.

Kenan Yildiz – Turkiye (Born in Germany)

As is the case with Calhanoglu, Kenan Yildiz was also born in Germany but now will play for Turkiye at the 2026 World Cup. Unlike his international teammate, though, only one of his parents, his father, is Turkish, with his mother a German native.

The Regensburg-born star now plays for Juventus and is widely seen as one of the most exciting young attacking players on the planet. Already linked with big Premier League clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool, he could make a real name for himself this summer if all goes to plan.

Alphonso Davies – Canada (Ghana)

As mentioned in the intro, Alphonso Davies has gone on to establish himself as one of the finest left-backs in the world at Bayern Munich, having been born in a Ghanaian refugee camp. When he was five years old, his family moved to Canada, and this helped set him on a path to future Bundesliga and Champions League glory. Speaking about his parents’ decision to flee Liberia, he said:

Scott McTominay – Scotland (Born in England)

It’s interesting that Scott McTominay’s ability to get away from England has helped his reputation within the game explode. Indeed, he struggled to shine for a number of years at Manchester United, but has blossomed into a brilliant midfielder since joining Napoli in 2024, leading them to a Serie A title in his debut season.

He was born in Lancaster and first played in the Man Utd development centre in Preston aged five before rising through the academy ranks into the senior set up. Although from England, he qualifies to play for Scotland through his father and has proven to be vital for his nation since making his debut in 2018.

Marc Guehi – England (Born in Cote d’Ivoire)

At Euro 2024, Marc Guehi truly proved himself capable of delivering big performances at the highest level, helping England make the final as a started cente-back alognside John Stones. Since then, his reputation has only improved, winning the FA Cup with Crystal Palace and then securing a big-money move to Manchester City last January.

He’ll have to be at his best if the Three Lions are to have any success this summer, but Thomas Tuchel will certainly be glad Guehi chose to represent England. After all, he was born in Cote d’Ivoire and moved with his family to Lewisham, London, England, at the age of one.

Antoine Semenyo – Ghana (Born in England)

Another Premier League star who joined Manchester City in the winter, Antoine Semenyo could have been playing for England at the 2026 World Cup, but has instead decided to represent a different nation. Despite being born in London, the winger’s father is from Ghana and even played as a midfielder for Okwawu United in the Ghana Premier League.

Semenyo may have been able to play for France as well, as he holds French citizenship via his mother, but opted to commit to the Black Stars in 2022 while still on the books at Bristol City. As fate would have it, the Man City ace will come up against England in the group stages this summer.

Achraf Hakimi – Morocco (Born in Spain)

At Paris Saint-Germain, Achraf Hakimi has confirmed his status as one of the best attacking fullbacks of the modern era with back-to-back Champions League triumphs. It won’t hurt that he also made it to the 2022 semi-finals with Morocco.

That said, he wasn’t born in Africa, but instead in Madrid, as he grew up in Spain. He was signed up for Real Madrid’s youth academy in 2006 and played with the club until 2020 (although spent two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund), when he joined Inter Milan before signing for PSG a season later. His parents are Moroccan, and Hakimi was raised in a household shaped by Arab and Muslim culture, which later influenced his decision to represent Morocco at international level.

Michael Olise – France (Born in England)

Michael Olise is a real case of ‘the one that got away’ for England. Indeed, he was born in London and spent time in Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City academies before joining Reading. This led to a move to Crystal Palace in 2021, and after three years, he signed for German giants Bayern Munich.

Olise is now one of the best wingers on the planet, and if he has a good World Cup, he could even be in with a shout of winning the Ballon d’Or. Sadly, though, that won’t be with the Three Lions. His father is British-Nigerian, and his mother is Franco-Algerian, but Olise has represented France since the U18 level. When asked why he chose to represent them over England, he explained:

Erling Haaland – Norway (Born in England)

With his immense physicality and long blond hair, Erling Haaland is about as Nordic as they come and makes no effort to shy away from his Viking-like qualities. However, the Norwegian was actually born in Leeds, England. This is because his footballer father, Alfie, was playing for Leeds United in the Premier League at the time.

That said, Haaland started in the academy of his hometown club Bryne at the age of five and would play for Molde, Red Bull Salzburg, and Borussia Dortmund before returning to England. In 2022, he signed for Manchester City and has since gone on to win numorus trophies, including both the Premier League and the Champions League. With 55 goals for Norway in 49 games, there isn’t a country in the world that would turn down the chance to have him on board.