There have been so many talking points during the 2026 World Cup, and the biggest of them have related to co-hosts, the United States. They have now exited the tournament after a 4-1 loss to Belgium, but expect headlines to rumble on.
The build-up to that game was packed full of drama as key man Folarin Balogun was handed a red card in the Last 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but after intervention from Donald Trump, FIFA overturned the red card, allowing the striker to start against Belgium. That wasn’t enough to help the US, though, as they scored just once, crashing out at the Round of 16.
Many will feel footballing justice was served as Mauricio Pochettino’s men were thumped 4-1, and it appears as though the Iranian Football Federation have certainly enjoyed the result. Iran’s participation in the tournament has been one of the other key controversies of the 2026 World Cup.
Iran Delighted as USMNT Lose 4-1 to Belgium
Daniel Cole via Reuters
The conflict between Iran and the US had made for concerning headlines in the lead-up to the World Cup, and it was unclear if they would even be able to come into the country to play matches. The Iranian Football Federation spoke out a number of times as they made it clear how hard Trump’s government had made it for players and key staff members to get visas into the host nation.
With those issues, and so many more in mind, it’s no wonder that Iran have now released a rather pleased statement following the USMNT’s exit from their own competition. As quoted by the Telegraph, a spokesman for the Iranian Football Federation reacted to the co-hosts’ exit by saying:
“Now the whole world is dancing to celebrate politics’ humiliating defeat by football.”
World football’s governing body issue statement on the referee whose integrity has been called into question by the US President
Iran Captain Was Left Unhappy With FIFA President Gianni Infantino
During the tournament, Iran captain Mehdi Taremi spoke strongly about FIFA, taking aim at the inaction of president Gianni Infantino. He said: “We always complained about these things since the beginning, it’s a disaster World Cup. A disaster. As professional players in a professional competition, it’s not right… it’s not fair… if it’s fair for FIFA, okay, good for them. But it’s not fair. Who wants to help us… no one helps. No one.
“Who has to solve this problem for us? Who? FIFA? I don’t know. USA. I don’t know – just mention one name for me. [FIFA president Gianni] Infantino came to [our locker room] the first game [against New Zealand] and said we will solve every problem here, but actually FIFA did nothing.”
Iran drew against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in the three games, finishing third in Group G, which wasn’t enough to see them qualify for the knockout stages. After exiting the World Cup, they released an emotional statement thanking the ‘wonderful people of Mexico’ for their hospitality, while also praising the media for fairly covering the ‘unfair and unsportsmanlike treatment’ of their delegation.
UFC 329 is right around the corner, and it is set to be a classic. Paddy Pimblett‘s face-off with Benoit Saint-Denis catches the eye, but the event that will steal the headlines is undoubtedly Conor McGregor‘s return to the Octagon as he comes up against Max Holloway at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada on the 11th of July.
McGregor will be ending a five-year hiatus, having not fought since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The Irishman and Holloway have history as well, having fought back in 2013 when the former won via decision. That meeting, however, was at featherweight, whereas, Saturday’s fight will be at welterweight.
It is a fight between the man with the second-most featherweight UFC title wins in Holloway (five) versus the man with the joint-third-most in McGregor (two). With the Irishman being 37 and out of the sport for the past five years, though, Holloway is heavily tipped to win the bout.
However, there are some within the game who give McGregor a good chance.
Jose Aldo Previews Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway
Jose Aldo celebrates UFC win
Jose Aldo has weighed in on the upcoming fight, and given he was knocked out in 13 seconds by ‘The Notorious’ back in 2015, there are few who know what McGregor is capable of quite like Aldo.
That experience might be why, unlike many, the Brazilian believes the Irishman has a decent chance at victory, despite the fact he has been out on the sidelines for five years while his opponent has faced, and beaten, some of the world’s best. Having said that, though, Aldo is still predicting Holloway to come away with the victory this weekend.
Speaking to Covers.com, Aldo said: “For me, it’s a very competitive fight. McGregor may be the betting underdog, but honestly, I think he has a better chance of beating Max today than he had of beating Khabib back then.
“The favourite is Max Holloway, not because he’s vastly superior, but because he’s still active. He’s fighting regularly, coming off strong performances, and staying in competition mode. Conor is an unknown quantity. We haven’t seen him fight in a very long time. We don’t know where his conditioning, timing, or confidence are at. That’s why I put Max one step ahead.”
However, ‘Scarface’ was quick to make clear that McGregor cannot be ruled out.
“That doesn’t mean Conor can’t go in there and knock [Max] out,” Aldo continued. “That can absolutely happen. And it wouldn’t be any disgrace for Max because Conor is still a world-class striker with experience, power, and the technical tools to win any fight.
“So I have Max slightly ahead, but I’m a long way from saying Conor has no chance. The biggest question right now is simply which version of McGregor is going to show up on fight night.”
Holloway and Aldo have a storied past too, with the American coming out victorious in their back-to-back fights in 2017, which effectively toppled the Brazilian’s era at the peak of the featherweight division.
On Holloway, Aldo said: “He’s an extremely intelligent fighter, with very refined boxing, great fight IQ, and an excellent ability to absorb shots. Today, he’s not exactly the same fighter he was years ago because he’s been through a lot of wars during his career. But he’s still an exceptional fighter.”
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Holloway’s and McGregor’s careers have diverged over the past five years. The former has remained a dedicated fighter who has taken down some of the best. The latter, conversely, has dealt with a major injury and spent a lot of time partying. But, as Aldo was keen to point out, McGregor and his legacy cannot be ruled out.
Legends aren’t invented, they’re forged, and Conor McGregor has forged out one of the most legendary careers in the sport. All eyes will be on him this Saturday.
The Roberto De Zerbi overhaul is well under way at Tottenham, with six new signings already arriving at the club.
Martin Dubravka, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali have all been welcomed into the fold in the white half of north London and the Lilywhites are showing no signs of letting up in their big-money business just yet.
But with lots of incoming traffic there is an expectation that a number of current players will have to depart too and only Yves Bissouma – at the end of his contract – and Alejo Veliz have left as yet.
But that is about to change with a young player now set to leave the club too.
Alfie Devine signed for Spurs as a 15-year-old back in 2020 but has only made two first-team appearances, scoring once in the win over non-league side Marine in the FA Cup in 2021.
Now he looks set to depart the club, six years on from signing, as he makes the move to Preston North End on a permanent deal.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been lambasted by a former England international for his actions after his final World Cup appearance on Monday.
Ronaldo failed to prevent Portugal losing 1-0 to neighbours Spain in the last 16 of this summer’s showpiece international tournament. Arsenal’s Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game in stoppage-time to set up a quarter-final tie against Belgium.
Questions are being asked of Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez, who leaves his post, after keeping 41-year-old Ronaldo on the pitch for the full 90 minutes again.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo has been slammed for his ‘arrogant’ post-match interview in which he highlighted his international achievements. “I played 23 years in the national team and won three titles,” the Al-Nassr star said. “Before Cristiano, Portugal had not won anything. The Euros was the most important. For me, 2016 has the same dimension as a World Cup, honestly.”
It’s a slightly undignified end to the World Cup career of one football’s greatest ever players. The general consensus is that this was one major tournament too many for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
World football’s governing body issue statement on the referee whose integrity has been called into question by the US President
Agbonlahor Blasts Ronaldo
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Jerome
Former England forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has pulled no punches with his comments on talkSPORT.
The ex-Aston Villa star said: “Ronaldo, at times, it was walking football last night. You have to be running the channels, creating space for other places, and the fact Goncalo Ramos – who scored the winner in the last round against Croatia – didn’t get on the pitch, says it all.
“Ronaldo, not his fault because he wants to play and the manager’s playing him, cost Portugal this World Cup. There will be a lot of players like [Bruno] Fernandes, [Joao] Neves, Vitinha, [Nuno] Mendes… they’ll be looking and thinking ‘legend of a player for the country, but because of him we’re going home’.”
He continued: “Remember the famous words from Jamie Carragher on Casemiro: ‘leave the football before the football leaves you’.
“You look at Ronaldo now and you’re only taking the Portugal job if he is not in the squad.”
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Agbonlahor went on to criticise Ronaldo for failing to console his younger teammates and making Portugal’s World Cup exit all about himself. He added:
“It was the walking, the lack of pressing, the lack of offering anything, throwing his arms up at his players. Even after the final whistle he’s stood there, it’s the Ronaldo show, he’s not going around to the younger players to check if they’re okay. Everyone’s going over to him to come and make sure he’s okay.
ITV Sport
“There was a moment at the end of the time where there was a break and Roberto Martinez comes out with his iPad. Ronaldo throws his arms up and Martinez is like ‘woah’. Ronaldo walks in a different direction. That’s been the problem: Ronaldo is bigger than Portugal, simple as that.”
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When Jeff Stelling suggested Ronaldo lives on ‘planet me’, Agbonlahor added: “That’s the problem. People say ‘why does [Lionel] Messi have more favouritism from your average fan?’… because you don’t hear that from Messi.
“I think he said the EUROs are as big as the World Cup, it’s just nonsense.” Watch the clip in full below:
It will be fascinating to see what Portugal decide to do next once the dust has settled. Will they continue with Ronaldo leading the line for September and October’s UEFA Nations League fixtures, or will his extraordinary international career be brought to an end after 23 years?
