WORLD CUP 2026

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I'm hoping that Chris Wood (NZ) and Mohammed Salah (Egypt) remain healthy so I can witness them score a few goals in their match in Vancouver, BC that I will be attending, along with the Australia vs Turkey match.
 
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Reactions: kiwiqpr
That is a crazy price for those World Cup shirts. We are heading to Montreal in a couple of weeks for the F1 race that includes a Sprint race. Last year F1 branded T-shirts were C$180. Now 30 years ago on my annual F1 trip to Montreal on race day I could negotiate 5 identical F1 branded shirts for C100 for my five daughters. Now I had to bargain a bit to get that price, but on Sunday race day vendors just want to unload stuff.
 
Fifa announces three World Cup opening ceremonies
Graphic showing photos of Katy Perry and Michael Buble
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
Katy Perry will headline the opening ceremony in Los Angeles and Michael Buble will perform before Canada's first match in Toronto

ByFlora Snelson
BBC Sport journalist
Published
4 hours ago
Katy Perry, Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette are among the artists who will perform at three World Cup opening ceremonies this summer.

Ceremonies will precede each of the first matches played in the host nations of USA, Canada and Mexico.

Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla will perform at the first ceremony on Thursday, 11 June at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, before Mexico and South Africa play the first of the tournament's 104 games.

The next day, Canadian singer-songwriters Buble and Morisette will headline the opening ceremony at BMO Field in Toronto before the hosts take on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

And in the USA, pop star Perry and rapper Future will perform before the USA take on Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 12 June.

"The Fifa World Cup is a moment the world shares, and that begins with how we open it," said Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

"Starting with Mexico City and continuing the next days with Toronto and Los Angeles, these ceremonies will bring together music, culture and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament.

"It is a powerful way to begin a truly global celebration."

Earlier this week, Colombian pop star Shakira teased her official song for the tournament, which features Nigerian singer Burna Boy.
 
kiwiqpr said:
Fifa announces three World Cup opening ceremonies
Graphic showing photos of Katy Perry and Michael Buble
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
Katy Perry will headline the opening ceremony in Los Angeles and Michael Buble will perform before Canada's first match in Toronto

ByFlora Snelson
BBC Sport journalist
Published
4 hours ago
Katy Perry, Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette are among the artists who will perform at three World Cup opening ceremonies this summer.

Ceremonies will precede each of the first matches played in the host nations of USA, Canada and Mexico.

Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla will perform at the first ceremony on Thursday, 11 June at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, before Mexico and South Africa play the first of the tournament's 104 games.

The next day, Canadian singer-songwriters Buble and Morisette will headline the opening ceremony at BMO Field in Toronto before the hosts take on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

And in the USA, pop star Perry and rapper Future will perform before the USA take on Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 12 June.

"The Fifa World Cup is a moment the world shares, and that begins with how we open it," said Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

"Starting with Mexico City and continuing the next days with Toronto and Los Angeles, these ceremonies will bring together music, culture and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament.

"It is a powerful way to begin a truly global celebration."

Earlier this week, Colombian pop star Shakira teased her official song for the tournament, which features Nigerian singer Burna Boy.
Click to expand...
Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla will perform at the first ceremony on Thursday, 11 June at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, before Mexico and South Africa play the first of the tournament's 104 games.

Try and stop me tuning in for that.
 
The reality is most football fans don't give a f*ck about the ceremonies which seem to be pervading every big sports tournament whatever, it seems they see the Superbowl as some sort of ritual they all have to follow. The Champions League will be upping it's 'entertainment' at their final as if to compete and no doubt they'll say it helps justify the extortionate ticket prices. All this shyte emanates from America so we'll be getting an overdose this year...
 
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World Cup debutants to wear collectable patches on shirts​

You must log in or register to see images
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
Fans will be able to collect the patches for World Cup debutants from 2031
By
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
    • Published
      5 hours ago
Players who make their first tournament appearance at this summer's Fifa World Cup will wear a debut patch on their shirts.

Players such as Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal will make their World Cup bows this summer - as will every player in the Scotland squad.

It is part of a new licensing deal which will see Fanatics replace Panini as Fifa's partner for trading cards and stickers from 2031.

The patches will be removed from shirts after a player's debut and turned into collectable Topps trading cards.

The design of the World Cup patch has not yet been finalised.

Debut patches have been used in US sports for several years, and were introduced into Major League Soccer in 2024.

Fifa has not confirmed full details of how the process will work for the 2026 World Cup, but it is expected to work in a similar way to MLS - which also has a licensing agreement with Fanatics.

Each team is provided with a stock of debut patches, which are stuck to a player's shirt on the upper-right chest with adhesive before they make their debut.

After the game, the patch is removed and placed on to a unique collectable trading card.

The card is then sent to Topps to be randomly inserted into a Chrome MLS hobby box, which retail at about $120 (£88). Each hobby box contains 21 packs of four cards. Two cards in each complete box are unique autograph cards.

The MLS cards are autographed by the player, though it has not been confirmed if this will be the case for the World Cup.

As the Fanatics deal does not kick in until 2031 they will not be available to buy until after this date.

It means there will be a huge stock of debut cards from the 2026 and 2030 finals to create a set of World Cup collectables.

This summer's event is likely to produce upwards of 600 cards.

Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their first appearances.

Austria, the Czech Republic, DR Congo, Haiti, Iraq, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Scotland and Turkey are back after long absences.

Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ivory Coast return for the first time in 12 years and will have almost complete squads of debutants.
 
Iran sets strict conditions ahead of their FIFA World Cup participation
Iran’s football federation has confirmed participation in the 2026 World Cup but demands joint hosts meet 10 conditions including visa guarantees and security assurances.

AFP
2 min read
May 9, 2026 - 10:39PM
News Sport Network
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World Cup final turf laid at MetLife
Football: The turf for the pitch set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final has been laid at MetLife stadium in New Jersey.

more

Iran’s football federation said on Saturday that the men’s national team will take part in the 2026 World Cup this summer, but demanded that joint hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada agree to its conditions amid the Middle East war.

The call comes after Canada refused entry to the federation’s chief last month before the FIFA Congress because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ideological arm of Iran’s military, which it designated as a terror group in 2024.

Iran’s presence at the tournament, which will take place between June 11 and July 19, has been shrouded in uncertainty since the eruption of war in the Middle East in February following strikes by the United States and Israel.

Iran's Ehsan Hajsafi (left) competes for the ball with Hasan Al Haydos of Qatar. Photo: AAP Image/Paul Miller
Iran's Ehsan Hajsafi (left) competes for the ball with Hasan Al Haydos of Qatar. Photo: AAP Image/Paul Miller
“We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account,” the Iranian federation said on its official website.

“We will participate in the World Cup tournament, but without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions.”

The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) president Mehdi Taj told state TV on Friday that Tehran has 10 conditions for attending the global spectacle, seeking assurances over the country’s treatment.

The conditions include visas being granted and respect for the national team staff, the team’s flag and its national anthem during the tournament, as well as demands for high security at airports, hotels and routes to the stadiums where they will play.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that Iran’s footballers would be welcome at the tournament.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo: Stefano Rellandini via AP
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo: Stefano Rellandini via AP
But he warned that the US may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation with ties to the IRGC, which it also designates as a terrorist organisation.

“All players and technical staff, especially those who have served their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC, such as Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi, should be granted visas without any problems,” said Iranian football chief Taj.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled.

Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G.

The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.

“No external power can deprive Iran of its participation in a cup to which it has qualified with merit,” the Iranian federation said on Saturday.

Originally published as Iran sets strict conditions ahead of their FIFA World Cup participation
 
kiwiqpr said:
You must log in or register to see media

World Cup debutants to wear collectable patches on shirts​

You must log in or register to see images
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
Fans will be able to collect the patches for World Cup debutants from 2031
By
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
    • Published
      5 hours ago
Players who make their first tournament appearance at this summer's Fifa World Cup will wear a debut patch on their shirts.

Players such as Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal will make their World Cup bows this summer - as will every player in the Scotland squad.

It is part of a new licensing deal which will see Fanatics replace Panini as Fifa's partner for trading cards and stickers from 2031.

The patches will be removed from shirts after a player's debut and turned into collectable Topps trading cards.

The design of the World Cup patch has not yet been finalised.

Debut patches have been used in US sports for several years, and were introduced into Major League Soccer in 2024.

Fifa has not confirmed full details of how the process will work for the 2026 World Cup, but it is expected to work in a similar way to MLS - which also has a licensing agreement with Fanatics.

Each team is provided with a stock of debut patches, which are stuck to a player's shirt on the upper-right chest with adhesive before they make their debut.

After the game, the patch is removed and placed on to a unique collectable trading card.

The card is then sent to Topps to be randomly inserted into a Chrome MLS hobby box, which retail at about $120 (£88). Each hobby box contains 21 packs of four cards. Two cards in each complete box are unique autograph cards.

The MLS cards are autographed by the player, though it has not been confirmed if this will be the case for the World Cup.

As the Fanatics deal does not kick in until 2031 they will not be available to buy until after this date.

It means there will be a huge stock of debut cards from the 2026 and 2030 finals to create a set of World Cup collectables.

This summer's event is likely to produce upwards of 600 cards.

Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their first appearances.

Austria, the Czech Republic, DR Congo, Haiti, Iraq, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Scotland and Turkey are back after long absences.

Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ivory Coast return for the first time in 12 years and will have almost complete squads of debutants.
Click to expand...

Another mega rip-off the Yanks have invented...
 
Steelmonkey said:
It's only a rip-off if you actually buy it....it's worthless if everyone sees it for what it is and doesn't spend a penny on it
Click to expand...
It's targeted at kids and they can be very persuasive in the run up to the tournament. I certainly won't give in but many people will. It's bad enough with the Panini cards...
 
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