FIFA WORLD PEACE PRIZE.....and WORLD CUP.

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Ivan Toney is on of the big shock selections by Tuchel. Or perhaps not.... according to Steve Sutcliff for the BBC.

Toney's record of 36 goals in 85 Premier League games equates to almost a goal every other game and he has been even more prolific in the Saudi Pro League, where he has plundered 55 goals in 62 matches over two seasons.

For context, Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 53 times in 60 appearances in the same competition.
Also, do you remember the rather eerie penalty against Switzerland in the Euros.... he's not looking at the ball, he's not looking at the goal, he's just eyeballing the keeper.....

 
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Disappointed that Harry Maguire isn't in the squad.....the man is a monster with his head....especially if we're looking for a goal.....scares many a defender into make a mistake.
 
Maybe FIFA have gone beyond total greed and need to step back and join the rest of the world in what is affordable....its' only kicking a ball around.....nothing else......do FIFA want us to pay in barrels of oil that we can get through the Strait of Hormuz.....if so then we need to bow down before Iran and ask them to stop the blockage......because Donald's going to lose face over this otherwise......you never know he might fail his medical that's due.
 
President of the USA Donald Trump says....That he wouldn't pay a thousand dollars (£736) to watch the USA start the tournament in Group D on June 12th in Los Angeles versus Paraguay.
 
FIFA must answer questions after allegations of "artificially inflating prices " and "misleading fans" over the sale of tickets for the 2026 World Cup.

It comes as the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey officially launched an investigation into Fifa's practices.

New Jersey attorney general Jennifer Davenport called the process a "gauntlet of confusion...fake scarcity and impossibly high prices".

She added there would be a "thorough investigation of Fifa's conduct" with world football's governing body subpoenaed to provide information.

A subpoena compels a party to release specified internal documents or information.

Davenport made a joint announcement alongside New York attorney general Letitia James and the New York City department of consumer and worker protection (DCWP).

DCWP commissioner Samual AA Levine said the body would be taking "allegations of blatantly deceptive conduct very seriously" and would look into allegations of "artificially inflating prices".

In particular...Fifa has been asked to explain why tickets have "exceeded the prices for any previous World Cup tournament".

BBC News 27/05/2026.


This could turn into a shambles of confusion......this is coming just two weeks before the tournament starts....how will those easily duped already to buy tickets fair if prices have to legally get reduced.....will they get their money back if prices are reduced.....still sounds like half-empty stadiums will be the norm.
 
You must admit, your optimism that the American legal system is going to render justice before this tournament starts is charming. My estimate is that it might do so before the 2030 tournament kicks off, if we're lucky.

I've read other people saying that FIFA "reserved" large numbers of tickets through a ticket booking subsidiary of theirs. The theory was they'd be sold to overseas operators who'd offer ticket+travel+accommodation package tours to fans in their countries. This removed large numbers of tickets from the official public ticket website, creating an impression of scarcity when in fact tickets had just been, shall we say. "set aside". Prices rose and then tickets were bled back onto the market at a "managed" rate.

I couldn't possibly say whether this is true but I imagine it's one thing the courts will look at. That's if Trump doesn't pitch in, brandishing his FIFA Peace Prize.
 
A report produced by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has found that bookings are well below expectations in almost every host city.

The AHLA said this does not align with Fifa's statement that more than five million tickets have been sold.....and it creates a risk that " the anticipated economic lift may fall short".

Its report partially puts the blame at the door of Fifa...accusing world football's governing body of block booking far too many rooms for it's own use and creating false demand.

This...the AHLA said...led to artificially high pricing which....after Fifa cancelling a large number of rooms...has been replaced by a vacuum of availability.

Fifa said it does not recognise this accusation.

BBC News...31/05/2026.


Am I the only one who thinks that football will be taking second place this summer.....Oh hold on a minute that might even drop to third....because THE DONALD will surely claw his way to the summit of people's attention....if of course he can fit it in between starting wars all over the place.
 
Boycott it and don't even tune in is what I've been saying all along. Nobody needs a Trump competition and everyone should leave him to it on his own. I would also love it to flop and cost the US as much as possible.
 
There's a piece in the Sunday Times about the growing popularity of grass roots football in the States. Interestingly, it's very much a middle class, graduate professions phenomenon. It reports fashionable bars in business districts packed to the rafters watching the Premier League. More Arsenal than Spurs then......
 
Iran's football team has been granted visas to enter the US ahead of the World Cup next week....US officials have confirmed.

The approval comes just 10 days before the team's opening fixture against New Zealand ....due to be held in Los Angeles on 15th of June.

"The visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup....including for athletes and necessary support staff...have been issued," officials said.

They added that the US would not allow the Iranian team to "abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses".

The Iranian football federation is yet to publicly comment on the visa approvals.

It will be the first iteration of the competition to see a host nation receive the team of a country it is at war with.

BBC News.....06/06/2026.


Well that is one hurdle accomplished...I'm sure there will be more.

PS.....Bit of trivia.....Just noticed the date.....my mum would have been 117 yrs old today.....not too many people know that (or too bothered either).
 
England 1 - 0 New Zealand

Eleven substitutes at half time for England in high temperatures and surprise surprise, Harry Kane with the winner. Hardly exhilarating or encouraging but a good run out without the four Arsenal players who are yet to join the squad.

Star players for me: Spence and Rashford in H1 and James and Ngumoha in H2.
 
Many countries are on visa restrictions to the USA.....the following have restrictions ranging between 40% & 75%.

Senegal...Ghana...DR Congo...Iran...Jordan...Cape Verde...Uzbekistan...Algeria...Haiti...Egypt...Ecuador.

Source US State Department.

For fans of some teams playing in the USA in the World Cup this summer....there are many who are concerned that buying expensive tickets before knowing that they can get a visa is stopping them considering whether to try and go or not.

Some countries have visa restrictions to enter Mexico.......so it's just one big mess.
 
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