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• Spain could face sanction for Islamophobic chants during Egypt friendly

  Spain’s 0-0 draw with Egypt was overshadowed by repeated Islamophobic chanting at the RCDE Stadium, sparking a police investigation and threatening the Royal Spanish Football Federation with significant FIFA penalties. ​The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) faces potential FIFA sanctions following Islamophobic behavior during Spain’s friendly against Egypt. Supporters reportedly chanted discriminatory slurs on three occasions, prompting star winger Lamine Yamal to skip the post-match lap of honor. While RFEF President Rafael Louzan described it as “an isolated incident,” manager Luis de la Fuente strongly condemned the behavior as intolerable ahead of the 2026 World Cup. ​The incident could result in a €21,000 fine or a partial stadium closure for upcoming matches. Local police have opened a hate crime investigation to identify those responsible for the chants. Beyond immediate penalties, officials fear the “intolerance could harm Spain’s case” to host the 2030 World Cup final. The governing body’s decision now rests on whether referee Georgi Kabakov included the abuse in his official report.

• Final playoff teams secure 2026 FIFA World Cup spots

  The 2026 FIFA World Cup field is finalized following dramatic playoff wins by DR Congo, Iraq, and four UEFA nations, setting the stage for the 48-team tournament across North America this June.

  ​The 48-team field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is complete after a thrilling final night of playoffs.

  In the inter-confederation brackets, Axel Tuanzebe’s 100th-minute strike lifted DR Congo over Jamaica, securing their first appearance since 1974.

  Meanwhile, Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 in Monterrey to end a 40-year drought, joining France, Norway, and Senegal in a highly competitive Group I.  

  ​UEFA’s final slots were claimed by Türkiye, Czechia, Sweden, and Bosnia & Herzegovina, who famously eliminated Italy on penalties.

  The result marks a third consecutive missed tournament for the Italians.

  For the hosts, the path is now clear: Mexico kicks off the tournament June 11 against South Africa, while the USMNT prepares for a Group D finale against Türkiye on June 25.  

  ​Preparation now shifts to 16 host cities as the expanded 104-match schedule looms.

  Captain Chancel Mbemba remains grounded following DR Congo’s historic qualification, stating, “We’ll stay humble, keep our feet on the ground, and continue to work.”

  With global giants like Brazil and Argentina facing hungry newcomers, the largest World Cup in history promises a “different feel and vibe” across three nations.  

• CAF eyes tenth World Cup slot as DR Congo set for historic playoff, Nigeria, Senegal, star anew

  While the DR Congo stands on the verge of a historic 2026 World Cup berth in the inter-confederation playoffs, Nigeria and Senegal begin new cycles following a turbulent period of coaching changes and administrative controversy.

  ​The Democratic Republic of Congo arrives in Zapopan, Mexico, as favorites to secure Africa’s tenth World Cup spot.

  Seeded in Path 1, Sebastien Desabre’s “Leopards” await the winner of the Jamaica versus New Caledonia semi-final for a decisive clash on March 31.

  Desabre, who has successfully recruited several diaspora stars, remains confident in ending a 52-year drought, noting, “The nation will come to a standstill for Congo DR’s final.”

  ​Nigeria’s Super Eagles travel to Antalya, Turkey, to face Iran and Jordan without talisman Victor Osimhen, who is sidelined following arm surgery.

  Head coach Eric Chelle has utilized this window to blood new talent like Philip Otele and Collins Sor while maintaining his tactical diamond formation.

  Despite missing the World Cup, Chelle is focused on the “Mission ’27” reboot, aiming to restore national pride after their recent AFCON semi-final exit.

  ​In a week dominated by off-field drama, Senegal officially begins its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after being stripped of their AFCON title.

  CAF awarded the trophy to Morocco following a chaotic final, citing Senegal’s brief walk-off as a forfeit.

  Amidst the tension, the Teranga Lions face Peru in Paris, where coach Pape Thiaw must stabilize a squad that feels “unequivocally rejected” by the continental governing body.

• Iran’s 2026 World Cup participation riddled with uncertainty following ‘boycott America’ pledge

  Mehdi Taj has clarified that while the national team will boycott playing on U.S. soil following recent military strikes, they intend to participate in the 2026 World Cup by moving their fixtures to Mexico.

  Iran soccer president ​Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran soccer federation, announced that the national team is currently training in Türkiye despite ongoing political tension.

  Following air strikes and the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Taj clarified the federation’s stance on the upcoming tournament.

  “We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup,” Taj stated, as officials seek to move scheduled matches from California to Mexico.

  ​FIFA has resisted these requests, insisting that the tournament “go ahead as scheduled” per the December 6, 2025, fixtures.

  While Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, expressed a willingness to host the Iranian side, FIFA maintains that all teams must compete in their designated venues.

  With President Donald Trump labeling Iran’s presence as potentially inappropriate for safety, the situation remains a high-stakes “game of brinksmanship.”

   

• Emerse Fae still haunted by loss to Egypt at AFCON 2006 ahead of quarter-final showdown

  Emerse Fae is drawing on personal heartbreak from 2006 to ensure his defending champions do not underestimate a resilient Egyptian side in their upcoming AFCON quarterfinal.

  Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae has issued a stern warning to his squad ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against Egypt.

  Recalling the 2006 final where he suffered a penalty shootout defeat as a player, the 41-year-old cautioned against complacency.

  Fae noted that the current Egyptian side mirrors the resilient teams of the past, stating, “This is exactly the Egypt I expected… that looks like it’s about to crack, but almost never does.”

  The defending champions enter the match following a dominant 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso, highlighted by a standout performance from Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.

  In contrast, Egypt required extra time to dispatch Benin. Despite their recent struggles, Fae emphasized that the seven-time champions remain master tacticians in knockout football.

  He observed: “Egypt absorbs pressure; they don’t control [games]. It’s about disrupting the opponent and, whenever they get a chance, punishing them.”

  The tactical battle will pit the Elephants’ momentum against an Egyptian attack featuring superstars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.

  Fae insisted that mental discipline is the only way to overcome the North African giants, who have reached two of the last four finals.

  He concluded with a final warning regarding the opponent’s clinical nature: “You should never be overconfident against Egypt. If you arrive overconfident, you have no chance.”