Tag: 2026 FIFA World Cup

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FIFA appoints Chadian referee for Lesotho, Nigeria clash

World football governing body FIFA has selected Chadian official Alhadi Mahamat as the referee for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho next week.

The matchday nine encounter is scheduled for the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, on Friday, October 10, 2025 and will kick off at 6pm South Africa time, which is 5pm Nigeria time.

Allaou, who was also in charge of Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo on September 6 during matchday seven, will work with compatriots Bogola Issa as first assistant referee, Moussa Hafiz as second assistant referee, and Abdelkerim Ousmane as fourth official.

FIFA also appointed Kenyan official Alice Kimani as referee assessor, while William Shongwe from eSwatini will serve as match commissioner.

Nigeria, currently three points behind first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, need an outright victory to enhance their chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, which will be jointly hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico next summer.

The Super Eagles face a crucial double-header, with the Lesotho clash followed by a decisive home encounter against Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on October 14.

FIFA has confirmed that Egyptian referee Omar Amin Mohamed Amin Mohamed will officiate the Benin match, assisted by compatriots Mahmoud Aboulergal and Ali Teleb.

Nigeria’s qualification hopes received a boost after FIFA sanctioned South Africa for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March, awarding a 3-0 victory to Lesotho instead.

The decision reshaped the group standings, with Benin and South Africa now tied on 14 points at the top after eight matches, while Nigeria and Rwanda sit just behind with 11 points apiece.

A maximum of six points from their remaining fixtures could take Nigeria to 17 points, potentially enough to secure top spot depending on other results. (Punch)

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Trump invites global fans to World Cup and Olympics as U.S. tightens visa policies

U.S. President Donald Trump told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that he hopes “countless people from all over the globe” will attend the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics hosted by the U.S., making no mention of his migration crackdown that has deterred some visitors.

Overseas travel to the U.S. fell 2.9% year-on-year in August to about 3.5 million visitors, according to preliminary U.S. government data. It was the sixth month this year that travel declined from a year ago, bucking the global tourism trend and defying expectations that in 2025 annual inbound visitors would finally surpass the pre-pandemic level of 79.4 million.

In a wide-ranging speech, Trump said next year the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence. “We will also be proudly hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and shortly thereafter, the 2028 Olympics,” he said.

“It’s going to be very exciting. I hope you all come. I hope that countless people from all over the globe will take part.”

More than 1.5 million ticket applications from fans in 210 countries were received by FIFA for the World Cup within 24 hours of the presale draw, the governing body of world soccer said earlier this month. The 48-team tournament will be hosted by Mexico, Canada and the U.S. and will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities.

But a U.S. trip may be expensive and complicated for many. Visitors from non-visa waiver countries face a $250 “visa integrity fee,” on top of the existing fee, with travelers already navigating long average visa wait times. Such visitors face an average 169 days for a B-1/B-2 tourism or business visa interview, according to data from the U.S. State Department.

That will hit fans from countries that traditionally send a large contingent to the World Cup, including Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.

Global ticket demand for the tournament came primarily from the three host countries, followed by Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil, according to FIFA.

Tourists from visa-waiver countries – mostly in Europe – will not need to pay the new fee, but industry experts say some are being put off U.S. vacations by fears of being stopped at the border after a number of widely publicized cases.

The White House is also looking to tighten the duration of visas for students, cultural exchange visitors and members of the media, according to a proposed government regulation issued in August.

The 2028 Summer Olympics is set to be held in Los Angeles, California, in July 2028. (JapanToday)

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Spain reclaims FIFA top ranking, knocks Argentina off No. 1 spot

Spain has returned to the summit of the FIFA World Rankings for the first time in over a decade, dislodging Argentina after a strong run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The updated rankings, released on FIFA’s official X handle on Thursday, mark Spain’s first time at the top since 2014. Argentina, which had led the standings since April 2023, dropped to third place, with France moving up to second.

Portugal, Croatia, and Italy recorded slight gains, now occupying fifth, ninth, and tenth positions respectively.

Brazil slipped to sixth following a poor run of form, while Germany fell to 12th after a shock defeat to Slovakia in their qualifiers—pushing them outside the top 10 for the first time since October 2024.

Slovakia proved the biggest movers, climbing 10 places to 42nd after consecutive qualifying wins, including their upset victory against Germany.

Morocco remained just outside the top 10 after securing eight wins in their last nine matches, while other notable risers include The Gambia, Madagascar, Paraguay, Uganda, Libya, Suriname, and the Faroe Islands, each improving by at least five places.

Co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, Canada, moved up two spots to 26th, while Kosovo achieved a historic milestone by climbing four places to 91st.

The latest rankings highlight the shifting balance of power in world football as nations gear up for upcoming qualifiers and tournaments. (Punch)

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Troost-Ekong targets 2025 AFCON glory, 2026 World Cup qualification

The captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong, has declared the team’s unwavering commitment to clinching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and earning a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking during an interview with the Saudi Pro League in Ar Rass, the Nigerian defender shared his pride in leading the national side and highlighted their ambitious goals.

“It’s an incredible honour to captain Nigeria,” Troost-Ekong stated. “This role carries significant responsibility, as Nigeria is a football powerhouse with an abundance of talent. However, despite our potential, we’ve often fallen short of expectations over the years, given the calibre of players we produce.”

The former Watford centre-back praised the current generation of Super Eagles players and expressed confidence in the team’s future.

“I’m really enjoying the experience and trying to contribute the best I can. With the group of players we have now—who are extremely talented—our focus is clear: to win the next AFCON and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

“We came very close at the last AFCON, and that’s something we’ve all learned from. Now, as captain, the mission feels even more meaningful,” he said. (Punch)