US to ease travel restrictions on Iran’s World Cup squad
The US is easing its restrictions on Iran’s World Cup team, allowing the squad to travel into the country two days before its next match, the US Department of Homeland Security said.
The team will still be required to leave after its last group stage match in Seattle, a department spokesperson said.
“This was planned on our end,” Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said. “We were going to look at how the first two movements went, and if they went smoothly, we would extend the extra day in light of the longer travel time.”
Iran’s squad has complained about the travel restrictions imposed on the team and the challenges it has faced since the outbreak of war. For the first two matches, in Los Angeles, the team was not permitted to travel until the day before. The team’s base camp was relocated from Tucson, Arizona, to Mexico. Several team officials and members of the support staff were barred from travelling into the US with the team.
GOAL! Portugal make it four
Ronaldo goes close to getting his hat trick but is denied by a Abduvohid Nematov save, the keeper also catching the veteran Portuguese striker in the process. Ronaldo makes a claim for a penalty, but Nematov touched the ball first.
Instead, it is a corner, which Bruno Fernandes whips in low, when it is flicked on by Joao Flelix, followed by a bit of a scrap that ends when Nematov seems to knock it into the back of his own net.
Portugal 4 – Uzbekistan 0, 60th minute.
Infantino says Trump will be involved in World Cup final
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed plans to include US President Donald Trump in the trophy presentation ceremonies at the World Cup Final.
“We will be together with the president, enjoying the final, and handing the trophy to the winner — of course, together,” Infantino said on an interview with US news talk show Fox and Friends.
Asked to clarify that he and Trump would present the trophy together at the match on July 20 (AEST) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Infantino added: “Of course. We are together all the time.”
Trump notably participated in the ceremony at last year’s Club World Cup final when Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 at the same venue.
He remained on stage as Chelsea lifted the trophy. Later, the trophy was spotted in the Oval Office, with Chelsea reportedly having received a replica version.
Ronald with first half double puts Portugal in control
Cristiano Ronaldo has responded to criticism of his performance in Portugal’s first match, scoring twice as his side took a 3-0 lead over Uzbekistan in the opening half of their Group K match in Houston.
Ronaldo scored the opening goal after six minutes when he put a Joao Cancelo cross in at the near post to give Portugal the lead. Portugal had a second 11 minutes later when a Nuno Mendes free kick bent into the bottom right corner. And the game was practically over in the 39th minute when Ronaldo got his second after Bruno Fernandes fed him a ball through to the right, which he pushed past Uzbekistan’s keeper
It is Ronaldo’s second World Cup brace, and he went close to making it three in 45 minutes when he had a shot cleared off the line right on half-time.
Portugal 3 – Uzbekistan 0, halftime
Welcome to today’s live World Cup covearge
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2026 World Cup.
Today sees the final matches in the second round of the group stages – with Portugal versus Uzbekistan already underway in Houston in a Group K. Portugal is leading 3-0, thanks to a first-half brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.
At 6am (AEST), England will look to top Group L when they play Ghana in Boston, while first-up losers in that group, Panama and Croatia, play at 9am. Then it is the second Group K clash between Colombia and Congo DR starting at 12pm.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
