Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, has been dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the United States.

Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (Caf) men’s referee of the year, was barred from entering the country at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey.

No reason for Artan’s repatriation has been issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration.

After speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa said Artan will miss the tournament.

“Fifa can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” read a statement.

“Fifa is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present.

“In line with previous Fifa events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

Referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has created a training hub for the tournament’s 52 referees and 88 assistant referees, in Miami.

All on-pitch officials must stay at the base in Florida for training, preparation and security.

It would therefore not be possible for Artan to stay outside the United States and only referee matches played in Canada or Mexico.

A senior adviser to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports confirmed the denial of entry to the BBC and said Artan had been travelling with valid documents.

A Somali embassy official in Nairobi told the BBC that Artan’s diplomatic passport had been issued specifically to ease his travel after earlier visa difficulties.

Speaking in a statement to Reuters, Artan said that despite the circumstances he was in a positive mood and focused on the next challenge.

“I would like to thank Fifa and Caf for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.

“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”

The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has contacted Fifa seeking urgent clarification.

Speaking to BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: “While I can’t go into the derog [derogatory information] on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision.”

The World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July.

An official in the Somali national football league championships, Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 and has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Artan’s plight is the latest fiasco to hit the World Cup, with Iran’s football federation stating on Tuesday that their allocation of fan tickets for the group stage has been revoked.

Pundit and former England striker Ian Wright has labelled the tournament a “World Cup of chaos”, saying in a video on Instagram: “Every few hours, it’s another story about fans denied, player denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs.

“I’m laughing but it’s not funny. It’s actually not funny and something has to be said. The most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof.

“Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world? Are we not hearing more? Are we seeing how Qatar got dragged, are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football, really?

“I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.

“This is a World Cup of chaos.”

BBC NEWS

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Banyana Banyana bounced back from a heavy defeat to beat Japan 1-0 in their second international friendly at J-GREEN Sakai in Osaka on Tuesday.

Linda Motlhalo scored in the ninth minute as South Africa secured a morale-boosting win over the Asian champions, three days after losing 5-0 to the same opponents in the first match of the two-game series.

Coach Desiree Ellis’ side defended their early lead for the rest of the match, producing a disciplined response after Japan had dominated the opening friendly in Osaka on Saturday.

The win gives South Africa a timely lift as they continue preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which is scheduled to run from 25 July to 16 August.

Banyana, who won the African title in 2022, will go into the tournament aiming to reclaim the continental crown after Nigeria won the 2024 edition by beating hosts Morocco 3-2 in last year’s final.

The two friendlies against Japan formed part of South Africa’s build-up to WAFCON, with Ellis using the matches against high-level opposition to test her squad before the continental tournament.

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The Czech Republic and South Korea complete the group.

Most of the games will be played in Mexico: two in Mexico City, two in Guadalajara and one in Monterrey. The one game outside Mexico will be in Atlanta on June 18 between the Czech Republic and South Africa.

Two of Mexico’s matches will be at the recently renovated Azteca Stadium, which hosted the World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986.

Mexico

Hosting the World Cup for the first time in 40 years, Mexico will hope to rebound from a group-stage elimination four years ago in Qatar. Before that, it was eliminated in the round of 16 seven consecutive times between 1994 and 2018.

The only times Mexico made it to the last eight was when it hosted the tournament, in 1970 and 1986.

Much of the team’s hopes will rest on 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, who last year became the youngest ever to play for Mexico’s senior squad at 16.

The team will be coached by veteran Javier Aguirre, who took over the squad in 2024 for his third stint with the national team.

“I count myself lucky,” Aguirre, a former Mexico player, was quoted as saying by FIFA.com.

“Every day I’m grateful to be here, doing what I’m doing, because I’m Mexican… and because the best moment in my coaching career is on the horizon. As a player, nothing could top playing at a home World Cup.”

South Africa

South Africa is back in the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. Despite an upset 2-1 win against France, it became the first host nation to be eliminated in the group stage.

South Africa’s only other appearances had been in 1998 and 2002, when it also failed to reach the knockout rounds.

The South Africans made it to the World Cup this year by edging African powerhouse Nigeria in their qualifying group.

The team will be coached by Belgian Hugo Broos, who has been in charge of the Bafana Bafana since 2021.

The squad is mostly made up of players from local clubs.

South Korea

South Korea will make its 12th World Cup appearance — the most of any Asian country. Its best result was a fourth-place finish at the tournament it co-hosted with Japan in 2002.

Since then, the South Koreans have never gone beyond the round of 16. Four years ago in Qatar, they finished second to Portugal in a group that also included Uruguay and Ghana. They were eliminated by Brazil 4-1 in the last 16.

The team was undefeated in Asian qualifying but hasn’t impressed in its recent World Cup warmups, losing to Ivory Coast 4-0 and Austria 1-0 last month.

The team’s biggest star and captain is former Tottenham attacker Son Heung-min, who now plays for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer. Other players to watch include Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae.

Coach Hong Myung-bo has been in charge since 2024 in his second stint with South Korea. The former defender was the captain of the South Korea team that reached the semifinals in 2002.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic needed a penalty shootout win over Denmark in the European playoffs to make it to its first World Cup since 2006.

It arrived at the 2006 tournament as one of the highest-ranked teams but wasn’t able to get past a group stage that included Italy, Ghana and the United States.

Former captain Vladimír Darida, 35, agreed to come out of international retirement to help the team qualify for the World Cup. Darida had left the national team in 2021 after the Czechs were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the European Championship.

The team’s coach is 74-year-old Miroslav Koubek, who replaced Ivan Hašek late last year after the team’s 2-1 loss to minnow Faeroe Islands in World Cup qualifying.

AP

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Arrowhead Stadium (called Kansas City Stadium by FIFA)

Capacity: 73,000 (FIFA says its listed figures are subject to change)

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Matches: Argentina vs. Algeria (June 16), Ecuador vs. Curaçao (June 20), Tunisia vs. Netherlands (June 25), Algeria vs. Austria (June 27), round of 16 (July 3), quarterfinal (July 11)

What to know: Opened in 1972, the stadium has been formally named GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium since 2021. The home of the NFL’s Chiefs since 1972, it is 8.5 miles from downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and has no rail access. The Kansas City host committee announced $15 round trip shuttle buses on match days. The venue is adjacent to Kauffman Stadium, home of MLB’s Kansas City Royals.

Arrowhead was to have hosted the 2015 Super Bowl but the game was relocated after the failure to enact a sales-tax proposal that would have funded a rolling roof for the two venues. According to Guinness World Records, the stadium set a mark for the loudest outdoor sporting event crowd at 142.2 decibels for a Chiefs game against the New England Patriots on Sept. 29, 2014. The stadium also was home to MLS’s Kansas City team from 1996 to 2007.

The Chiefs intend to move in 2031 to a planned domed stadium to be built in Kansas City, Kansas, near the Kansas Speedway.

AT&T Stadium (Dallas Stadium)

Capacity: 94,000

Location: Arlington, Texas

Matches: Netherlands vs. Japan (June 14), England vs. Croatia (June 17), Argentina vs. Austria (June 22), Japan vs. Sweden (June 25), Jordan vs. Algeria (June 27), round of 32 (June 30 and July 3), round of 16 (July 6), semifinal (July 14).

What to know: The retractable-roof stadium, opened in 2009, is the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and is known as Jerry’s World after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. It hosted the 2011 Super Bowl, the 2015 NCAA football championship and the 2014 NCAA basketball Final Four, which it will host again in 2030.

An NFL record crowd of 105,121 attended a Cowboys game against the New York Giants on Sept. 20, 2009, and 108,713 were at the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. Four video screens are suspended 90 feet above the field, including two 160-by-72 feet screens facing the sidelines and two 53-by-30 feet displays that face the endlines.

The stadium is about 20 miles from Dallas and adjacent to Globe Life Field, home of MLB’s Texas Rangers, and Choctaw Stadium, the former Rangers’ ballpark that was reconfigured for football when the Rangers moved to their new building in 2020. Grass was installed over the artificial turf. The nearest rail station, Trinity Railway Express’ Centreport Station, is 8 miles from AT&T and will have free shuttle buses to the stadium on matchdays. The Cotton Bowl, about 19 miles east in Dallas, was a 1994 site.

Gillette Stadium (Boston Stadium)

Capacity: 65,000

Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts

Matches: Haiti vs. Scotland (June 13), Iraq vs. Norway (June 16), Scotland vs. Morocco (June 19), England vs. Ghana (June 23), Norway vs. France (June 26), round of 32 (June 29), quarterfinal (July 9)

What to Know: Located 29 miles southwest of Boston and 25 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island, the stadium opened in 2002 and is home of the NFL’s New England Patriots and MLS’s New England Revolution. It replaced adjacent Foxboro Stadium, a 1994 World Cup venue.

Grass was installed over the artificial turf. Train service to the stadium by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is limited to the days of events and will cost $80 round trip on days of World Cup matches, up from $20 for NFL and MLS games. Bus service from Boston will cost $95 round trip on days of World Cup games.

Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium)

Capacity: 65,000

Location: Miami Gardens, Florida

Matches: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (June 15), Uruguay vs. Cape Verde (June 21), Brazil vs. Scotland (June 24), Colombia vs. Portugal (June 27), round of 32 (July 3), quarterfinal (July 11), third place (July 18)

What to know: Opened in 1987, the stadium is the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. It also hosted MLB’s Miami Marlins when they started play in 1993 through 2011, before their move to a new ballpark near downtown Miami, and since 2019 has been the site of the Miami Open tennis tournament.

Hard Rock is about 15 miles north of downtown Miami and 25 miles south of Fort Lauderdale and has no nearby rail service. FIFA has arranged free shuttles from the Brightline train’s Aventura Station.

A renovation that started in 2015 added a soccer-stadium-style roof protecting fans from rain. Hard Rock has hosted the Super Bowl six times, surpassed only by the eight of the Superdome in New Orleans, and the NCAA football championship twice, with a third game scheduled for 2030. The stadium hosted the 2024 Copa America final, which started 82 minutes late because of crowd trouble outside the venue.

Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)

Capacity: 71,000

Location: Santa Clara, California

Matches: Qatar vs. Switzerland (June 13), Austria vs. Jordan (June 16), Turkey vs. Paraguay (June 19), Jordan vs. Algeria (June 22), Paraguay vs. Australia (June 25), round of 32 (July 1),

What to know: The stadium, opened in 2014. is home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and hosted the Super Bowl in 2016 and 2026, and also the 2019 NCAA college football championship. It is in Silicon Valley, home to many technology companies, about 43 miles south of San Francisco, and has regular Caltrain service. Levi’s is the only U.S. site not assigned a match beyond the round of 32. Stanford Stadium, about 13 miles northwest, was a 1994 World Cup site.

Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Stadium)

Capacity: 69,000

Location: Philadelphia

Matches: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador (June 14), Brazil vs. Haiti (June 19), France vs. Iraq (June 22), Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast (June 25), Croatia vs. Ghana (June 27), round of 16 (July 4)

What to know: Known as the Linc and opened in 2003, the stadium is home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. It part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, a short SEPTA Metro ride from downtown, and adjacent to Citizens Bank Park, home of MLB’s Phillies; Xfinity Mobile Arena, home of the NBA’s 76ers and the NHL’s Flyers; and Stateside Live!, a dining and entertainment complex. SEPTA charges $2.90 for service to the stadium and is providing free service when leaving after World Cup matches. The Linc replaced Veterans Stadium, the multipurpose home of the Phillies and Eagles. The round of 16 match will have a pregame ceremony marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Lumen Field (Seattle Stadium)

Capacity: 69,000

Location: Seattle

Matches: Belgium vs. Egypt (June 15), United States vs. Australia (June 19), Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar (June 24), Egypt vs. Iran (June 26), round of 32 (July 1), round of 16 (July 6)

What to know: Lumen Field, a short walk or Sound Transit Link light railway ride from downtown, opened in 2002. It is home of the NFL’s Seahawks and MLS’s Sounders. It is next to T-Mobile Park, home of MLB’s Mariners. The NFL and MLB teams had shared the Kingdome. Grass was installed over the artificial turf.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium)

Capacity: 75,000

Location: Atlanta

Matches: Spain vs. Cape Verde (June 15), Czech Republic vs. South Africa (June 18), Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (June 21), Morocco vs. Haiti (June 24). Congo vs. Uzbekistan (June 27), round of 32 (July 1), round of 16 (July 7), semifinal (July 15).

What to know: Opened in 2017, the downtown retractable-roof venue is home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United. It hosted the Super Bowl in 2019 and is scheduled to again in 2028. The stadium also was site of NCAA football’s college championship game in 2018 and 2025, and is schedule to host the NCAA basketball Final Four in 2031. Because of the cost, FIFA did not insist the Mercedes-Benz logo atop the stadium’s roof be covered or removed. Mercedes-Benz is close to two MARTA subway stations.

MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium)

Capacity: 82,500

Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey

Matches: Brazil vs Morocco (June 13), France vs Senegal (June 16), Norway vs. Senegal June (June 22), Ecuador vs. Germany (June 25), Panama vs. England (June 27), round of 32 (June 30), round of 16 (July 5), final (July 19).

What to know: Just across the Hudson River from Manhattan in the New Jersey swamplands, MetLife Stadium will be host to the World Cup final on July 19. The home of the New York Giants and New York Jets, it opened in 2010 and replaced next-door Giants Stadium, a 1994 World Cup venue. With its gray seats, it has been considered one of the uglier new NFL venues. It is surrounded by parking lots and adjacent to Meadowlands Racetrack and the American Dream Mall. There is limited transportation, with little pedestrian access and a train that runs only surrounding events. New York Jersey Transit is charging $98 round trip on days of World Cup matches, down from the originally announced $150 but up from $12.90 from days of other events at MetLife. The shuttle bus price from Manhattan, at first announced as $80, has been cut to $20. The stadium hosted the 2016 Copa America Centenario final. To accommodate the specified field dimensions, 1,740 seats in the corners were removed. They will be reinstalled before the NFL season.

NRG Stadium (Houston Stadium)

Capacity: 72,000

Location: Houston

Matches: Germany vs. Curaçao (June 14), Portugal vs. Congo (June 17), Netherlands vs. Sweden (June 20), Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (June 23), Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia (June 26), round of 32 (June 29), round of 16 (July 4)

What to know: Opened in 2002, NRG has a retractable roof and is home of the NFL’s Houston Texans, who moved from the Astrodome. Grass was installed over the artificial turf. The stadium is about 6 miles from downtown and is serviced by the METRORail. The stadium hosted the Super Bowl in 2004 and 2017, the NCAA football championship game in 2024 and the NCAA basketball Final Four in 2011, 2016 and 2023.

SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium)

Capacity: 70,000

Location: Inglewood, California

Matches: United States vs. Paraguay (June 12), Iran vs. New Zealand (June 15), Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina (June 18), Belgium vs. Iran (June 21), Turkey vs. United States (June 25), round of 32 (June 28), round of 32 (July 2), quarterfinal (July 10)

What to know: Opened in 2020, SoFi was built on the site of Hollywood Race Course in a Los Angeles suburb near Los Angeles International Airport and is home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. UNITE HERE Local 11, which represents food and beverage concessions workers at the stadium, is threatening to strike. While there is a roof, the sides are open to air. Grass was installed over the artificial turf. The stadium hosted the 2022 Super Bowl and the 2023 NCAA football championship. There is no adjacent rail but LA Metro is offering shuttle service on match days from the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station. FIFA is charging $250 per game for parking in a stadium garage listed as 0.62 miles from the venue, surging to $300 for some matches. The Rose Bowl, about 20 miles away in Pasadena, was site of the finals of the 1994 World Cup and the 1999 Women’s World Cup.

Estadio Akron (Estadio Guadalajara)

Capacity: 48,000

Location: Guadalajara, Mexico

Matches: South Korea vs. Czech Republic (June 11), Mexico vs. South Korea (June 17), Colombia vs. Congo (June 23), Uruguay vs. Spain (June 26)

What to know: Opened in 2010, the stadium is home to Chivas, which inaugurated the venue with a friendly against Manchester United. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2011 Pan American Games.

Estadio Azteca (Estadio Ciudad de México)

Capacity: 83,000

Location: Mexico City

Matches: Mexico vs. South Africa (June 11), Colombia vs. Uzbekistan (June 17), Mexico City vs. Czech Republic (June 24), round of 32 (June 30), round of 16 (July 6)

What to know: Site of this year’s tournament opener, Azteca opened in 1966 and hosted World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986. Attendance for the final was 107,412 in 1970 and 114,600 in 1986 but capacity was reduced during a series of renovations. Formally known as Estadio Banorte. There is light rail service connecting to the Metro. Altitude is 7,200 feet, which presents a challenge for teams traveling from areas close to sea level. Club América and Cruz Azul are the stadium’s current home teams and past home teams include Atlante, Atlético Español and Necaxa.

Estadio BBVA (Estadio Monterrey)

Capacity: 53,500

Location: Monterrey, Mexico

Matches: Tunisia vs. Sweden (June 14), Tunisia vs. Japan (June 20), South Korea vs. South Africa (June 24), round of 32 (June 29)

What to know: Opened in 2015, the stadium is the home of Monterrey. It is in one of the warmest areas hosting World Cup matches this year, with temperatures soaring past 90 degrees F (32 C). The stadium, which has a futuristic exterior resembling gills, has a view of the Cerro de la Silla mountain range.

BMO Field (Toronto Stadium)

Capacity: 45,000

Location: Toronto

Matches: Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina (June 12), Ghana vs. Panama (June 17), Germany vs. Ivory Coast (June 20), Panama vs. Croatia (June 23), Senegal vs. Iraq (June 26), round of 32 (July 2)

What to know: Built on the site of Exhibition Stadium, former home to MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays and the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, BMO opened in 2007 and is home of Toronto’s MLS team and the Argonauts. Its capacity of 28,180 was expanded for the World Cup with temporary bleachers. The stadium can be reached by tram and train service.

B.C. Place (B.C. Place Vancouver)

Capacity: 54,000

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Matches: Australia vs. Turkey (June 13), Canada vs. Qatar (June 18), New Zealand vs. Egypt (June 21), Canada vs. Switzerland (June 24), Belgium vs. New Zealand (June 26), round of 32 (July 2), round of 16 (July 7)

What to know: Opened in 1983, B.C. is home of MLS’s Whitecaps, who are threatening to move, and the CFL’s BC Lions. A roof renovation that started in 2010 changed it from fixed to retractable. The stadium is downtown and has Skytrain service. Grass was installed over the artificial turf. Site of the 2015 Women’s World Cup final, B.C. also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

AP

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Messi, who turns 39 in three weeks, was active after warming up with his teammates at Kyle Field on the campus of Texas A&M before the game. He stayed on the bench, though, watching from the sideline as Argentina won 2-0.

The team has said Messi’s recovery time will depend on “his clinical and functional progress.” Argentina next plays Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday in a final World Cup tune-up before resuming its training in Kansas City.

Argentina begins its World Cup title defense against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on June 16.

During workouts in Kansas City on Wednesday, Messi came to the practice field after the rest of the team and did some conditioning work off to the side.

Messi, who’s widely expected to retire from international soccer after this summer’s tournament, holds the record for most World Cup matches (26) and needs four more goals to surpass Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record of 16.

AP

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Morocco became embroiled in controversy after hosting the most recent edition of the Africa Cup of Nations — three years after the Atlas Lions made history by becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals.

Morocco’s astonishing run to the semifinals at the tournament in Qatar — with knockout stage wins over Spain and Portugal, with whom the kingdom will co-host the 2030 World Cup — electrified fans and galvanized support across Africa for the team.

But the chaotic Africa Cup final against Senegal in January is still fresh in the memory after Morocco was declared the champion two months after losing the match 1-0 in extra time.

Champions of Africa?

Senegal initially was awarded the Africa Cup trophy after beating Morocco in the final on Jan. 18 in Rabat. But the Confederation of African Football stripped the Teranga Lions of the title on March 17 after the body ruled that Senegal should forfeit the result because its players walked off the field in protest following a late penalty call before later returning to complete the match. It turned Senegal’s 1-0 win in extra time into a 3-0 default victory for Morocco.

Senegal has appealed to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Senegal team also subsequently paraded the trophy in Paris.

Moroccan celebrations have been muted pending the outcome of the appeal, which is still outstanding.

World Cup task

Morocco’s players should be relieved to put the politics behind them and get back to playing after all the fallout from CAF’s unprecedented decision.

The Atlas Lions will face five-time champion Brazil at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 13, then face Scotland at Boston Stadium six days later. The team’s final Group C match will be against Haiti at Atlanta Stadium on June 24.

Success at the tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States is a perquisite for a country that has invested heavily in a bid to become a soccer superpower. Becoming a co-host for the 2030 World Cup is just part of that endeavor.

Coaching change

Morocco coach Walid Regragui, who took over shortly before leading the team to 2022 World Cup semifinals in Qatar, quit after the Africa Cup in January — a couple months before CAF awarded his team the title.

Despite the unprecedented World Cup success, Regragui faced criticism for how the team played and he was criticized after the disappointing performance at the previous Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in 2023.

Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco’s under-20 team to the Youth World Cup title in 2025, took over as Regragui’s successor and led the team to a draw against Ecuador and a win over Paraguay in World Cup warmup games in March.

Injured captain

Influential right back Achraf Hakimi has been sidelined with a right thigh injury and faces a race to be ready for the World Cup. Hakimi was also late for Morocco’s Africa Cup campaign with an ankle injury but returned in time to help the team for the knockout stage.

Fallen hero

Brahim Díaz was the star of the Africa Cup with five goals — nearly one per game — to help Morocco reach the final. The Real Madrid forward, who could barely get any playing time at the Spanish team, thrived at the heart of Morocco’s attack, spurring the team forward with boundless energy.

Brahim looked set to deliver the title with the controversial penalty his team was awarded at the end of the final against Senegal, but the decision sparked protests and fighting at the other end of the field. By the time Senegal’s players returned from their walk off, some 16 minutes had elapsed.

Brahim’s weak attempt at a Panenka penalty was easily handled by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, and Senegal went on to win the game in extra time.

Brahim was jeered by the Morocco fans when he went to get his runner-up medal and did not start either of the team’s recent games under Ouahbi.

AP

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The Springbok Women’s fifth successive Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title has shifted attention to next month’s two-Test home series against the United States, their next major test after another unbeaten continental campaign.

South Africa beat hosts Kenya 35-20 in the tournament decider at the RFUEA Ground in Nairobi on Sunday, to retain their African crown and reaffirm their dominance on the continent.

The victory came as the team continues to build momentum ahead of tougher international assignments, including the July Tests against the USA in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

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The Springbok Women, currently ranked 10th in the world, will face a United States side ranked eighth, giving South Africa an opportunity to measure their progress against higher-ranked opposition.

Playing in front of a passionate Kenyan crowd, the South Africans were made to work hard for their triumph.

Despite taking an early lead through winger Alichia Arries, the Springbok Women found themselves trailing 8-7 at halftime after Kenya capitalised on key opportunities.

The visitors responded strongly after the break, producing a decisive third-quarter surge.

Tries by centre Naima Hlatshwayo, No. 8 Logan Welman and winger Jakkie Cilliers helped South Africa take control of the contest before replacement Ntsako Mbombi crossed the line after the final hooter to seal the victory.

Cilliers also added two conversions and two penalties as the Springbok Women finished worthy champions.

Kenya refused to surrender and kept the contest alive through tries by Faith Livoi, Knight Otuoma and Sinaida Mokaya, but the South Africans held their nerve to secure the continental crown.

The victory marked South Africa’s fifth successive Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title and capped an unbeaten campaign in Nairobi, where the Springbok Women also beat Madagascar 64-5 and Uganda 47-20.

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“This remarkable achievement by the Springbok Women is not only a victory for women’s rugby, but a proud moment for South Africa as a whole. To secure a fifth consecutive continental title, particularly away from home against determined opposition, speaks to the resilience, discipline and excellence that this team continues to embody,” said Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe.

She said the team’s success reflected its resilience, determination and growing stature within international rugby, while reaffirming South Africa’s continued excellence on the African sporting stage.

Mabe added that the Springbok Women’s ability to overcome a highly competitive Kenyan side on their home soil demonstrated the discipline, commitment and fighting spirit that continue to define South African sport at the highest level.

“Victories of this nature extend far beyond the sporting field. They serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of investing in women’s sport and creating pathways that enable female athletes to thrive and compete on the global stage,” Mabe said.

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“I’m sorry I have a German passport,” the serial-winning former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach quipped at his official unveiling in 2024.

He had woken that morning to some unflattering headlines in the British media.

The Daily Mail described it as a “dark day for England” and said the national team had gambled on a “GERMAN.”

The leader of the right-wing Reform Party Nigel Farage asked on X: “Why can’t we have an English manager?”

Never mind that Tuchel was a Champions League winner who had lifted trophies in three different countries. Or the fact that England has gone down the foreign route before: a Swedish coach in Sven-Goran Eriksson and an Italian in Fabio Capello. And in the days before Tuchel’s appointment, there were rumors that Pep Guardiola was also a leading candidate.

Historic rivals

A point of contention was the fact that Germany has long-been England’s biggest soccer rival. Since winning the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany, England has often struggled against the Germans in major tournaments. Some England fans have brought 20th-century history to the rivalry with provocative chants taunting Germany about World War II.

Debate about Tuchel’s nationality, however, dissipated quickly, helped by his easy-going charm when dealing with the media and a perfect winning record during England’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

According to professor Jan Rüger, author of the upcoming book “Great Powers: A History of Britain and Germany,” the wider reaction to Tuchel’s appointment points to a change in Anglo-German relations after the tensions that prevailed in the decades following two world wars.

“There were questions, but it certainly hasn’t turned into an ongoing saga in the way in which it would have in the 1990s or even around the turn of the century,” Rüger told The Associated Press. “Then it would have been unthinkable to have a German manager.

“Germany really isn’t the bad guy anymore. That’s long since passed. I don’t think it works portraying Germany as the bogeyman.”

England coaches face fierce criticism

Time will tell if Tuchel is portrayed as a hero or villain at the World Cup. If England fails, his nationality might be raised again. But England managers of the past have been the subject of brutal criticism by fans and media, regardless of what it says on their passport.

Tuchel’s predecessor Gareth Southgate was widely credited with making England fans fall back in love with the national team during his eight-year spell, yet he faced a torrent of abuse from sections of supporters during the 2024 European Championship, with plastic beer glasses thrown in his direction after one match.

Southgate departed after leading England to back-to-back Euros finals and the World Cup semifinals in 2018.

He goes down as the nation’s second most successful manager after Alf Ramsey, who led England to World Cup victory in 1966.

If Tuchel can end England’s trophy wait, he would become a national treasure.

“Everyone in the squad, the staff, everyone believes we can win it,” midfielder Kobbie Mainoo said.

Difficult decisions

Tuchel stunned some fans and players with his squad selection for the World Cup, leaving out big names including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It was evidence that he would not be swayed by public opinion, which has been a criticism of previous coaches.

“Everything I know about international football tells me that tournaments are won by teams, not individuals,” he said. “What we’re trying to achieve in the summer can only be achieved as a team.”

Midfielder Jordan Henderson was one of the surprise inclusions at the age of 35.

“I know everybody likes to speak about players that aren’t here, unfortunately that’s the case with every England squad really,” Henderson said.

“There’s so many good players, so much talent, but for us as a squad here, it’s about being together and we’re here for a reason and it’s about bringing that, being the best version of yourself, being best version individually and collectively, working every day to achieve our dreams.”

A proven winner

Tuchel is the 14th coach tasked with the challenge of ending England’s trophy drought, which now stretches to 60 years.

After Southgate’s departure the English Football Association said it was looking for a candidate to “win a major tournament”.

That might sound obvious, but even coaches who had won big prizes with club teams such as Bobby Robson, Terry Venables, Eriksson and Capello could not emulate that success with England.

Southgate got closer than anyone since Ramsey despite a modest coaching career before being handed the national job.

His success appeared to be grounded in developing a connection both within his squad and with supporters.

As a former player who missed a penalty in a semifinal shootout defeat to Germany at Euro 1996, his emotional understanding of what it means to represent England appeared to resonate with a new generation.

As a foreign coach — albeit one who coached in the Premier League with Chelsea — Tuchel cannot bring that same dynamic to the role.

He does, however, fit the description of a winner of major tournaments, having led Chelsea to the Champions League in 2021. He was also Champions League finalist with Paris Saint-Germain.

He won league titles in France with PSG and Germany with Bayern Munich.

In Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, he has three of the biggest stars in European soccer and enough talent at his disposal that he felt able to leave out the likes of Foden and Palmer.

“I love the difficult decisions and I love the tough decisions because they bring in the end clarity, they bring a certain edge, and it’s what you need to go all the way,” Tuchel said.

“From day one, we said we will always try to select and build the best group, which is maybe not necessarily just to collect the best talents.”

AP

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Queiroz cited a presumption of innocence for Partey — who now plays in Spain for Villarreal and has pleaded not guilty — criticized the quick judgements of modern social media and spoke philosophically in comments late Monday ahead of a warmup game in Wales.

“Let events run its normal course, let the river flow and one day when the river meets the ocean we will find the truth,” said Queiroz, a veteran coach going to his fifth straight World Cup after leading his native Portugal and Iran at previous editions.

The 32-year-old Partey is due to stand trial in November or later on allegations dating to his time with Arsenal from 2020-25. A second World Cup player, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, also is awaiting trial on similar charges, in Paris.

“Today, and this is not only about Thomas, very unfortunately the way social media, and the media sometimes, act with full and total impunity we are condemned even before we have the opportunity to defend ourselves,” Queiroz said in Cardiff where his team plays on Tuesday against Wales.

“If the player is here with me, my answer is clear, so I don’t have to make comments about my own decisions,” said the coach who was hired by Ghana in April.

At the World Cup, Ghana plays one group game in Canada then two in the United States, and has a training base in Rhode Island.

Ghana’s tough group

Queiroz’s team starts against Panama in Toronto on June 17, then plays England in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and finishes Group L against Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.

The top two in the standings go to the round of 32 and the third-place team could also advance.

The 73-year-old coach suggested “there are much more serious problems, urgent issues in the world to talk about” than an issue with a player that was out of his hands.

“Unfortunately, as I said, today it is really difficult to deal with everything that is on top of us,” said Queiroz, who at the 2022 World Cup tried to protect his Iran players from questions about anti-government protests at home.

“The key point for me in my professional life in football it is to keep everything that is poison or dust far away from the four lines,” he said on Monday.

Ghana’s squad is headlined by Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo at the Black Stars’ fifth World Cup appearance in the last six editions.

In 2010 in South Africa, Ghana was denied being the first African team to reach the semifinals when Uruguay forward Luis Suárez punched away a goal-bound header late in extra time of a 1-1 game.

Ghana missed the penalty kick then lost the shootout.

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In just under two weeks’ time, Bafana Bafana will participate in the opening match in this year’s FIFA World Cup against Mexico.
 
They carry with them the best wishes of more than 62 million South Africans who will be cheering them on at every stage of the tournament. Bafana Bafana are taking part in the World Cup for the first time since we hosted the event in 2010.
 
At a send-off dinner hosted by the Presidency last week, we congratulated the team going to the World Cup. Football is defined by camaraderie, teamwork and sportspersonship.

The efforts of all the players in qualifying for the tournament deserve credit and recognition. 
 
I call on all South Africans to rally behind our team and show their support. Let us wear the team colours and fly the flag.
 
It has been a long and difficult journey to transform the fortunes of Bafana Bafana.

Credit must go to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the South African Football Association, the leagues, clubs and sponsors for their commitment to developing local football over many years.

The coach and the players deserve our collective recognition.
 
Efforts are ongoing to professionalise the sport, develop new talent and promote football as a recreational activity for youth in communities across the country.
 
Bafana Bafana will be ambassadors for our country and what we stand for. The diversity of the squad and technical team is a reminder to the world that we are a united nation of many races, languages and cultures. 
 
We are a land of opportunity where a young person born into difficult circumstances is able to represent their country at the highest level of international sport.

The transformation of sport in South Africa is a reflection of the values of respect, tolerance, fairness and inclusivity that underpin our constitutional order.
 
As we know from experience, sport has a tremendous capacity to unite people across the barriers of geography, race, gender and class.

We remember the iconic moment at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final when President Nelson Mandela walked onto the field wearing a Springbok jersey to congratulate the Bokke.
 
That moment has been immortalised in writings, memoirs and film.

It captured the spirit of the times, when South Africa’s democracy was barely a year old.

The country was energised by the team’s victory, but more so by what it represented to a new nation that was emerging from a deeply divided past.
 
As I told the Bafana Bafana squad last week, the people of South Africa expect them to bring the trophy home. Yet regardless of how Bafana Bafana fare in the tournament, their participation is as rich with meaning as the 1995 Rugby World Cup. 
 
Much like the national squad, the country has emerged from a prolonged period of difficulty and now looks to the future with hope. 
 
Our democracy has matured and is flourishing, our Constitution has been the supreme law of the land for three decades, and we have embarked on a National Dialogue to chart a new course for our country.

We are seeing the signs of an economic recovery and growing confidence in our economic prospects.
 
So as we cheer our team on from the stands, at fan zones and in our homes, we should also cheer ourselves on as a country. We should celebrate how far we have come in building a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.
 
And like Bafana Bafana, we should keep working and striving until we have achieved a country in which all our people can thrive.
 
For 90 minutes, as they play for our country, we will not be divided by language, race, province, club or circumstance.

For 90 minutes, as they play, we will simply be South Africans standing together behind our national team and behind our flag.
 
One Team. One Nation. Behind Bafana. Behind South Africa. United by our Flag, inspired by our Team. 62 million cheering voices. One Dream.

Cyril Ramaphosa is President of South Africa.

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