Top sports news today - Europe World

13Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

News, Sports

Ghana’s Partey denied entry to Canada

Ghanaian international footballer Thomas Partey, who is currently facing rape and sexual assault charges in the United Kingdom, has been refused entry to Canada and will be unable to take part in his team's World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday. "FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable travel from Ghana's Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as ⁠his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government," said world football's governing body in a statement to media outlets including Reuters and The New York Times. "FIFA ⁠is not involved in the immigration ⁠processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas," the statement added. Canada is co-hosting the 2026 World C...

Why the 2026 World Cup is so controversial

11Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Why the 2026 World Cup is so controversial

1. Isn't football's governing body FIFA supposed to be politically neutral? In the months leading up to the 2026 World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino got unusually cozy with US President Donald Trump. This included sitting on a stage wearing a red USA baseball cap during the president's Board of Peace meeting, and presenting Trump with the newly created "FIFA Peace Prize" during the World Cup draw. According to its own statutes, FIFA is supposed to be politically neutral. However, Infantino has created the impression that he is deliberately mixing international sports politics with the interests of a state. The fact that the United States is at war with Iran is a first; never before has a World Cup host nation been engaged in a military conflict with one of the participating team...

Edin Dzeko still strong for Bosnia-Herzegovina

11Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Edin Dzeko still strong for Bosnia-Herzegovina

If Edin Dzeko played for a bigger footballing nation, this wouldn't be just his second appearance at the tournament. But 12 years after Bosnia-Herzegovina failed to make it out of the group stage in Brazil, the now 40-year-old striker and his country are back on the game's biggest stage. Although Bosnia-Herzegovina, which gained its independence in 1992, has only made it to the one previous World Cup and never qualified for a European Championship, Dzeko has played an incredible 148 times (scoring 73 goals) for his country. Growing up in a besieged capital That independence came at a heavy price, as it was engulfed in one of the wars that followed the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. The capital, Sarajevo, was particularly hard hit, enduring almost four years of siege by Yugoslav Natio...

11Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

How an old song from Bosnia went viral

Many will have never heard the refrain "I am from Bosnia, take me to America" until the Bosnian national team upset Italy in a playoff final in March. It put the small Balkan nation through to the World Cup for just the second time since the country gained its independence in 1992. Thousands of fans at the match in Zenica belted out the song, just as they did when the national team were feted at a square in the capital, Sarajevo, a few hours later. But had you spent time in Bosnia over the past decade and a half, chances are good that the tune will have been oddly familiar. The song, originally titled "USA," was actually released by the Bosnian band Dubioza Kollektiv some 15 years ago. And it actually had nothing whatsoever to do with football. 'Typical Balkan experience' "It's from o...

Will Mexico’s World Cup party be spoiled by teacher protest?

10Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Will Mexico’s World Cup party be spoiled by teacher protest?

As Mexico City prepares to host the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday, teachers have pledged to continue their protests for increased wages and better labor conditions in the area surrounding the capital's legendary Estadio Azteca (Aztec Stadium) as part of a national strike announced June 1 by the CNTE education workers union, which is demanding a 100% pay-rise. Over the past week, thousands of teachers have occupied the iconic Zocalo, or main square, blocked intersections and marched through the streets of the capital. Media report that security forces deployed tear gas against teachers who were attempting to occupy the Education Ministry. On the Paseo de la Reforma (Promenade of the Reform), teachers tore down meter-tall statues of soccer stars that had been erected ahead o...

Will Ebola have an impact on the World Cup?

10Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Will Ebola have an impact on the World Cup?

The outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, specifically the Bundibugyo virus disease, has already caused 91 deaths in the country. The latest data from the World Health Organization, released on June 6, shows there have been 515 confirmed cases in the country and 19 in neighboring Uganda, which has seen at least two deaths. Isabel Brosius, an infectious disease specialist from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, is in DR Congo. She told DW that the outbreak is devastating a country that has been wracked by conflict on its eastern flank and several other significant public health threats. "Ebola can be a very scary disease. So definitely, when this happens in a population that is not always super health-literate, that's a very scary thing. People start...

Germany upbeat as final World Cup preparations begin

10Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Germany upbeat as final World Cup preparations begin

"We have excellent conditions here, both on the pitch and off it," Germany coach Julian Nagelsman told reporters a few hours after the team's arrival at Wake Forest University campus in Winston-Salem, USA. "If you feel comfortable and can prepare well, the likelihood of playing good matches increases. And if you deliver good performances, the chances of success rise, too," added the 38-year-old, who is about to take part in his first World Cup. The location was selected a something of a retreat, as the distances to be covered in the first World Cup jointly staged by three countries, the USA, Canada and Mexico, make this tournament a Herculean task. "We have been preparing for nearly two years. Our travel experts have visited the site frequently to ensure that the team's quarters and all...

9Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

What is wrong with the 2026 World Cup

1. Isn't football's governing body FIFA supposed to be politically neutral? In the months leading up to the 2026 World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino got unusually cozy with US President Donald Trump. This included sitting on a stage wearing a red USA baseball cap during the president's Board of Peace meeting, and presenting Trump with the newly created "FIFA Peace Prize" during the World Cup draw. According to its own statutes, FIFA is supposed to be politically neutral. However, Infantino has created the impression that he is deliberately mixing international sports politics with the interests of a state. The fact that the United States is at war with Iran is a first; never before has a World Cup host nation been engaged in a military conflict with one of the participating team...

Somali referee barred from World Cup after US entry denial

9Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Somali referee barred from World Cup after US entry denial

A Somali referee set to become his country's first to officiate a World Cup match has been denied entry into the US, ending his involvement in the football tournament. Omar Artan was turned away on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport and told to return to Istanbul, from where he had flown. He was named Africa's best referee in 2025. United States Customs and Border Protection said Artan was denied entry due to "vetting concerns" that made him "inadmissible." Artan said he remained positive despite the circumstances and was focused on his next refereeing challenges. "I thank FIFA and CAF for their support and will maintain my refereeing standards as I look ahead," he said. "I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best suc...

Germany beat USA before World Cup but injuries cast shadow

8Jun

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style, Sports

Germany beat USA before World Cup but injuries cast shadow

Germany made it nine wins out of nine with a 2-1 win over the USA in their last match before the World Cup. The win, secured by goals from Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane, means they have won four successive friendlies, having also won their last six World Cup qualifiers. But Julian Nagelsmann knows tougher tests than this are not far away. Just as he had for his club, Arsenal, in the Champions League final, Havertz gave Germany an early lead, this time after just two minutes. The striker, who joined the squad later than anyone else after that final, headed home from close range after just two minutes. Havertz was unmarked to nod home a Joshua Kimmich freekick from the right, with the US defense missing in action. Germany could not build on the early lead though and were pegged back by Anto...