Switzerland international Breel Embolo is currently stranded in his home country, awaiting clearance to travel to the United States after a last-minute Esta complication prevented him from joining his teammates for their pre-World Cup training camp.

The forward attended an appointment at the US Embassy in Bern on Wednesday to submit a visa application, the Swiss football federation confirmed.

Embolo was forced to miss the squad’s departure to California on Tuesday after his Esta travel authorisation was unexpectedly placed under further review just hours before the team boarded their flight to Los Angeles.

The issue stems from a legal case dating back to a 2018 altercation in Basel, which led to the Stade Rennais striker’s 2023 conviction for making multiple threats and a suspended fine. This verdict was later upheld on appeal and became legally binding earlier this year.

The Swiss federation stated that the embassy had assured them the application was being processed as a priority.

“The Embassy informed us that the application is being processed as a priority,” the federation said. “Breel and the team are now awaiting approval so that he can travel to San Diego and join the squad as soon as possible.”

They added that US authorities had specifically inquired whether any physical violence was involved in the case, clarifying: “This was not the case.”

According to the federation, all Esta applications, including Embolo’s, were initially approved before US authorities requested additional checks approximately two and a half hours prior to departure.

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lauren Bis commented on the broader context, telling Reuters: “The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws.”

She further explained: “Under the Visa Waiver Program, all Esta applications are continuously vetted against law enforcement and security databases. Travelers must provide complete and truthful information, including all criminal history.

“Failure to disclose arrests or convictions constitutes misrepresentation and can lead to Esta denial, revocation, or a permanent bar from entering the United States. An approved Esta does not guarantee admission. Individuals ineligible for the VWP due to criminal convictions or misrepresentation must apply for a visa.”

A Swiss team spokesperson noted that Embolo had previously travelled to the United States with the national team in June 2025 for matches against Mexico and the United States without encountering any issues.

Switzerland are set to compete in World Cup Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Bosnia, and Qatar, with their opening match against Qatar scheduled for June 13 in San Francisco.

File photo of Pat Cummins© X/Twitter

The 2026 World Cup is poised to be a monumental event for North American ground transportation, offering rail and bus operators a critical audition on soccer’s biggest stage.

With 104 matches spread across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and air travel increasingly fraught with rising costs, soaring gasoline prices, and frustratingly long airport security lines, these companies are gearing up to capture the attention of a vast new audience.

“We want you to be able to use our system seamlessly from the minute you decide to come to the World Cup, all the way into the games, and after that to get home,” stated Conan Cheung, chief operations officer for LA Metro, the public transportation authority serving the Los Angeles region.

For the Californian city, which will host eight matches including the U.S. opener, the event presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate to international visitors that it offers more than just congested freeways. It also aims to encourage more local Angelenos to utilize its expanding public transport network, Cheung added.

This ambition resonates with public transport advocates in the US and Canada, where shared transit infrastructure can be scarce and residents often prefer their cars.

Yonah Freemark, a principal research associate at the Washington-based Urban Institute, highlighted this opportunity: “Transit providers have an opportunity to provide service to a group of people who do not typically use transit on a day-to-day basis. Many of the World Cup fans coming from the US or Canada do not necessarily use transit services regularly.”

Freemark emphasized the high stakes for operators to deliver a positive experience for riders.

“They should be making sure that the services they provide are high quality and not too expensive, because the people who are riding them are going to form an impression of those transit agencies — and there’s a chance to really prove that they can provide a good service.”

However, ground operators face a tricky balancing act. Many contend with limited capacity, meaning potential customers might struggle to find space on match days. While the surge in airline costs offers a rare chance to draw travelers to rails and roads, these companies are also battling rising fuel expenses, which may necessitate passing some costs onto consumers.

This creates a dilemma, as Freemark noted: operators want to attract new customers without alienating the everyday commuters and regular users who depend on these services long after the final whistle.

FlixBus, alongside its sister brand Greyhound, boasts one of North America’s largest transportation networks. The company reports strong demand for bus travel between tournament cities, with some departures already sold out and others filling rapidly.

In preparation for the World Cup, FlixBus has made significant investments in new buses and cutting-edge technology, while also prioritizing on-time departures and arrivals.

“What is critical here is every Flix experience needs to be a happy one. That’s how we actually grow our business. And this is a great opportunity,” said Flix North America CEO Kai Boysan. “We will welcome all the new customers and we want them to see what a change we’ve done and what a great experience they’re going to have.”

Boysan suggested that travelers might favor buses over planes due to their typically more affordable and direct routes between city centers. “Airports are congested and the costs are rising. And clearly travelers are naturally looking for alternatives. And there we come into effect,” he explained.

Yet, not all ground transportation options are proving affordable. NJ Transit drew unwanted attention this year when it initially announced that the approximately 30-minute train ride from Manhattan to the New Jersey stadium, which will host eight matches including the July 19 final, would cost $150 for the round-trip. It’s a journey that typically costs less than $13.

NJ Transit says it needs to cover $48 million in extra costs for security, crowd control and other World Cup impacts.

After much outrage, NJ Transit reduced the fare to a still hefty $98, saying it had managed to find more advertising to cover its costs. Meanwhile, a shuttle bus on the same route has been chopped to $20 from the originally announced $80 as the host committee turned to local school buses to increase seats.

In Boston, round-trip rail tickets from the city center to the stadium used for seven World Cup matches will cost $80, compared to the usual $20 to $30. A bus ride will be $95.

US Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, urged Fifa to intervene.

“Charging more than 11 times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple. Fifa is making billions from this World Cup,” Schumer stated after the original price for the New Jersey MetLife Stadium route was announced.

“Fifa should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill.”

Fifa, however, responded that high transit fares would prompt fans to seek alternative travel methods, and that similar past events have not led to demands for organizations to provide travel impact funding.

In contrast, some local operators are maintaining standard pricing.

“Our regular fare is $1.75, so people will be able to pay that,” said LA Metro’s Cheung, confirming they would honor all existing discounts.

Philadelphia, hosting six matches, offers fans a $2.90 train ride to the match, with a complimentary return journey courtesy of sponsor Airbnb. US national rail carrier Amtrak is also preparing for inter-city fan travel.

“We are fully committed to running a world-class railroad … and ensuring our infrastructure is ready to accommodate new and returning guests,” said W. Kyle Anderson, director of communications for Amtrak.

With Europe’s top five leagues – France’s Ligue 1, Italy’s Serie A, the Premier League in England, La Liga in Spain and Germany’s Bundesliga – regarded as the best in the world, only Spain’s squad is made up exclusively of players from that quintet.

Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney and Galatasaray’s Leroy Sane have been selected by England and Germany, while France have included both Theo Hernandez and N’Golo Kante of Al-Hilal and Fenerbahce respectively.

Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium have a considerable number of players playing at a high level despite their size while outside of Europe, Argentina and Senegal have the most players playing in the top leagues.

None of Curacao, Iran, Iraq or Qatar’s squads played in Europe’s top five leagues this season, although Iraqi forward Ali Jasim is on the books of Serie A club Como but spent the season on loan at Saudi side Al-Najma.

So is Murphy right? Will Iraola’s appointment bring hope and excitement rather than the fear of another underwhelming campaign?

Slot’s side cantered to a record-equalling 20th league title in his first season in charge, but finished fifth (25 points behind champions Arsenal) in his second.

Peter Bolster – from the Spion Kop podcast – told BBC Radio Merseyside: “I’m very excited and I’m a little bit surprised with how excited I am.

“Large parts of last season I wasn’t excited to watch Liverpool. I wasn’t excited to go to Anfield and I certainly wasn’t excited for pre-season or the start of next season. And whatever happens from this point onwards, I am excited.

“Iraola might be the perfect replacement. We might be sitting in this situation in two years, saying it didn’t really work, but I’m excited with the project and that’s what all fans want to be.”

Following Slot’s departure, Liverpool were keen to make an appointment at the earliest possible opportunity and wanted a manager who fits their preferred playing style, which is to deliver front-foot, aggressive football.

A style more aligned to how they played under former boss Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool fan Ian Walker said: “I have mixed feelings. That awful style of play [under Slot last season] had to be turned around as soon as possible, but the role has proved to be too much for some, both in terms of consistently securing results or in coping with the expectations and pressures of the media and the fanbase.

“I can still see Roy Hodgson tearing at his face on the bench when things weren’t going well. Even Jurgen Klopp – adored by the fans, the players and the club – had to stop after great success and an exciting style of football. Good luck to Iraola.”

The Redmen TV’s Ste Plunkett told BBC Radio Merseyside: “Of the talent pool that was out there and the managers that were available, it seems an obvious fit in terms of what he does with his team and what we really want a Liverpool manager to do with our team.

“I think the construction of the squad last summer – and potentially with the additions we do this year – we have to find a manager for the squad and I very much think we didn’t have that last season.

“You would have liked to have seen [Iraola] have some experience in Europe, but then he’s never really worried about reputation or who he’s playing against.

“That doesn’t seem to bother him, so I think the fact that he’s fresh to all of that, he’ll go into it invigorated and there won’t be a hangover over previous campaigns where things have gone wrong.”

The New York Knicks will reportedly have center Mitchell Robinson available to them for Wednesday’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Robinson underwent surgery last week to repair a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand. Despite the procedure, he was clear about being ready to play Game 1.

This story will be updated.

Police are investigating after a coach was allegedly assaulted by a member of grounds staff at this week’s Birmingham Open tennis tournament.

According to Australian tennis player James McCabe, the altercation occurred following a dispute between his father and coach Patrick and the staff member at the Edgbaston Priory Club over the use of practice courts on Monday morning.

Writing on Instagram, James McCabe, who is ranked 234 in the world, described the event as a “serious police-reported player/coach safety incident at the tournament venue.

“My account is that he was followed, physically handled by a staff member, and left in pain afterwards.”

West Midlands Police said in a statement: “We received a report of a man being assaulted at a venue in Sir Harrys Road, Birmingham on June 1. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.”

McCabe, who lost his first-round match, added on Wednesday morning that his father had gone to hospital as a result of the incident.

The tournament is the first of the British grass-court season and features events on the second-tier ATP Challenger and WTA 125 tours.

It is run by the Lawn Tennis Association and a joint statement from the governing body, the ATP and Edgbaston Priory Club read: “There is an ongoing investigation being led by Edgbaston Priory Club with support from the ATP and LTA in relation to an incident during the Lexus Birmingham Open on Monday, June 1.

“This incident involves an allegation made against a member of Edgbaston Priory Club staff by a player’s coach and is currently being reviewed by an investigating officer.

“We will be making no further comment whilst the investigation is ongoing.”

The grass-court season will continue next week once the French Open concludes, with some of the world’s best players heading to Queen’s.

The third grand slam of the year will then take centre stage later this month when Wimbledon gets underway on 29 June.

Jannik Sinner is the defending men’s champion after beating Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final, while Iga Swiatek will be aiming to defend the title she won by thrashing Amanda Anisimova in 2025.