Fifa has appeared to rule out the possibility of relocating Iran’s matches at the World Cup to Mexico following the US and Israeli air strikes on the country.
It comes after the president of the Iranian football federation, Mehdi Taj, said Iran was “negotiating” with Fifa to move the team’s matches outside of the United States due to the ongoing conflict.
The Iran team are scheduled to play two games in LA and one in Seattle, kicking off on June 15 (WANA)
Iran are scheduled to play all three of its group matches at the World Cup in the US, kicking off against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June.
But a spokesperson said Fifa is “looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced” following the World Cup draw in December.
“Fifa is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the World Cup 2026,” the spokesperson added.
Earlier, the president of the Iranian football federation appeared to indicate that moving Iran’s fixtures to co-host Mexico was under consideration.
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“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Taj said in a post on the Iranian embassy in Mexico’s X account.
“We are negotiating with Fifa to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.”
Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum then said on Tuesday that her country would have no problem hosting Iran’s matches if Fifa agrees.
“Mexico maintains diplomatic relations with every country in the world, therefore we will wait to see what Fifa decides,” she said after replying “yes” to whether Mexico would be happy to stage Iran’s games.
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If Fifa’s stance shifts, it could be possible for games to be relocated. Fifa’s World Cup regulations state: “Fifa has the right to cancel, reschedule or relocate one or more matches (or the entire FIFA World Cup 26) for any reason at its sole discretion, including as a result of force majeure or due to health, safety or security concerns.”
Trump said he could not guarantee Iran would be ‘safe’ in the US (AP)
The chief executive of New Zealand Football, Andrew Pragnell, told local media on Tuesday that he doubted Fifa would relocate Iran’s matches.
The New Zealand national team’s head coach, Darren Bazeley, told reporters in the country: “Right now we’re still continuing as though we’re playing Iran.
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“They’re the team that qualified and we got drawn against them. That’s still the fixture and until we get told otherwise, we’ll continue with that preparation.
“Obviously, if things change, then we’ll deal with that, but that would be (people at) a higher level than myself involved in those discussions.”
Iran are scheduled to play two World Cup games in Los Angeles and another in Seattle. They will face New Zealand and Belgium in LA on June 15 and June 21, followed by the match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
There is also the possibility that the US and Iran could play each other at the tournament. This would happen if both teams were runners-up in Group D and Group G respectively, with that fixture scheduled to be played in Arlington, Texas.
Minnesota United have denied rumours that midfielder James Rodriguez is suffering from a potentially life-threatening muscle-wasting condition.
The Colombia international returned to the club’s training ground on Monday after being hospitalised.
Rodriguez, 34, showed signs of illness during Colombia’s 3-1 defeat by France on 29 March and subsequently spent three days in hospital with severe dehydration.
A statement from the Colombia Football Federation on 2 April confirmed Rodriguez was under observation for a “non-sports-related medical condition” but said his prognosis was “favourable”.
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Social media rumours and reports in some US media sparked concerns he was suffering from rhabdomyolysis – a rare condition sometimes linked to over-exertion which causes muscles to disintegrate and can lead to potentially fatal kidney damage when toxic muscle fibres enter the circulatory system.
However, Major League Soccer (MLS) side Minnesota United said:, external “The club and our medical professionals can unequivocally state there has been no clinical or laboratory evidence of rhabdomyolysis.”
Gardaí and emergency services were called to the scene of the collision, involving two cars, on the N53 at Rassan, Dundalk, Louth at around 10:15pm on Monday, April 6
A man in his 60s has died, and a woman in her 20s injured, after a two-vehicle crash in Co Louth on Monday night.
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Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the collision, involving two cars, on the N53 at Rassan, Dundalk, Louth at approximately 10.15pm on Monday, 6 April.
The driver of one vehicle, a male in his late 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body has been taken to Louth County Hospital, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.
A woman in her 20s, who was a passenger in the second vehicle, was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for treatment of injuries not believed to be life-threatening. The coroner has been informed.
The scene remains preserved for technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, and traffic diversions are currently in operation, reports the Irish Mirror.
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Gardaí have confirmed investigations are under way as they appealed for witnesses to come forward.
A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí and emergency services responded to a road traffic collision on the N53 at Rassan, Dundalk, Co. Louth, on the evening of Monday, 6 April.”
They added: “Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward. Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from the area at the time are also asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.
“Anyone with information is urged to contact Dundalk Garda Station on (042) 9388400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
The Pro-Kleen 4 in 1 Weed and Feed Lawn Treatment with Moss Killer is available for £15.95 on Amazon, with shoppers awarding it an average 4.2 out of five-star rating
Kieran Isgin Tech & gaming affiliate writer and Sarah Tulloch Senior Affiliates Writer
09:26, 07 Apr 2026
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Keeping your garden and lawn in tip-top shape can be a real challenge – but one Amazon product might just be the solution you’ve been looking for. The Pro-Kleen 4 in 1 Weed and Feed Lawn Treatment with Moss Killer is currently on sale for £15.95, with customers hailing it as ‘amazing’.
Designed to boost grass colour, tackle weeds, banish moss and nourish your lawn, the manufacturer claims it provides everything gardeners require to achieve a lush, healthy and vibrant lawn this spring and summer.
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The treatment is formulated with nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and iron. According to the product listing, each component plays a specific role – nitrogen promotes greener grass, phosphorous fortifies grass roots, potassium wards off lawn disease, and iron eradicates moss. The formula also boasts three separate types of weed killer.
For those seeking an alternative, Argos offers theMiracle-Gro EverGreen Natural 4 in 1 Lawn Care for £21.60. This natural, pesticide-free product reportedly harnesses 100% plant-based nutrients to ‘support lush growth while helping prevent new weeds and control moss’.
Over at The Range, Doff Glyphosate Weed Killer Concentrate Sachetsare available for £4.99. These are said to be highly effective at tackling grasses, nettles, willowherb and dandelions, with the formula penetrating plants right down to their roots so they ‘never return.’
A fellow buyer enthused: “This stuff is amazing within a week or more. My lawns were full of mass and yellow, now I have lawns (that) are going to green after putting the stuff on. It (has a) very strong smell because when watering it, (there’s) a nice strong weed killer smell, so I know it would work on the lawns as I’m a gardener. I would definitely recommend this amazing product.”
Someone else simply stated: “Good product.” However, not all feedback was positive, with one purchaser cautioning: “After being happy with the results from the first tub that I bought two weeks ago, I thought I would buy another, this time around… not so great, the packaging has been a let down.
“The tub is cracked and I’ve lost most of content!” A different user reported: “Very easy to use, although for us it didn’t work. Weeds didn’t die and the grass didn’t look any different.”
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill was spotted in England with one of his Hoops coaches
Ross Pilcher Digital Sports Journalist
09:30, 07 Apr 2026
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has been spotted at an English Championship match, sparking speculation that he might be scouting for the Hoops.
O’Neill watched his team claw their way back into the Premiership title race with a 2-1 win over Dundee at Dens Park on Easter Sunday.
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Within a day, he was seen at Deepdale with assistant Mark Fotheringham, observing Preston North End’s clash with Queen’s Park Rangers.
Earlier in the season, the pair were also photographed at Fir Park, reportedly keeping tabs on Motherwell’s in-form forward Tawanda Maswanhise, although no transfer materialised in January.
O’Neill’s future at Parkhead remains uncertain. The 74-year-old has previously hinted that he won’t stay on as manager beyond this season, but there are rumours of a potential administrative role being offered to him at Parkhead, according to the Daily Record.
In light of this, it’s possible that the duo are evaluating potential signings for the next season.
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The Lancashire Evening Post suggests that Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin – currently on loan from Tottenham and Aston Villa respectively – could be on their radar, along with Scottish centre-back Liam Lindsay.
Forward Milutin Osmajic has also been linked with a move. However, this appears unlikely given his disciplinary issues this season, including allegations of racism during a derby clash with Burnley and a red card for headbutting John Lundstram in a 3-0 defeat to Hull, which has seen him serve 20 matches worth of bans over the past 16 months at the club.
The Princess of Wales is reportedly a fan of porridge to start her day, with a nutrition expert at BarBend noting that oats are an excellent breakfast choice for weight management. The expert noted that the slow-release energy from oats “keep Kate filled up and with enough fuel to attend royal events, exercise and run after her three children”.
Known for maintaining a disciplined fitness regime, oats “can be great exercise fuel, as they release energy throughout the whole workout”. The Princess of Wales is also said to enjoy antioxidant-rich smoothies at breakfast, “helping her maintain a natural glow and healthy skin,” according to the experts.
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A nutritious morning smoothie suggestion combines “kale, spirulina, matcha, spinach, romaine and blueberries together in a delicious mix”, reports the Express. Health specialists at Healthline highlight the numerous benefits of starting the day with oats, particularly for those looking to shed a few pounds.
Oats are described as “a delicious breakfast food, also very filling” and are considered to be “among the healthiest grains on earth”. Porridge is “a great source of important vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants” and is “very filling which may help you lose weight,” the health site added.
It is widely believed that Kate keeps active with a varied fitness routine encompassing cardio training, weight lifting, cycling, rowing and yoga. A passionate runner, her preferred sport is tennis, which she reportedly practises “almost daily”. Kate serves as patron of the Lawn Tennis Association and took to the court alongside Roger Federer in 2023.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to have their own tennis court at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk residence, where she is believed to also practise with the children. A royal insider claimed: “Once their school work from Thomas’s Battersea has been dealt with satisfactorily, both George and Charlotte enjoy tennis lessons on their green court. Kate plays almost daily with the children and they like their practice sessions with her.”
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Juliana Leonardi, senior personal trainer at David Lloyd Kensington, added: “The key to achieving a lean, toned body like the Princess of Wales without bulking is to do several reps of low weights. I definitely believe the Princess weight trains. There are so many benefits to weight training, from making you leaner and stronger to improving your bone density, burning fat and helping with posture,” she told HELLO!
A man hailed as a hero is facing a trial for the murder of five unarmed civilians during the war in Afghanistan.
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Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, a former Australian Defence Force member, was arrested at Sydney Airport and charged with five counts of war crimes.
He was deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, and faces five counts of murder and war crimes for the killing of five people.
Roberts-Smith served six tours in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012, before being lauded with several top military honours.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett said: ‘It will be alleged the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan.’
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She added that the victims were initially detained, while unarmed, and were under the charge of Australian soldiers when they were murdered.
Roberts-Smith previously faced trial in a civil court (Picture: EPA)
Roberts-Smith has denied all of the allegations, which first surfaced after an investigation in 2018.
In 2023, he quit his job after a civil court blamed him for unlawfully killing four people while he served in Afghanistan.
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Now, the Australian Federal Police investigation into Roberts-Smith, which began in 2021, has led to his arrest.
Ross Barnett, director of investigations at the Office of the Special Investigator, which is assisting in the case, said the process has been complex.
‘We don’t have access to the crime scenes, we don’t have photographs, site plans, measurements, the recovery of projectiles, blood spatter analysis, all of those things we would normally get at a crime scene,’ he said.
Roberts-Smith is facing mounting calls to be stripped of his numerous awards during service, including the prestigious Victoria Cross.
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He’s set to appear before a court for a bail hearing on Wednesday in New South Wales.
What is Roberts-Smith accused of?
Roberts-Smith served in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012 (Picture: AFP)
Roberts-Smith is facing charges of war crimes and murder in Afghanistan while serving as an Australian soldier.
Anthony Besanko, a federal judge in the court of Australia, previously found on the balance of probabilities that he had taken part in at least four murders.
The court at the time heard that Roberts-Smith had ordered unarmed men in Afghanistan to be shot dead to ‘blood’ rookie soldiers on two occasions.
He was also found to have been involved in the deaths of a handcuffed farmer, whom he kicked off a cliff.
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In another instance, he captured a Taliban fighter and used his prosthetic leg as a trophy and ‘drinking vessel’.
A threat by Reform UK to stop UK visas for people from a host of African and Caribbean countries have been dismissed as “a desperate gimmick”.
The right-wing party says it would introduce the crackdown for countries which want Britain to pay reparations for its part in the slave trade.
More than a dozen nations, including the likes of Ghana, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Barbados, have demanded the UK pay billions of pounds in compensation.
The United Nations also voted last month that former colonial powers should pay reparations.
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In an article for the Daily Telegraph, Reform home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said 3.8 million visas had been issued to countries seeking the compensation payments.
“The United Kingdom is not an ATM for ethnic grievances of the past, and we will no longer tolerate being ridiculed on the world stage,” he wrote.
“While countries like Jamaica, Nigeria and Ghana ramp up their demands for reparations, the Westminster establishment has rewarded them. Enough is enough.”
But a Labour spokesman said: “This is a desperate gimmick from Reform that would do nothing to restore order and control to Britain’s borders.
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“Nobody will take Nigel Farage seriously on this when his party is full of opportunistic Tories who failed on immigration when they were in government.
“Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick presided over record levels of migration and all but lost control of the system – you can’t trust them now.”
Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
Allergy season is underway after a red hay fever alert was issued for most of the UK.
The Met Office has forecast “very high” levels of pollen in the air, which hit England and Wales on Monday and are expected to last until the weekend. Much of Scotland and Northern Ireland are also under an alert, with pollen levels due to decrease later in the week.
Symptoms of the common allergy include frequent sneezing, a runny nose, or itchy eyes, throat, mouth, or ears. Some people also experience a loss of smell, facial pain, sweating and headaches.
“Hay fever is the most common name for pollen allergy and is most commonly caused by grass pollens, although other pollens can also trigger the symptoms. The symptoms are caused when immune system reacts to pollen in the body to produce histamine and other chemicals,” the Met Office said.
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A red hay fever alert is issued for most of the country (Met Office)
The agency has forecast that levels of birch pollen and ash pollen will be very high in the south of England all week, as well as in Wales, northern England, and Scotland on Tuesday and Wednesday. There will also be high levels of plane pollen in these areas.
Pollen is made up of tiny particles, which are released by plants and trees as part of their reproductive cycle. Pollen season in the UK generally lasts from March until November.
Around 10 million Britons suffer from hay fever and it typically develops in childhood, although can be triggered at any age.
The most common hay fever symptoms include sneezing, having a runny nose and itchy eyes
Pollen triggers the antibody immunoglobulin E, which creates mucus and leads to symptoms such as congestion and sneezing in people who suffer from hay fever.
The Met Office said that weather plays a significant role in the production, distribution and dispersion of pollen, with warmer temperatures often causing a higher pollen count.
Parts of the UK are set to reach 19C on Tuesday and Wednesday, and London could see temperatures hit 24C, which would mark the hottest day of the year so far.
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It comes after Storm Dave brought snow, wind, and rain to parts of the country over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Lawes spent his club career with Northampton Saints, winning two Prem titles, before joining French side Brive in 2024.
“I’m officially un-retiring from international duty and I’d love to play for England again but first and foremost I want to play well for Sale and we’ll see what happens after that,” he told Sale’s official website., external
![CORRECTION / (FILES) A file photo taken on May 1, 2025 shows former member of Australia's elite Special Air Service regiment Ben Roberts-Smith leaving the Federal Court in Sydney. Police arrested on April 7, 2026, one of Australia's most-decorated soldiers for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, local media reported, following a sweeping investigation into the conduct of the nation's elite commandos. The Australian Federal Police said they arrested a 47-year-old former Australian soldier, who was widely named in local media as Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP via Getty Images) / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Saeed KHAN has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: removing on April 7, 2025 from the second sentence. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require."](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SEI_292265131-8b14.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
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