CBF held an inaugural meeting with representatives of clubs from the Brazilian Serie A and B championships and the State Federations to begin the debate on the creation of a Football League in Brazil, with CBF president Samir Xaud calling it “a historic day for Brazilian football” as clubs came together “to discuss an issue that will define our future: the creation of a single league.” The meetings represent the latest phase in CBF’s broader internationalization strategy, which includes bringing Brazilian stakeholders to the United States to study league governance models.

CBF’s Miami Office as Strategic Hub

The move marks the first step in a broader global network designed to strengthen the CBF brand, deepen commercial partnerships, engage the Brazilian diaspora, and expand technical collaboration with the United States Soccer Federation and Major League Soccer. Located near key stakeholders such as FIFA and CONCACAF, the Miami office operates as an embassy for Brazilian football, supporting sponsorship deals, institutional relationships, youth scouting initiatives, and women’s development.

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Since opening the Miami office five to six months ago, CBF has already seen tangible results, closing new agreements with major companies such as Uber, Volkswagen, and iFood. These partnerships are the direct result of the relationships and communication being built from Miami within the broader CBF ecosystem.

Learning from MLS Governance Structure

The analysis was deepened following an international immersion in Europe in January, when the Brazilian delegation learned about concepts, governance models and strategies used by the leagues and federations of England, Germany and Spain on topics such as financial fair play, technology and the professionalization of refereeing. The US meetings extend this research to North American models, particularly MLS’s structure.

The national governing organisation said that the league is undervalued and presented a plan to finalise the league’s statutes by the end of 2026. If successful, the process could end the competition’s division into two rival blocks of clubs – FFU and Libra – which has handicapped the league. At present, the two blocks compete over revenue and commercial rights.

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The Structural Challenge

CBF presented studies carried out since the first months of the current administration to show the full untapped potential of Brazilian football, whose top national division is nevertheless the sixth most valuable league in the world. The CBF listed a series of problems that needed addressing in Brazilian club football, including the match calendar, kick-off times, stadium infrastructure, financial fair play and marketing.

“The league needs to belong to the clubs. That is a fundamental, non-negotiable principle. CBF will be present, with an active role as mediator and one of the leaders of the process.” This approach mirrors MLS’s club-centric governance model, where individual franchises maintain significant autonomy within a centralized structure.

Implications for US Soccer

Today, there is significant movement between Brazil and MLS. Many Brazilian players are coming to MLS, and there are also transfers from MLS clubs to the Brazilian league, which is organized by CBF. Because of this exchange, it’s essential for CBF to stay informed and bring the best insights and information back into our ecosystem.

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A unified Brazilian league could strengthen the player pipeline between Brazil and MLS, particularly as the 2026 World Cup approaches. International groups such as City Group and Red Bull GmbH have invested in Brazilian clubs, representing an important cultural change for Brazilian football and bringing the model closer, in some ways, to what we see in the United States. In Brazil, investors can now own clubs, but the leagues and competitions are still organized and run by the CBF.

CBF’s US presence positions Brazilian football to capitalize on North America’s growing soccer market while potentially creating more structured pathways for talent exchange and commercial partnerships with MLS ahead of the World Cup.

This 48-team extravaganza is the biggest World Cup there has ever been, and it might just be the most complex too. Twelve groups of four teams might be enough to follow in the first place, but those fans of brackets who have a familiarity of past tournaments might have a sense of what the issue is here. A dozen groups do not a round robin path to the final easily make.

As such, eight of the 12 groups will send their third-placed team to the first knockout rounds, meaning 72 games will be required to trim a third off this field. Those third-placed teams will be ranked first by the points they accrue and then by goal difference, goals scored, their team conduct score (yellow and red cards), and then their FIFA ranking.

In short, this could get complicated. There’s going to be a lot to follow, an awful lot of permutations that might, for example, decide whether Scotland get through and Sweden don’t. Catch up with all the standings below.

Group A

Thursday, June 11
Mexico 2, South Africa 0
South Korea 2, Czechia 1

Thursday, June 18
Czechia vs. South Africa, 12 p.m.
Mexico vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24
Czechia vs. Mexico, 9 p.m.
South Africa vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.

Group B

Friday, June 12
Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 13
Qatar vs. Switzerland, 3 p.m.

Thursday, June 18
Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m.
Canada vs. Qatar, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs. Canada, 3 p.m.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, 3 p.m.

Group C

Saturday, June 13
Brazil vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
Haiti vs. Scotland, 9 p.m.

Friday, June 19
Scotland vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
Brazil vs. Haiti, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24
Scotland vs. Brazil, 6 p.m.
Morocco vs. Haiti, 6 p.m.

Group D

Friday, June 12
USA vs. Paraguay, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 13
Australia vs. Turkiye, 12 a.m.

Friday, June 19
USA vs. Australia, 3 p.m.
Turkiye vs. Paraguay, 12 a.m.

Thursday, June 25
Turkiye vs. USA, 10 p.m.
Paraguay vs. Australia, 10 p.m.

Group E

Sunday, June 14
Germany vs. Curacao, 1 p.m.
Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 20
Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Curacao, 8 p.m.

Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4 p.m.
Curacao vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.

Group F

Sunday, June 14
Netherlands vs. Japan, 4 p.m.
Sweden vs. Tunisia, 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 20
Netherlands vs. Sweden, 1 p.m.
Tunisia vs. Japan, 12 a.m.

Thursday, June 25
Japan vs. Sweden, 7 p.m.
Tunisia vs. Netherlands, 7 p.m.

Group G

Monday, June 15
Belgium vs. Egypt, 3 p.m.
Iran vs. New Zealand, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 21
Belgium vs. Iran, 3 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Egypt, 9 p.m.

Friday, June 26
Egypt vs. Iran, 11 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Belgium, 11 p.m.

Group H

Monday, June 15
Spain vs. Cape Verde, 12 p.m.
Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 21
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 12 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, 6 p.m.

Friday, June 26
Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, 8 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Spain, 8 p.m.

Group I

Tuesday, June 16
France vs. Senegal, 3 p.m.
Iraq vs. Norway, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 22
France vs. Iraq, 5 p.m.
Norway vs. Senegal, 8 p.m.

Friday, June 26
Norway vs. France, 3 p.m.
Senegal vs. Iraq, 3 p.m.

Group J

Tuesday, June 16
Argentina vs. Algeria, 9 p.m.
Austria vs. Jordan, 12 a.m.

Monday, June 22
Argentina vs. Austria, 1 p.m.
Jordan vs. Algeria, 11 p.m.

Saturday, June 27
Algeria vs. Austria, 10 p.m.
Jordan vs. Argentina, 10 p.m.

Group K

Wednesday, June 17
Portugal vs. DR Congo, 1 p.m.
Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, 10 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1 p.m.
Colombia vs. DR Congo, 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 27
Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30 p.m.
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan, 7:30 p.m.

Group L

Wednesday, June 17
England vs. Croatia, 4 p.m.
Ghana vs. Panama, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23
England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m.
Panama vs. Croatia, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 27
Panama vs. England, 5 p.m.
Croatia vs. Ghana, 5 p.m.

The biggest World Cup in history is upon us. Over 104 matches across 38 days in 16 host cities in three countries, the world champions will be crowned. This 48-team tournament is a competition unlike any other. Its field includes every former champion bar Italy and four debutants: Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

Hosting for the second time, the U.S.A. face perhaps the greatest expectations that have ever been placed on them at a World Cup. The so-called golden generation have struggled to build on the hype that followed their run to the knockout stages in 2022 and now face the pressure of having to capture the imagination of a nation. Will they do so? Will the same happen for co-hosts Mexico and Canada?

Teams to watch out for from the outset include holders Argentina in what will surely this time be Lionel Messi’s last dance on the biggest stage of all. The same will be true for a host of other superstars, most notably his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo. It is hard to believe that Neymar, Luka Modric or maybe even Mohamed Salah will have much left in their tank for 2030. Meanwhile, France will be looking to reclaim the title they won in 2018 and lost in the dramatic final four years later. Spain are many people’s favorite, while Brazil, Portugal and England are sure to number among the contenders.

In short this promises to be a World Cup as full of stories, drama, and thrills as ever. Here’s how you can watch it:

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Every single game of the competition is available live on Fubo (try for free). Matches will air on English on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo. 

FIFA World Cup schedule

All times Eastern
Thursday, June 11
Mexico 2, South Africa 0
South Korea 2, Czechia 1

Friday, June 12
Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m.
USA vs. Paraguay, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 13
Qatar vs. Switzerland, 3 p.m.
Brazil vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
Haiti vs. Scotland, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 14
Australia vs. Turkiye, 12 a.m.
Germany vs. Curacao, 1 p.m.
Netherlands vs. Japan, 4 p.m.
Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, 7 p.m.
Sweden vs. Tunisia, 10 p.m.

Monday, June 15
Spain vs. Cape Verde, 12 p.m.
Belgium vs. Egypt, 3 p.m.  
Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, 6 p.m.
Iran vs. New Zealand, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 16
France vs. Senegal, 3 p.m.
Iraq vs. Norway, 6 p.m.
Argentina vs. Algeria, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 17
Austria vs. Jordan, 12 a.m.
Portugal vs. DR Congo, 1 p.m.
England vs. Croatia, 4 p.m.
Ghana vs. Panama, 7 p.m.
Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, 10 p.m.

Thursday, June 18
Czechia vs. South Africa, 12 p.m.
Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m.
Canada vs. Qatar, 6 p.m.
Mexico vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.

Friday, June 19
Scotland vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
USA vs. Australia, 3 p.m.
Brazil vs. Haiti, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 20
Turkiye vs. Paraguay, 12 a.m.
Netherlands vs. Sweden, 1 p.m.
Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Curacao, 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 21
Tunisia vs. Japan, 12 a.m.
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 12 p.m.
Belgium vs. Iran, 3 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, 6 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Egypt, 9 p.m.

Monday, June 22
Argentina vs. Austria, 1 p.m.
France vs. Iraq, 5 p.m.
Norway vs. Senegal, 8 p.m.
Jordan vs. Algeria, 11 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1 p.m.
England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m.
Panama vs. Croatia, 7 p.m.
Colombia vs. DR Congo, 10 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs. Canada, 3 p.m.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, 3 p.m.
Scotland vs. Brazil, 6 p.m.
Morocco vs. Haiti, 6 p.m.
Czechia vs. Mexico, 9 p.m.
South Africa vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.

Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4 p.m.
Curacao vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.
Japan vs. Sweden, 7 p.m.
Tunisia vs. Netherlands, 7 p.m.
Turkiye vs. USA, 10 p.m.
Paraguay vs. Australia, 10 p.m.

Friday, June 26
Norway vs. France, 3 p.m.
Senegal vs. Iraq, 3 p.m.
Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, 8 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Spain, 8 p.m.
Egypt vs. Iran, 11 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Belgium, 11 p.m.

Saturday, June 27
Panama vs. England, 5 p.m.
Croatia vs. Ghana, 5 p.m.
Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30 p.m.
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan, 7:30 p.m.
Algeria vs. Austria, 10 p.m.
Jordan vs. Argentina, 10 p.m.

Knockouts

Round of 32

Sunday, June 28
Runners-up A vs. Runners-up B, 3 p.m.

Monday, June 29
Winners C vs. Runners-up F, 1 p.m.
Winners E vs. Best 3rd (A/B/C/D/F), 4:30 p.m.
Winners F vs. Runners-up C, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 30
Runners-up E vs. Runners-up I, 1 p.m.
Winners I vs. Best 3rd (C/D/F/G/H), 5 p.m.
Winners A vs. Best 3rd (C/E/F/H/I), 9 p.m.

Wednesday, July 1
Winners L vs. Best 3rd (E/H/I/J/K), 12 p.m.
Winners G vs. Best 3rd (A/E/H/I/J), 4 p.m.
Winners D vs. Best 3rd (B/E/F/I/J), 8 p.m.

Thursday, July 2
Winners H vs. Runners-up J, 3 p.m.
Runners-up K vs. Runners-up L, 7 p.m.
Winners B vs. Best 3rd (E/F/G/I/J), 11 p.m.

Friday, July 3
Runners-up D vs. Runners-up G, 2 p.m.
Winners J vs. Runners-up H, 6 p.m.
Winners K vs. Best 3rd (D/E/I/J/L), 9:30 p.m.

Round of 16

Saturday, July 4
TBD, 1 p.m.
TBD, 5 p.m.

Sunday, July 5
TBD, 4 p.m.
TBD, 8 p.m.

Monday, July 6
TBD, 3 p.m.
TBD, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, July 7
TBD, 12 p.m.
TBD, 4 p.m.

Quarterfinals

Thursday, July 9
TBD, 4 p.m.

Friday, July 10
TBD, 3 p.m.

Saturday, July 11
TBD, 5 p.m.
TBD, 9 p.m.

Semifinals

Tuesday, July 14
TBD, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, July 15
TBD, 3 p.m.

Third-Place match

Saturday, July 18
TBD, 5 p.m.

Final

Sunday, July 19
TBD, 3 p.m.

Texas Tech athletics defended its controversial decision to allow quarterback Brendan Sorsby to return to campus in a lengthy video. In a message featuring its president, athletic director and head coach, the athletic department made its case for why they’ve stood by Sorsby despite admitted violations of NCAA gambling rules.

In the video, Texas Tech officials claim that Sorsby returning to campus as a member of the football team will help support his recovery from a clinically diagnosed gambling addiction. 

“We have a long time before we have to think about when he’s going to play football again,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “We have a long time to continue to work with him to help him with this addiction and deal with a lot of different things in his life. Right now, our top priority is getting him back in this environment with his teammates, with people who love and care about him, and then deal with the football.” 

In legal filings, Sorsby admitted to placing several thousand bets over the course of four years, including many on Indiana athletics while he was a redshirting athlete. Placing bets on your own team or athletic department is grounds for permanent loss of eligibility under NCAA rules. 

Sorsby received an injunction from a Lubbock County District Court on Monday that prevents the NCAA from enforcing any punishments while he awaits his full trial in February 2027. The full trial is scheduled for two weeks after the national championship game, when Sorsby’s college career will be over. As part of the injunction, Sorsby will receive a two-game suspension. 

Criticism for Judge Curry’s decision has been swift from all corners of college athletics. Georgia and Nebraska have publicly declared that they will not schedule Texas Tech in any sports heading forward. Big 12 administrators have met to consider sanctioning Texas Tech or Sorsby. On Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton informed the Big 12 that any such attempt would be met with legal action by the state. 

Returning to campus

After the NCAA denied Sorsby’s application for reinstatement, Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec penned a lengthy letter expressing his public support for the quarterback. In it, he argued that Texas Tech’s addiction recovery center and campus support would help Sorsby. At the time, there was little guarantee that he would be ruled eligible. 

“Our concern for him was sincere,” Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec said. “We did not know what the outcome [of the hearing] would be. We would not just welcome him back under the expectation that he would necessarily play, we just thought, this is the place for you. Our support for him is unwavering.” 

After a five-week stint at an inpatient recovery center in Arizona, Sorsby returned home to the Dallas area and later returned to Lubbock. He was not present in the courtroom on June 4, when his high-powered attorneys argued for eligibility. 

Texas Tech senior athletic director Grant Stovall outlined some of the key conditions Sorsby was asked to meet when he was brought back to campus. Many of the steps were laid out in the court order released on Monday, including continued individual and group treatments for gambling addiction. 

Additionally, Sorsby will have constant monitoring of his tech devices, including software installed by Texas Tech to block gambling sites. He will also have continuous monitoring of his devices and a custodian to oversee his finances. In the hours after Sorsby’s eligibility was reinstated, he reported to the athletic department’s IT services to have monitoring software installed on his phone. 

Key questions

Texas Tech has stood by Sorsby through the tumultuous past six weeks, even after the NCAA ruled him permanently ineligible. But while officials made a reasonable case for why the school could support him in his recovery, the argument for his return to action is more specious. 

By his own words, Sorsby has a diagnosed anxiety disorder. After the attention surrounding this case, he is now perhaps the most scrutinized player in college football. President Schovanec also noted that part of his return to campus is to help prepare him for his future career endeavors. 

“We are attending first of all to his medically diagnosed condition, and we are prepared to support him as he pursues that career that he’s spent his whole life working towards,” Schovanec said. “That’s what we do at Texas Tech.” 

However, Sorsby would still be able to pursue playing professional football without returning to campus. In fact, he could enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft and perhaps even land on a roster this fall. 

Granted, Sorsby has yet to participate in a real practice or play in a game since his reinstatement. As McGuire points out, there are still more than three months until he is eligible to take his first live snap. 

“He can play, is what the judge said,” McGuire said. “What we’re trying to do is get him into a healthy space to where he can feel great about what he’s doing and he can deal with this addiction, and that’s day by day.” 

But with all the money and pressure involved, is there really a choice? 

McGuire told the story of Sorsby’s parents calling him on Monday after the backlash reached fever pitch. They asked whether Texas Tech would be okay. With even Big 12 colleagues irate, it’s a question the athletic department should keep top of mind. 

Captain Son Heung-min is leading the attack for South Korea, while Tomas Soucek would look to organise Czechia from the midfield. Here are the two starting XIs:

SOUTH KOREA XI: Kim Seung-gyu; Seol Young-woo, Kim Min-jae, Lee Gi-Hyuk, Lee Han-beom, Lee Tae-seok; Hwang In-beom, Paik Seung-ho; Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung; Son Heung-min (C)…

CZECHIA XI: Matej Kovar; Vladimir Coufal, Robin Hranac, Stepan Chaloupek, Ladislav Krejci, Jaroslav Zeleny; Tomas Soucek (C), Alexandr Sojka; Pavel Sulc, Lukas Provod, Patrik Schick

It’s a process, folks. Hiring Nolan Teasley always meant embracing some change in the Vikings front office. After some time to acclimate to the Twin Cities, Teasley has begun the changes that were always going to arrive (at least the initial round).

Check out what Alec Lewis (The Athletic) had to say: “The Vikings are making front office changes, per sources. Assistant GM Demitrius Washington is seeking other opportunities. Senior personnel executive Jamaal Stephenson, senior college executive Pat Roberts and pro scout Salli Clavelle won’t return.”

Further from Lewis: “Vikings assistant GM Demitrius Washington — who came from the 49ers, where he was respected as a versatile go-between with coaching/front office — asked and received approval to pursue other opportunities. GM changes typically involve personnel adjustments. That’s the case here.”

Moving on from Washington always made at least some sense. He has a long relationship with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, meaning the subtraction of Adofo-Mensah made things a touch dicey. Washington is a really smart guy; he’s going to land on his feet. San Francisco is the team to watch.

The sense one gets is that Mr. Teasley is inspiring a ton of optimism in the Twin Cities. Admittedly, it’s still the honeymoon stage, but there’s huge belief in him.

Over in Seattle, Teasley began pretty low within the Seattle organization before steadily climbing. His ascent coincided with Seattle being among the preeminent teams in the NFL. Slowly but surely, Teasley’s voice grew more powerful as the Seahawks continued being a very good team.

Most notable, of course, is that the Seahawks are coming off a Super Bowl win. Sam Darnold helped to get them there, leading the team as the QB1. As Darnold did so in the Emerald City, the football folks in the Twin Cities had to adjust to missing the playoffs, mostly due to the terrible play at quarterback.

The Darnold decisions in March of 2025 — Minnesota said goodbye, Seattle said hello — are perhaps the key factors that most impacted Adofo-Mensah being fired and Teasley being hired. The Vikings are now living in the aftermath.

The most recent news coming from Minnesota flows from mandatory minicamp. VT has offered up:

Go ahead and check out some of the recent work that Vikings Territory has had to offer. Do so with the understanding that things are progressing behind the scenes of the organization as the leadership gets reshaped.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Ninja Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 14 AFL game between Richmond Tigers and
Brisbane Lions. The game kicks off at 1:10 pm with Brisbane Lions heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Richmond Tigers vs.
Brisbane Lions
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday June 14, 2026 at 1:10 pm

Where: Ninja Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Richmond Tigers vs Brisbane Lions Odds

Richmond Tigers vs Brisbane Lions Preview

Brisbane heads to Hobart on Sunday aiming to strengthen its top-four push against a Richmond side still searching for answers. The Lions returned to form with an emphatic QClash victory over Gold Coast, highlighted by Logan Morris’ seven-goal haul and another dominant midfield display from Lachie Neale. Richmond, meanwhile, enters the match after a bye that followed a heavy defeat to Sydney. The Tigers have struggled against the competition’s elite sides and now face another stern challenge against a Brisbane outfit boasting one of the most potent attacks in the league. Recent history favours the Lions, who have enjoyed success against Richmond in recent meetings. Anything less than a convincing Brisbane performance would come as a surprise.

Iran’s footballers took to the training pitch in front of journalists Thursday at their base camp in Mexico, giving the world its first glimpse of a team whose participation in the World Cup has been overshadowed by war with the United States.

After having moved their training camp to Tijuana from the planned base in Arizona, the squad has said very little since arriving for the tournament last Sunday.

For Thursday’s training session, journalists were given fifteen minutes to see a small group of players as they ran through warm-up exercises.

Of the 26 members of “Team Melli,” only a dozen players were present, with star striker Mehdi Taremi among those who did not show.

Dressed in green jerseys, the players did some light jogging on the training pitch of the Xolos, Tijuana’s local club.

They then performed stretching and core-strengthening exercises on foam mats.

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Iran is scheduled to play its first match on Monday in Los Angeles against New Zealand.

A team official confirmed to AFP that the squad is set to enter the United States on Sunday and spend the night there ahead of the match.

Last week, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico told journalists the squad would only be allowed into the US on the day of their games and would have to leave straight afterwards.

Iran‘s participation in the tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes three months after the US and Israel launched attacks on the country of around 93 million people, setting off hostilities that saw a large swathe of the Middle East drawn in, and the global economy shaken.

Thursday’s open practice came as US President Donald Trump announced what he said was a “great settlement” to end the war with Iran, saying he expected a deal to be signed in Europe as soon as this weekend.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)