Manchester City and Real Madrid have been at the centre of some of football’s biggest transfer stories in recent years, but the latest controversy has little to do with an actual transfer negotiation.

Instead, it stems from comments made by Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme during his election campaign, where he publicly claimed he could bring both Erling Haaland and Rodri to the Spanish club if elected president.

What Exactly Happened?

During a television appearance in Spain, Riquelme held up a Real Madrid shirt bearing Erling Haaland’s name and suggested that the Norwegian striker wanted to join Los Blancos.

He went a step further by claiming that Haaland’s Manchester City contract contains a release clause that could facilitate a move to Madrid.

The presidential hopeful also promised to sign Rodri, describing the Ballon d’Or winner as a player Real Madrid need in midfield. These statements quickly generated headlines across Europe, especially given Haaland’s status as one of the world’s biggest football stars and Rodri’s importance to City’s midfield. 

Why Are Manchester City Angry?

Manchester City’s frustration is not simply about transfer rumours. The club’s primary issue is that Riquelme presented his claims as fact during an official election campaign despite there being no evidence that either transfer is realistic.

City have publicly denied that Haaland has a release clause that would allow Real Madrid to sign him and insist there is “no chance” of such a move under the circumstances described by Riquelme.

From City’s perspective, the comments risk creating a false narrative around one of their most valuable players while using his name to attract attention and votes during an election campaign.

The Haaland Image Issue

A major reason City are considering legal action is the use of Haaland’s image and identity in a political context.

Riquelme appeared with a Real Madrid shirt carrying Haaland’s name and used the striker as a centrepiece of his campaign promises.

Clubs and players often have commercial rights attached to their names, images, and likenesses. When those assets are used without permission, particularly for promotional, commercial, or political purposes—it can raise legal concerns.

City’s statement specifically referenced the use of their player’s image, suggesting the club believes Haaland’s likeness was used without proper authorization.

What About Rodri?

Rodri’s situation is slightly different. While his contract expires next summer and speculation about his future does exist, there is currently no indication that a move to Real Madrid is close.

Riquelme nevertheless included the Spanish midfielder in his election promises and even claimed he would personally compensate Real Madrid members if he failed to deliver the transfers.

Those comments have added to the controversy because they transformed hypothetical transfer targets into campaign pledges.

How Have Haaland’s representatives responded?

Haaland’s camp has backed Manchester City’s position.

His father, Alfie Haaland, and agent Rafaela Pimenta dismissed the reports and made it clear they do not reflect reality.

Their response effectively reinforced City’s argument that the claims were speculative rather than based on genuine transfer discussions.

Could City Actually Take Legal Action?

At this stage, City have only stated that they are considering legal action. Whether the club proceeds will likely depend on legal advice regarding the use of Haaland’s image, potential reputational damage, and whether the campaign continues to use the player as part of its messaging.

For now, the controversy appears less about a genuine transfer battle between Manchester City and Real Madrid and more about a football superstar being used as a campaign tool during one of the biggest elections in world football.

The Minnesota Vikings have answered most of the questions asked over the last few months, including the identities of the QB reinforcement and the GM. One burning question remains, however: Harrison Smith’s future.

Smith, 37, has yet to make his retirement call. He received a standing ovation at the end of last season, as folks suspected a farewell could be on the horizon. In recent years, when the same mystery existed, he eventually returned for another campaign. Whether he does this year remains an unknown, but Kevin O’Connell appears to have an idea.

Asked about the longest-tenured Viking, head coach Kevin O’Connell first joked: “The only update that I can give is he was in town and saw some folks. I didn’t get to see him. I was incredibly hurt by that. And then, in an attempt to play some golf with him, I was turned down. That’s the only update, kind of in an embarrassing fashion, I’m willing to give today.”

Of course, a follow-up question would come. Asked whether he still wants to play, O’Connell said, “You know what, I think Harrison Smith is going to want to play football until he’s old and gray, which, last time I checked, had not happened yet. It never quite goes away, I mean, shoot, I wish I could go play. I think it’s probably a deeper conversation than just the ‘want to’ at this point. Those conversations will take place, respectfully for Harrison, throughout the summer.”

O’Connell added that it could be an “ongoing thing” and mentioned that how the season is going could play a role. In theory, a mid-season return is possible.

Regardless, that sounded a lot like O’Connell suspects Smith would love to keep playing, but the body has to play along.

Thankfully, Smith revealed in December, “I’m just enjoying day by day. You know how it is, when you’re getting towards your later years, it’s harder to go to practice, harder to get ready to go every time. On gameday, I always feel ready. I’ve always been on top of my body — my nutrition. Everything. It’s not fancy or anything, but you stay on top of it — it stacks up over the years.”

Picked in the first round of the 2012 draft, Smith has been the anchor of various iterations of the Vikings’ defenses over the last 14 years, playing under three head coaches and even more defensive coordinators.

Over the years, he has played in a bunch of games. In 2025, Smith missed the first couple of matchups due to a mysterious illness but was able to suit up for the remaining 15 games. He started 12 of them, as the Vikings slowly inserted him back into the lineup rather than giving him the full workload.

Smith used his 793 defensive snaps to register 54 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and a pair of interceptions. Though he has certainly lost a step or two, he is still often in the right position because he has seen it all in 207 regular-season games.

Furthermore, defensive coordinator Brian Flores deployed him as his quarterback, who can make calls ahead of the snap to adjust the defense to the offensive looks. The Vikings once again field one of the best defenses in football, and Smith’s voice certainly played a role.

Due to the uncertainty, the Vikings kept their safety room together, led by Joshua Metellus, followed by rotational pieces Jay Ward and Theo Jackson. In the draft, interim GM Rob Brzezinski used a third-rounder to acquire Jakobe Thomas out of Miami.

We haven’t heard from Smith since the end of last season. He’s generally a private person. In previous offseasons, he eventually just showed up, or a reporter said he would. The future Ring of Honor inductee is not a man for any flashy announcements.

At this point, it’s just a guessing game, but reading between the lines, the Vikings might be cautiously optimistic that he’ll be back at some point.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

The sexy part of free agency is long over as NFL teams have transitioned to organized team activities. But some teams have fresh cash after the NFL’s June 1st salary cap benchmark, and conveniently, a handful of ex-Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks are looking for work.

Training camps are still eight weeks away, but look for the men on this list to land jobs before too long.

The Former Vikings QBs

1. Joshua Dobbs

The New England Patriots employed Dobbs in 2025, and he stuck around the roster until March 2026. But after the Patriots added Tommy DeVito, they kicked Dobbs to the curb, and he’s been employed since.

Before that, Dobbs provided the Vikings with one of the most unexpected and entertaining detours of the 2023 season. Minnesota acquired him from Arizona after Kirk Cousins’ Achilles tear and while Nick Mullens was still sidelined. The cost was minimal: a 6th-Round pick and a conditional 7th-Rounder that was never conveyed. When Jaren Hall sustained a concussion in Atlanta, Dobbs was thrust into action with a partially learned playbook and no time to prepare.

Remarkably, it worked. He led the Vikings to victories against the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, creating a brief period where it felt like the team had stumbled into one of those improbable NFL narratives. “DobbsMania” was a legitimate, albeit fleeting, phenomenon, and it was a rollercoaster.

However, the league quickly adjusted to his style. His accuracy issues became apparent, and his timing with Jordan Addison never fully developed. A missed connection with Justin Jefferson in a game at the Denver Broncos proved to be a turning point. By the Las Vegas Raiders game the following week, head coach Kevin O’Connell had seen enough and benched him for Mullens. That swiftly concluded his chapter in Minnesota.

Dobbs later moved on to San Francisco and New England, where he demonstrated a similar pattern.

Some team will scoop Dobbs for a QB3 job, at least, before the end of the summer. He deserves it.

2. Desmond Ridder

The Green Bay Packers dropped Ridder last month when they signed Tyrod Taylor as Jordan Love’s primary 2026 backup. Ridder stopped by the Vikings in 2025 when injuries rattled J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz.

He’s started 18 NFL games for the Falcons and Raiders, with his teams achieving an 8-10 record. The record accurately reflects his current standing in the league. Ridder has mobility and a willingness to absorb hits, offering an offense some flexibility when plays break down. But his ability isn’t a primary focus for opposing defenses.

His passing statistics — 16 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and approximately 160 passing yards per game — suggest he can manage an offense effectively if supported by a strong running game, solid pass protection, and capable playmakers. He isn’t a guy who can single-handedly carry an offense.

Ridder may ultimately settle into a short-term role as a QB3 soon. Otherwise, he’s a practice squad guy.

3. Brett Rypien

The Vikings signed Rypien in 2024 after his release from the Bears and brought him back in the 2025 offseason to compete for the QB2 or QB3 position. However, his tenure was brief. O’Connell ultimately selected Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer behind J.J. McCarthy, leading to Rypien’s departure.

His NFL career has included stints with numerous teams:

• Denver Broncos (2019–2022)
• Los Angeles Rams (2023)
• Seattle Seahawks (2023)
• New York Jets (2023)
• Chicago Bears (2024)
• Minnesota Vikings (2024–2025)
• Cincinnati Bengals (2025)
• Indianapolis Colts (2025)

In his four career starts, Rypien’s teams went 2-2. His overall production: 4 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

From February to late April 2025, Rypien briefly held the QB2 spot behind McCarthy in Minnesota. That changed when the Vikings traded for Sam Howell, later sent Howell to Philadelphia, and signed Wentz. The sequence of events sums up Rypien’s time with the Vikings: useful for a short period, then quickly replaced.

4. John Wolford

Similar to Ridder, Wolford joined the Vikings in 2025 as an emergency quarterback.

He entered the league in 2018 as an undrafted free agent with the Jets, though his time there was short. In 2019, he played for the Arizona Hotshots in the short-lived Alliance of American Football before securing a role with the Los Angeles Rams.

With the Rams, Wolford established himself as Jared Goff’s backup, even earning a Super Bowl ring as a reserve passer during the 2021 season. Across nine NFL seasons, Wolford has played in seven games, starting four, with his teams achieving a 2-2 record in those starts. His statistics are modest: 626 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 5 interceptions.

By now, he’s a practice squad guy, too.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

NFL-themed media seized on J.J. McCarthy’s comments last week at organized team activities, noting that he didn’t provide a typical diplomatic answer about his role in the summer camp battle against Kyler Murray. In short, McCarthy spoke from the heart, while Murray provided a more customary example, as a seasoned veteran might.

And according to head coach Kevin O’Connell, the critique of McCarthy’s responses was overblown. Whoodathunkit?

O’Connell Keeps Vikings QB Room Calm

O’Connell on the Camp Battle

A day after the Vikings introduced O’Connell’s new boss, general manager Nolan Teasley, O’Connell took questions from the media. Right off the bat, he was asked about McCarthy’s comments and the state of the QB1 competition.

He replied, “The interpretation of those comments will be what they are. I would just say, in the room, day to day, the dialogue between those guys, the interactions, have been very professional. And more than that, it’s been a positive room. I think Carson has a lot to do with that, as the veteran in the room.”

“And I would never discount Josh McCown’s extensive career as a player in those quarterback rooms and how he manages the room and everybody in there. So I didn’t make a lot out of it. I know there was some reaction to it. That’s probably not the first time there’s gonna be a reaction to those guys answering questions about the situation.”

O’Connell also noted that he doesn’t expect players locked in position battles to “smile at all times.”

He continued, “That’s what the competition is all about. There’s no hiding anything. It’s going to be displayed on the field, and their teammates and coaching staff and the guys in this building have to feel a conviction about the direction we go, and you do that by your daily habits, and just improving.”

O’Connell added about McCarthy, “I think he’s handling it really well. He’s been great in the meeting rooms. As a captain and a guy that helps lead our team, he’s been phenomenal.”

Youth versus Experience

The Murray-McCarthy can be described rather easily: Murray has been around the block, knowing how to talk to reporters after living in the NFL for seven seasons and experiencing all the hype as a 1st-Round pick in 2019. McCarthy, on the other hand, told the truth.

Rather than deliver a polished, canned answer that sounds team-friendly, McCarthy told media members how he felt — for real — about the camp battle. His words and facial expressions were the evidence.

If you could peek at a crystal ball in 2031, McCarthy would probably sound just like Murray, and McCarthy’s theoretical young teammate would not sound as polished.

Murray as a Heavy Favorite

It’s also worth noting that Murray is the overwhelming favorite to win the Vikings’ QB1 job. O’Connell, of course, did not advertise that, but oddsmakers paint a clear picture.

Murray is the -1,000 moneyline favorite, which is similar to Stephen Curry hitting a free throw on a random weeknight. McCarthy can still score the upset, but it would take a gridiron miracle or a Murray injury. There’s a reason that Murray averages 30 touchdown passes and scampers every 17 starts — he’s tough to dethrone from the QB1 perch.

May the Best Man Win

Fans and national media erupted over Murray and McCarthy’s comments and throws — a reaction typical of late August, but this was only the first week of OTAs. Get ready: this battle will dominate the summer. Vikings fans can anticipate three months of clips, quotes, reactions, overreactions, and deep dives into quarterback body language.

Some labeled McCarthy’s comments as immature; while that feels a bit strong, its validity depends on one’s perspective. Others, inexplicably, revisited Murray’s height as if it were a novel concern. The clear takeaway is this: if the initial OTA session generated this much buzz, the quarterback competition will be anything but boring.

Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer are also on hand to take snaps should Murray or McCarthy falter or get injured. That depth is important, as Minnesota has capable backups despite the intense focus on Murray and McCarthy.

The Vikings open their regular season on September 13 against the Green Bay Packers. If Murray starts, that game immediately gains an intriguing subplot: he would face his former Cardinals head coach, Jonathan Gannon, now Green Bay’s defensive coordinator. Murray and Gannon shared a close relationship in Arizona. Their next NFL chapter will begin on opposite sidelines in a Vikings-Packers matchup.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Thursday suspended five wrestlers, including U20 Asian Championship trails winner Deepanshu, for four years after their birth certificates were found to be fake during a verification exercise in its crackdown on age fraud in the sport.

Deepanshu, who had won the men’s freestyle 65kg event on Wednesday, has been replaced by Pawan Balaji Dhayagude in the squad for the championship, starting June 27 in Pattaya, Thailand.

The other suspended wrestlers are Tanuj Antil, Baljot Singh and Nikhil Dalal and Saket Drall, who reached the final of the 86kg trials. He was removed from the final and was replaced by Sahil Dalal, who eventually grabbed the place in the Indian team.

In an order issued by WFI president Sanjay Kumar Singh, the federation said it had taken a “very serious view” of wrestlers submitting forged birth certificates to gain eligibility for participation in National Wrestling Championships.

WFI said discrepancies in birth certificates had surfaced in several cases in recent months, leading to suspensions and widespread reporting in print, electronic and social media.

“Despite the action already taken, some wrestlers allegedly continued attempting to compete in national events by submitting alternative or fabricated documents,” WFI said in its notice.

The federation said verification conducted with the Registrar (Birth and Death), Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, confirmed that the birth certificates submitted by the five wrestlers were not genuine and that corresponding records could not be traced in official registers.

Terming the violations serious, the WFI announced disciplinary proceedings against the wrestlers and suspended them from all wrestling-related activities under its aegis for a period of four years with immediate effect.

The latest action comes amid the federation’s efforts to curb age manipulation, an issue that has long plagued age-group competitions in Indian wrestling. 

Show-cause notice to referee commission member 
In a separate development, the WFI issued a show-cause notice to referee Jaibir, a member of the WFI Referee Commission, alleging conflict of interest and misconduct during the Asian Games selection trials in Lucknow on May 31.

According to the notice, Jaibir had been appointed as a referee for the trials and was officiating on the mat where Greco-Roman bouts were conducted. During the competition, his son, Ronak Dahiya, participated in the 130kg Greco-Roman category.

The federation alleged that during the final bout of the 130kg event, Jabir removed his referee kit and assumed the role of coach for his son while continuing to remain associated with the event as an appointed referee.

WFI said such conduct amounted to a serious conflict of interest and was contrary to the principles of neutrality, impartiality and professional ethics expected from a technical official.

The federation has asked Jaibir to submit a written explanation by June 10 as to why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him.

As Jaibir is currently officiating at the third Ranking Tournament in Mongolia, scheduled to conclude on June 9, the WFI has permitted him to continue his duties there. However, he will stand temporarily suspended after the tournament pending a final decision by the federation.

The WFI maintained that officials must disclose any potential conflict of interest and recuse themselves from duties that could compromise the integrity and fairness of competitions.

Jordan Spieth, over Muirfield Village Golf Club’s first five holes, two-putted five times. He hit 10 putts, missing birdie looks from 19, 21, 14, 50 and 13 feet, so when he left the 6th hole with 11 putts in the most improbable of ways, his summation of the event felt as accurate as his golf ball’s roll.  

“It’s golf right there.”

Golf golfed, and Spieth Spiethed on the 6th green during Thursday’s first round of the Memorial Tournament. In the end, Spieth birdied the par-4, but how he played his third stroke is worth some examination. After his tee shot finished just to the right of the right fairway bunker, he hit his second shot to the right part of the green, which kept him away from trouble but left him with a bit of a geometry problem. 

With the pin on the left side of the green and a dramatic right-to left slope facing him, the question Spieth had was how far right would he have to aim on a 63-foot putt. During Wednesday’s practice round, he said he tried the putt twice. 

“And I hit it poorly,” Spieth said. 

But he had an idea of what it would do. On putts like that, he said, he’ll try to find where “the fall line is on top and, you know, see a pitch mark or something where my ball needs to essentially roll around.” Thursday, Spieth rotated to the point where his back was facing the hole. 

He then hit. 

After 3 seconds, Spieth started to walk slowly behind it. This gave him a good peek at the break, should he need to hit another putt, though it also looked like he was walking his ball to his home, which would have been an all-time swagger move. “You can’t tell from where you hit it when you’re playing that much break,” Spieth said, “so a lot of times I just walk to the high side and see. But I was also starting to walk because I thought maybe it was a foot short, which it’s hard to judge that from that far.”

For 15 seconds, Spieth waited. 

At second 14, his ball inched toward the 4 o’clock spot on the hole. And then it disappeared. 

A one-putt. 

As of late Thursday afternoon, the video of it on the PGA Tour’s X account had drawn three-quarters of a million views, and you can watch it below. 

From there, Spieth played even-par golf for a one-under 71, putting him four back of the leaders. 

“It’s great just to get into red on this golf course before anything else,” Spieth said. “Because then you don’t feel like you’ve — you don’t feel, like on 7, I didn’t feel like I needed to try to hit it further on the third shot, I didn’t have to try to get back to the pin. It shouldn’t matter, but when we’re used to shooting under par when we play, it’s really nice when you actually get that one, and it actually kinds of helps you stay patient from there. 

“I hate when the golf course is beating me, so I always want to be ahead of it. And obviously out here that’s different than the last tournament I played, but it’s just kind of a mentality thing. So I felt like I just, I had a very good game plan and stuck to it today. But that being a bonus one makes you think, OK, if I was trying to shoot a couple under maybe that’s three-under now, because you weren’t necessarily expecting to get that one.” 

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Colombian pop star Shakira will perform her official song for the 2026 World Cup at the competition’s opening ceremony in Mexico.

Shakira will perform Dai Dai, along with Burna Boy, on Thursday, 11 June at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, before Mexico and South Africa play the first of the tournament’s 104 games (20:00 BST).

Dai Dai – an Italian phrase meaning “let’s go” or “come on”.

Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla will also perform at the show in Mexico.

Opening ceremonies will precede each of the first matches played in the host nations of USA, Canada and Mexico.

Canadian singer-songwriters Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette will headline the opening ceremony at BMO Field in Toronto before Canada take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, 12 June (20:00 BST).

In the USA, pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future will perform before the USA take on Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, 12 June (Saturday, 02:00 BST).

Shakira, along with Madonna and K-pop boyband BTS, will also co-headline the Super Bowl-style half-time show at this summer’s World Cup final on 19 July.

Guela Doué haunted his brother’s national team as he scored once and set up the winner to fire Ivory Coast to a shock 2-1 comeback victory over France in a World Cup warm-up match in Nantes on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Strasbourg defender, older brother of France and Paris St Germain forward Désiré Doué, cancelled out Rayan Cherki’s sublime opener shortly after halftime before delivering the cross that Amad Diallo converted for the winner, earning the Elephants a first-ever victory over Les Bleus.

France appeared comfortably in control after an encouraging first-half display and led through Cherki’s moment of brilliance, but Didier Deschamps‘s side unravelled after the break as Ivory Coast punished a series of defensive lapses.

Les Bleus, who were on a nine-match unbeaten streak, next face Northern Ireland in a final warm-up game in Lille on Monday.

Deschamps made 10 substitutions in the second half as France appeared bothered by the speed of Ivory Coast, who begin their World Cup campaign against Ecuador on June 15.

The positive point for France was Cherki’s display as the Manchester City player made his case for a place in the starting lineup for the team’s World Cup opening game against Senegal on June 16.

Captain Kylian Mbappé started and showed intent throughout the opening period, creating several dangerous situations against a disciplined Ivory Coast side before being replaced at halftime.

France threatened early when Michael Olise slipped Mbappé through in the seventh minute, but goalkeeper Yahia Fofana reacted well to parry the striker’s effort.

Cherki should have put France ahead in the 31st minute when Marcus Thuram picked him out in front of goal, but the 22-year-old hesitated and was denied by a last-ditch challenge.

He remained influential, however, and nearly turned provider nine minutes later when Aurélien Tchouameni’s header from his delivery was tipped over by Fofana.

Cherki finally got his reward on the stroke of halftime. He gathered a loose ball on the right side of the area, dragged it past a defender with a clever drag-back and fired a right-footed shot across the goalkeeper into the far corner.

France, however, were caught off guard early in the second half.

Doué was played through by Nicolas Pepe and slipped the ball past Mike Maignan to level in the 53rd minute.

His cross was then met by Diallo, who tapped in to boost Ivory Coast’s morale before they fly to the U.S.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looks to drive past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo)

WASHINGTON  — President Donald Trump, a longtime New York Knicks fan, said he plans to attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden next week at the invitation of the team’s owner.

Describing himself as a “big fan” of the team and owner James Dolan, Trump said Thursday that he will be in the arena for at least one game next week. The NBA believes it would make him the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.

“The answer is yes — he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said of Dolan’s invitation. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he was eyeing Game 3 on Monday but didn’t rule out Game 4 on Wednesday. “Maybe I’ll do both.”

Trump, who is simultaneously contending with a war in Iran, strife in Congress and looming midterm elections, said he made sure to catch some of Game 1 on Wednesday as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

“I missed the middle because I talk to generals all night long now, but I watched that end of the game and they were dominant,” Trump said. “Really amazing.”

Asked about his plans for next week, Trump went on to offer his own game recap, giving nothing but praise for the Knicks. Taking questions after an event on his administration’s efforts to promote the U.S. coal industry, Trump said it “wasn’t looking good” for the Knicks early on but commended them for holding back Victor Wembanyama, the towering Spurs center.

“I say, how do you guard this guy? He’s 7-foot-5 and he’s got a great shot, right? But they find a way to do it. They’re really great.”

The NBA said it believes no other sitting president has attended an NBA Finals game. Earlier Thursday, Commissioner Adam Silver said some former presidents had attended. He recalled Trump as a Knicks fan long before his political career.

“Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan,” Silver said. “I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden.”

Silver reiterated a message he conveyed Wednesday amid reports that Trump might attend — that sports can be unifying, even in deeply divided political times.

“We can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart,” Silver said. “We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team.”

The commissioner acknowledged that Trump’s presence will require extra security in and around Madison Square Garden. That would almost certainly mean longer transit times and logistical issues for fans.

“I think the fans are very understanding of that,” Silver said. “I think they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event.”

Iran is heading to the World Cup while the country is at war with the primary host nation, a situation that is unique in the tournament’s history.

In exclusive interviews with The Associated Press during a team camp in Turkey, two members of Iran’s squad described how the conflict is affecting its World Cup preparations.

“Well, to be honest, it’s not easy,” said Saeid Ezatolahi, a 29-year-old midfielder who also played for Iran in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

“That’s going to be my third World Cup. So for me and some of the other players, it might be easier to manage these kind of things,” he said in English on the sidelines of a training session on Wednesday. “But at the end … it is going to be difficult for us because at the same time, we are following the news in our country and the political things, of course, can affect the mind of the players and the people.” 
The Iran team has spent more than two weeks in Turkey, mostly practicing at the coastal resort Antalya, and some went to the capital Ankara to submit visa applications at the U.S. embassy. Media access to their World Cup preparations has been limited, and the players rarely speak to international journalists.

Iran will be based in Mexico during the World Cup 
The team is set to travel to Mexico this weekend after receiving visas from the Mexican embassy in Ankara. The team said Thursday that the process of obtaining entry permits had been finalized for all members of the squad. Problems with visa processing meant Iran’s World Cup training base was moved from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, on Mexico’s border with California.

Iran will play its first two games near Los Angeles, which has a large Iranian community, many of whom oppose the current government.

“So for sure, we are expecting to have a lot fans during our games at the stadium,” Ezatolahi said. “And this is going to be a lot pressure for us because the expectation is going be high. I just wish we can make them proud and show them that Iranians, they are prepared for every hard job in the world,” he said. 

Mohammad Ghorbani, 24, is going to his first World Cup for Iran.

“It’s true that we are facing special circumstances right now but we are football players and we have to play, practice, and prepare ourselves for the competitions we have ahead,” the Abu Dhabi-based player told the AP in Farsi.

“On the other hand, we know that our people have been going through a lot of difficulties throughout the war, and we are going there for them, to get the best results for their joy and the joy of the people of our country.” 
The U.S. and Israel launched its war against Iran on Feb. 28, killing its supreme leader and other top officials. Iran responded with strikes targeting Israel, U.S. forces and the Gulf Arab states. It also has maintained a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, imperiling global energy supplies.

Despite a nominal ceasefire being in place, Iran and the U.S. have yet to negotiate a permanent end to the war and attacks continue in the region.

Iran is in Group G with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt 
Iran’s team is not required to enter the United States until June 14, one day before its first match against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood.

Iran returns to Inglewood to face Belgium on June 21 and completes Group G in Seattle, against Egypt on June 26.

“I’m really proud to be part of my national team,” said Ezatolahi, whose career has taken him to play for clubs in Spain, Russia, England, Belgium, Denmark, Qatar and now Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

“We need to clear up our minds and be fresh because our target and our duty is to fight for our people, to represent our country and to show how good we are,” he said.

Ghorbani agreed, saying the team wants to bring joy to Iranians.

“The best message I can give right now is that the Iranian team is showing what it means to be a team,” he said. “We are showing that we are one team under one flag that can bring joy to our whole country, and to show the power of Iranian players and Iranian people to the world.