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Somali referee denied US entry just days before World Cup begins
FIFA World Cup referee Omar Artan, selected by the Confederation of African Football, has been blocked from entering the United States despite previously being told his visa situation was resolved. Artan travelled from Nairobi via Istanbul to Miami before being turned away and returning to Turkey.
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Barnes urges England to leave Ngumoha alone after impressive Three Lions debut
John Barnes has called on England to ease pressure on Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha after his Player of the Match debut against New Zealand, insisting the 17-year-old must first nail down a regular starting spot at Anfield.
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Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan denied entry into the United States at Miami airport
Omar Artan, Somalia's sole representative among World Cup referees, was turned away by US Customs and Border Protection at Miami International Airport on Saturday. CBP cited unspecified "vetting concerns" as the reason for his inadmissibility.
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Mbappé misses Giroud record again in France's 3-1 win over Northern Ireland
With six unsuccessful attempts at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, Kylian Mbappé remains stuck on 56 goals for France. Olivier Giroud's record of 57 goals slips away just a week before the World Cup.
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Coulthard warns Russell must beat Antonelli in Barcelona or title race is over
David Coulthard says George Russell's 2026 championship hopes are finished unless he outscores Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli at the Spanish Grand Prix. Antonelli leads Russell by 68 points after his record-breaking Monaco victory.
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Arsenal sack head doctor Iqbal weeks after Champions League final defeat to PSG
Arsenal have terminated head doctor Zafar Iqbal's contract with immediate effect following a season blighted by injuries, while Under-21s coach Max Porter departs after nine years to join Stoke City's backroom staff.
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Olise scores brace against Northern Ireland and surpasses Mbappé at same stage in international career
Michael Olise scored twice in France's friendly against Northern Ireland (Monday, Lille), bringing his tally to 6 goals in 17 caps — a rate superior to Kylian Mbappé's at the same stage of his international career.
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Released and disillusioned, Kyle Daukaus rebuilt himself to face Bo Nickal
Kyle Daukaus admits he "hated the sport" after the UFC cut him with a 2-4-1 record, but four wins and a title at Cage Fury reignited his ambition. A stunning upset of Michel Pereira and a 50-second submission of Gerald Meerschaert have now earned him a June 14 bout against unbeaten prospect Bo Nickal.
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Liverpool lends its red to coral reefs to raise awareness of bleaching
Curtis Jones, Alexander Isak, Sam Kerr and Beata Olsson team up with Axa and the Tara Ocean Foundation to highlight coral reef bleaching by repurposing the iconic visual identity of the Reds.
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Allen beats Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 118 and renews Strickland rematch push: 'I get him out of there now'
Brendan Allen kept his title momentum alive with a thrilling co-main event win over Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday, then immediately called out middleweight champion Sean Strickland for a rematch nearly six years in the making.
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Bo Nickal pushes back on fan criticism ahead of UFC White House card
Bo Nickal has defended his place on the UFC White House card, arguing critics overlook a lifetime of wrestling dedication that predates his MMA career. The 8-1 middleweight faces Kyle Daukaus on June 14.
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McGinn defends Scotland after Norway blast cancelled friendly as 'weak' and 'unprofessional'
Scotland pulled out of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Norway in Charlotte just two days before kick-off, citing injury concerns. Norway's Brede Hangeland and Alexander Sørloth publicly condemned the decision, prompting a sharp response from Scotland captain John McGinn.
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Jota's wife writes to Robertson: 'You'll be taking his dream with you' at the World Cup
Rute Cardoso, widow of Diogo Jota, has written an open letter to Andy Robertson ahead of Scotland's World Cup campaign, telling the former Liverpool team-mate that Jota 'will be with you' as he leads his country at the tournament.
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Doué starts on the left, Barcola back on the bench ahead of World Cup
Didier Deschamps has made his decision: Désiré Doué will occupy the left side of France's attack against Northern Ireland, relegating Bradley Barcola to the bench eight days before the opening World Cup match against Senegal.
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Timber ruled out of World Cup as groin injury ends Netherlands hopes
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after failing to recover sufficiently from a groin injury sustained in March. The 24-year-old will leave the Netherlands' pre-tournament camp in New York following Monday's friendly against Uzbekistan.
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Rashford ignoring Bayern Munich calls as Barcelona weigh £26m permanent deal
Marcus Rashford is reportedly refusing to engage with Bayern Munich's interest and remains focused solely on a permanent move to Barcelona, where he scored 14 goals and registered 14 assists on loan this season. Barcelona have until June 15 to activate a £26m purchase option.
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Hurricane threatens Mexico vs South Africa World Cup opener at Azteca Stadium
As the rainy season peaks in Mexico City, meteorologists fear a hurricane could form in the Pacific on June 13, 2026, the day of the World Cup opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium.
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Gane accepts blame for UFC 320 eye poke that ended Aspinall fight in no contest
Ciryl Gane has publicly taken responsibility for the accidental eye poke that turned his heavyweight title fight against Tom Aspinall at UFC 320 into a no contest. The Frenchman now targets Alex Pereira for an interim belt on June 14, with Aspinall still recovering.
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Tuchel's first England speech revealed: 'Brotherhood' the key to World Cup glory
The FA has released footage of Thomas Tuchel's opening address to England's squad from March 2025, in which the head coach outlined winning the World Cup as the mission's sole objective and cited a conversation with an unnamed World Cup winner to stress unity over individual quality.
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Mourinho shuts door on Tchouaméni departure despite Manchester United and Liverpool interest
Back on the Real Madrid bench, José Mourinho has reportedly told the club's hierarchy that he is counting on Aurélien Tchouaméni for next season, blocking approaches from Manchester United and Liverpool.
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