Iran’s national team returns to American soil today after 26 years. This is the story of what happened last time. The movie just needs to be filmed. bbc.co.uk/sport/football/552…

So was it worth fifa throwing dignity to the wind and suspending Ronaldo’s suspension?

What the team has gone through over the last few months. - Suspension of league, where 17 of the 26 players play. No competitive football for months for these players due to the war. - Having to travel with bus to Turkey to play friendly games. - Cancellation of friendly games. - Change of team base camp just weeks before the World Cup. - Uncertainty whether they will participate in the tournament or not. - Uncertainty whether they will receive visas to compete at the tournament. - Fake media stories including ones that claim they have to enter and leave USA the same day of the game. (The players see this, they get worried) - Not being able to recover after the match and having to go back to their base camp in Mexico. - Single entry visa being issued for a squad player and only being solved after the first game. FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s speeches in the locker room won’t change anything. FIFA and the host country, the United States, should have handled this in a better way. These are not excuses for the game vs. New Zealand. The team must recover and do better in the upcoming games.

Ramin Rezaeian: “My people in Iran are great, everyone in the world now knows about the greatness of Iranians. If there's a problem among us, it's our problem; it's not your problem. This is an issue between us, and we'll resolve it. Don't worry." ❤️

Best game of the tournament so far that justified the pre-match expectations. Japan unbeaten in 10 against European teams. Two wins and two draws for Asian teams against European teams so far at the World Cup

Germany love a roof. They hammered Saudi Arabia 8-0 indoors in 2002 and now Curacao under the roof in Houston.

A long read about how daily violence in Haiti has affected the national team, the joy of football, and what the national team has overcome to be at the World Cup. bbc.co.uk/sport/football/art…

The man who took Bosnia to the World Cup. manidjazmi.substack.com/p/th…

No less than South Korea deserve. Clearly the better team.

Can football restore some faith? manidjazmi.substack.com/p/it…

Which World Cup co-host will go the furthest? 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇲🇽 We hear from Canada manager Jesse Marsch, Former USA captain Marcelo Balboa and Mexican journalist Ricardo Otero as @BBC_Mani and CONCACAF football expert Jon Arnold asses the three sides 👇 bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0nr41…

"The worst thing about this game is that there is another half." - The Swedish commentator

A Trump-Iran pattern? • Wed: Iran wants a deal. They called us • Thu: We are looking at proposals • Fri: We might be close. Very close • Sat.: Iran knows what to do • Sun: OBLITERATION. TOTAL. COMPLETE. They have 24 hrs. • Mon. : The storm is coming • Tue.: I’m giving it more time [Return to Wed. ♻️]

In March, Alexander Ende was sacked by Preußen Münster after a 6-0 defeat by Dinamo Dresden. Yesterday, Ende was sacked by Fortuna Dusseldorf after they were relegated to the third tier, alongside Münster. #TheEnde

RT @NegarMortazavi: Regime change: failed ❌ Obliterate nuke program: failed ❌ Destroy Air Force: failed ❌ Destroy army: failed ❌ Destroy…

Hi @hemispheremg - this is Mani Djazmi from BBC. Could you follow so that I can send a DM please?

33 years ago, nearly an entire national team died in an air crash. I wrote this about who the players were, the survivors, and how tragedy became revival and then triumph. bbc.co.uk/sport/football/art…

Today marks 33 years of the aircrash that took 30 of our gallant teammates and officials off the coast of Gabon. #Chipolopolo . Memories of you live with us forever. #Zambia 🇿🇲. Rest in eternal peace 🙏🏾