The 2026 World Cup has been marred by travel chaos, with Uruguay and Iran facing issues at the tournament. The Uruguayan team experienced delays arriving in Miami for their opening game against Saudi Arabia, with the team's plane being denied clearance to fly from Cancun. The Uruguayan FA has pinned the blame on Fifa, who in turn claimed it was an issue with the airline.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi has also criticised Fifa for the impact that his nation's war with the US has had on preparations for their first game against New Zealand tonight. The team has been forced to move their base to Mexico, and there have been visa issues plaguing members of their delegation. Travelling fans have also been stripped of match tickets.
As England continue to build up to their game with Croatia on Wednesday, Jordan Henderson has leapt to the defence of teammate Jude Bellingham, claiming external criticism is way off the mark. Henderson praised Bellingham's influence on the team and his good relationship with the midfielder.