Japanese fans clean up stands after celebrating World Cup win
NewsFeed Many Japanese fans stayed behind after celebrating their 4-0 victory over Tunisia, by collecting rubbish from the stands. The practice is known in Japan as gomi hiroi, which emphasises on taking responsibility for shared spaces. Published On 22 Jun 202622 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Colombia’s De La Espriella claims victory on preliminary results
NewsFeed Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has claimed victory in Colombia’s presidential election after securing a narrow lead over left-wing rival Iván Cepeda in preliminary results. Supporters celebrated in the streets of Barranquilla, as Cepeda said his campaign is challenging results from some 33,000 ballot boxes. Published On 22 Jun 202622 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Crimea halts fuel sales after Ukraine strikes cause shortages
NewsFeed Gas sales in Russian-controlled Crimea have halted after Ukrainian drone strikes on the peninsula’s supply route. Drivers are now looking for other modes of transport. Published On 22 Jun 202622 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Iran-U.S. launch historic peace talks with 60-day roadmap
NewsFeed Historic negotiations between Iran and the United States are officially underway, marking the start of what mediators describe as a crucial 60-day process. Published On 21 Jun 202621 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland kick off
NewsFeed US-Iran talks opened in Switzerland with mediators Qatar and Pakistan hailing a ‘historic’ opportunity for regional stability. Discussions aim to build on recent de-escalation efforts, secure implementation of the interim deal and advance diplomacy. Published On 21 Jun 202621 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Mbappe, France play Iraq in World Cup match: prediction, team news, lineups
The 2026 World Cup will have 13 different kickoff times. You can use the Al Jazeera Sport widget to find out exactly when your team is playing in your local time. Who: France vs IraqWhat: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I matchWhere: Philadelphia Stadium, Pennsylvania, USWhen: Monday, 5pm (21:00 GMT)How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 18:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list France are one win away from safely navigating the World Cup “group of death,” with Les Bleus looking to take all three points to secure Round of 32 qualification against Iraq in Boston. Two goals from Kylian Mbappe helped France recover from a shaky first half in their opening match against Senegal in New Jersey, with Didier Deschamps’ side eventually running out 3-1 winners. Iraq, featuring at the World Cup for the first time since 1986, are looking to bounce back from a heavy 4-1 defeat in their opening group game against Norway. All you need to know before France vs Iraq: Superstar Kylian Mbappe (#10) celebrates scoring France’s third goal against Senegal [Dylan Martinez/Reuters] France go through the gears It’s hard to avoid reaching for the “game of two halves” cliche to describe France’s win over Senegal on Tuesday. Les Bleus were a shadow of themselves in the first half, with a number of star players failing to perform up to expectations on the pitch. But the Qatar 2022 finalists were in another league in the second half, with Real Madrid’s Mbappe scoring two brilliant goals as he became France’s all-time top scorer. Advertisement Substitute Bradley Barcola made an instant impact off the bench, scoring his first-ever World Cup goal just two minutes after coming on, highlighting the depth of star talent available to Deschamps. France may tweak, not tinker, for Iraq clash Deschamps has often favoured stability at major tournaments and is unlikely to deviate from that approach, despite an enviable range of options in his playing squad. The most likely changes are expected on the left flank, with Barcola set to replace Desire Doue in attack and Lucas Digne in line to come in for Theo Hernandez at left back. Another adjustment could come in midfield. Deschamps has held lengthy discussions with Manu Kone in recent days and the 25-year-old was paired with Adrien Rabiot during training this week, suggesting he could be handed a starting role. Iraq’s Aymen Hussein (#18) looks dejected after scoring Norway’s fourth with an own goal at Boston Stadium on June 16 [Winslow Townson/Imagn Images via Reuters] Iraq face another huge challenge The Lions of Mesopotamia were the final team to book their place at the 2026 World Cup, following a gruelling campaign which saw them play a record number of qualifiers. Their reward was a spot in Group I, which many experts believe is the most difficult of the 12 at the tournament. After a 4-1 humbling against Norway, Iraq now face Qatar 2022 runners-up France before their final group game against African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finalists Senegal. To avoid elimination, Graham Arnold’s side face a monumental task: a draw or a win against a French side that has reached the last two World Cup finals. France vs Iraq prediction Les Bleus are the overwhelming favourites, according to Stats provider Opta’s supercomputer. France have an 88.5 percent chance of victory, compared to Iraq who have just a three percent chance of pulling off a stunning win, according to Opta. Their supercomputer sees just an 8.5 percent chance of a draw at Boston Stadium on Monday. Opta now predicts that France has the best chance of winning the World Cup, moving them ahead of Spain who were the pre-tournament favourites. (Al Jazeera) France vs Iraq: Livestream, kickoff time France: beIN Sports and Groupe M6 (11pm, Central European Summer Time) Iraq: beIN Sports (12am on Tuesday, Arabia Standard Time) United Kingdom: BBC One and BBC iPlayer (10pm, British Summer Time) United States: Universo, FOX, FOX One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Network, Peacock (5pm, Eastern Daylight Time) How does Group I stand? Norway sit top of Group I on goal difference after hammering Iraq 4-1 in Boston. Advertisement France are second, also on three points, with Senegal and Iraq both with no points and sitting third and fourth respectively. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups – along with the eight best third-placed teams – proceed to the next phase, the round of 32, which has been introduced at the World Cup for the first time. Form guide (Last five games, latest result first) France: W-W-L-W-W Iraq: L-L-D-W-W The French have won five of their last six matches, with their only slip-up coming against Ivory Coast in a shock defeat in a World Cup warm-up. Iraq, meanwhile, have no wins in their last three matches after suffering back-to-back defeats to Norway and Venezuela. Their last win came in a pre-World Cup friendly against Andorra in May. France vs Iraq: Head-to-head This is the first time that the two sides have ever met in an international match. Team news: France Deschamps is set to make a few small tweaks for this game, with Barcola set to start after coming off the bench against Senegal. Digne and Kone are also tipped to start for France on Monday. Team news: Iraq Ali Jasim is available to start for Iraq after coming off against Norway with a knock. Ahmed Basil could start in goal in place of Jalal Hassan. France predicted lineup: Mike Maignan (goalkeeper); Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne; Adrien Rabiot, Manu Kone; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe. Iraq predicted lineup: Ahmed Basil (goalkeeper); Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski; Ibrahim Bayesh, Amir Al-Ammari, Zidane Iqbal, Ali Jasim; Aymen Hussein, Ali Al-Hamadi. Adblock test (Why?)
Uncertain World Cup for Paraguay’s Almiron, sent off for covering his mouth
By Reuters Published On 20 Jun 202620 Jun 2026 It was unclear what Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron said to Turkiye’s Mert Muldur under the cover of his hand, but it may have been his last gesture in this World Cup. On Friday, Almiron became the first player to be sent off at the World Cup for violating a strict new rule that forbids the covering of mouths during on-field confrontations, leaving Paraguay with 10 men to fend off an entire half of unrelenting Turkish attacks. The FIFA-proposed law, approved by the International Football Association Board in April, came after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making discriminatory slurs to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr under the cover of his shirt during a Champions League game that the referee halted, invoking UEFA’s anti-discrimination protocol. Prestianni, who denied the accusation, was given a six-match suspension by UEFA for discriminatory conduct that was deemed homophobic. In an ill-tempered match fraught with heated exchanges, Almiron’s red card before half-time was eclipsed by Paraguay’s stunning 1-0 victory in the San Francisco Bay Area, which kept their faltering World Cup alive and condemned Turkiye to a miserable early exit. The dismissal for the former Newcastle United player means he will miss Paraguay’s decisive final Group D match against Australia on June 22. Almiron made a post on Instagram of his team celebrating their 1-0 win, but made no mention of his dismissal. “I want to thank the effort of my teammates today, giving everything in each ball, thank you, thank you, thank you, I’m proud to be part of this squad,” he posted alongside an image of ecstatic Paraguay players piling on top of each other at the final whistle. Advertisement “I know Miggy personally, so I think it’s more habit with Miggy,” said England defender Dan Burn, who played with Almiron at Newcastle. “I’ve seen him do that a lot over the years in games, and I do think it’s one of those things where … it’s going to take a little while for some players to get used to that. “The refs spoke about it at the [pre-World Cup] referees meeting, so everyone knew the rules, so it wasn’t a massive surprise, but it is obviously something that’s quite hard to get out of the habit of doing.” Miguel Almiron argues with referee Ivan Barton along with teammate Juan Jose Caceres [Darren Yamashita/Reuters] ‘Slaves to the rulebook’ Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro, who hailed the fighting spirit of his players, said he accepted the rules had been applied. “The first thing I told him when he came into the dressing room was, ‘Change that face, we won, don’t feel guilty about anything. What happened brought out even more of your teammates’ fighting spirit,’” he said. Alfaro has been on a mission to shield his players from the heavy criticism endured after their opening game 4-1 trouncing by cohosts the United States, who are now group winners. “He was in a lot of pain because he felt that, for a player of his experience, those things can’t happen,” he said of Almiron. “But it happened. That’s it. We’re here to support him, to carry him, to push him.” The new measure does have exceptions, however, such as allowing players to cover their mouths during friendly conversations with club teammates on opposing teams. The rule was among several introduced ahead of the showpiece event, including five-second countdowns on throw-ins and goal kicks, time limits for substituted players to exit the field, and players made to stay on the sidelines for one minute after receiving on-field medical treatment. Alfaro said some of the new rules could hurt the game, and a yellow card for Almiron would have sufficed. “The fear I have is that football loses its essence,” he added. “Let’s not become slaves to the rulebook.” Adblock test (Why?)
Undav injury-time goal sees Germany beat Ivory Coast to top World Cup group
Germany come from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in Group E, sealing FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout place. By Reuters Published On 20 Jun 202620 Jun 2026 Deniz Undav scored two goals off the bench as Germany pulled off a thrilling comeback to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their World Cup Group E match, securing their place in the knockout stage for the first time since they won the title in 2014. After having two goals disallowed in the first half on Saturday, Germany did not lose focus and used intricate passing to find their way, while the West Africans produced their dynamic brand of attacking football in a wild Group E clash. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Undav levelled the score with a controlled, volleyed finish in the 68th minute and struck again when he received a pass on the turn, before swivelling and firing home a ball that Yahia Fofana had no chance at stopping. The versatile striker now has nine goals in his last eight matches. Simon Adingra had a late chance for Ivory Coast, but he failed to get a shot off in the area before Germany charged back down the field and Fofana blocked a low shot from Nathaniel Brown. Ivory Coast had opened the scoring in the first half when Franck Kessie slotted home a rebound off a shot by Amad Diallo on a play created when Yan Diomande charged down the left side and sent in a cross. With more than 100,000 people of German ancestry living in Toronto, Julian Nagelsmann’s men enjoyed plenty of support but were a frustrated group at the interval with nothing to show for their eight attempts on goal. Germany looked to have opened the scoring when midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rose to meet a short corner in the 25th minute but was deemed to have fouled Fofana in the process. Advertisement The ruling left Pavlovic with his hands atop his head in disbelief while Fofana received some attention after the collision, and the partisan German crowd made their disdain for the referee’s decision known. Shortly after, it was Ivory Coast who finally broke through with Kessie’s goal. The West Africans have scored in their last seven matches at the tournament – the longest such sequence on the global stage in their history. Germany once again put the ball in the back of the net, but their celebrations were cut short as the referee determined that Jamal Musiala had fouled Odilon Kossounou in the buildup. Germany top Group E with six points and are through to the last 32, while Ivory Coast remain on three after two matches. Ecuador and Curacao meet in Kansas City later on Saturday. Germany will close out the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday in New Jersey, while Ivory Coast face Curacao in Philadelphia. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump vows Iran will not charge Strait of Hormuz tolls, but says US might
United States President Donald Trump has pledged there will be no tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, unless they are collected by his own country. Trump’s statement, made in a Saturday afternoon post on Truth Social, is the latest sign that a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) may be unravelling. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “There will be NO TOLLS in the Hormuz Strait for 60 days during the Cease Fire Period, and there will be NO TOLLS after the 60 day period has expired,” Trump wrote, “unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America.” Since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, Iran has successfully used the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure point, closing the strategic waterway to traffic. But under the terms of Wednesday’s ceasefire memorandum, the strait is supposed to reopen for an interim period of 60 days. During that time, Iran is barred from charging vessels for passage. On Saturday, however, Iran’s joint military command said it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing a “clear breach” of the memorandum’s commitments. US Central Command (CENTCOM), the agency that oversees military operations in the region, denied that report and maintained that the traffic continues to flow through the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has long been a flashpoint in the conflict between the US and Iran. Nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas is transported through the strait, as well as about 30 percent of the global fertiliser trade. Closure of the strait has caused global fuel costs to soar and has tested agricultural sectors across the world. Trump had responded to Iran’s chokehold over the strait by imposing a US naval blockade on Iran’s ports in the region. Advertisement But that naval blockade was lifted under the terms of Wednesday’s memorandum. The deal also paused fighting on all fronts in the regional conflict, including in Lebanon. The memorandum, though, was not intended as a long-term deal. It serves as a launching point for negotiations on key issues, including the future of Iran’s nuclear programme. Several points of divergence also went unaddressed in the memorandum. Nowhere does the memo say that future tolls cannot be collected from the strait after the 60-day period expires. Before the war, there was no charge for passage through the strait. Trump himself said in an interview with The New York Times that the waterway should remain “permanently toll-free”. But he appeared to reverse course in Saturday’s post, once again floating the possibility that the US could extract tolls in the strait, while barring Iran from doing so. No fees should be levied, Trump wrote, “unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed”. He explained that such a charge would compensate the US “for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs”. Trump used similar language in his New York Times interview earlier this week, floating the US becoming “the guardian of the Middle East” in exchange for 20 percent of its revenue. Saturday’s post is not the first time Trump has mused about the US imposing tolls in the strait, either. In April, for instance, he discussed the idea with reporters, saying, “What about us charging tolls? I’d rather do that than let them have them. Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner. We won.” There has been no indication that Trump’s plans have been officially presented to countries in the region, many of whom have struck a careful balance in their dealings with both the US and Iran during the war. Iranian officials, meanwhile, have repeatedly said they will not rule out imposing tolls in the strait, framing the issue as a matter of sovereignty and regional negotiation. The strait sits between Iran and Oman. Further discussions are expected on the matter in the coming weeks. But such negotiations have been thrown into jeopardy amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon, which threaten to violate Wednesday’s ceasefire memorandum. Iran claimed that Saturday’s closure of the strait was a result of new Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, which killed dozens of people after the ceasefire was announced. Advertisement Iranian officials have also said that any upcoming talks should focus on proper implementation of the initial memorandum, and that the 60-day negotiating period stipulated in Wednesday’s deal would begin after that was settled. Pakistan, a top mediator between the US and Iran, has said that follow-up talks are set to begin in Switzerland on Sunday. Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that an Iranian delegation, led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has already arrived for the negotiations. On the US side, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance are expected to attend. Vance departed for Switzerland late Saturday. Adblock test (Why?)
Iran war day 113: Tehran presses US over Lebanon ceasefire
Iran presses US over Lebanon as Israeli strikes test fragile ceasefire and broader peace efforts. Published On 20 Jun 202620 Jun 2026 Iran says it is ready to move forward with diplomacy with the United States, but insists Washington must ensure Israel complies with the agreement to end the war. Tehran has repeatedly said the deal requires an end to hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon. The comments come as a US official told Reuters that Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, despite reports of continued Israeli attacks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US has a “commitment and responsibility” to ensure the deal is upheld on all fronts. Here is what we know: In Iran: Iran sees Lebanon as “a test” of US leverage over Israel: Muhanad Seloom of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies said Tehran is watching whether the US can “actually control or rein in the Israeli side”, calling Lebanon “a test” of Washington’s influence. “If the United States is not able to stop Israel from attacking Lebanon,” he said, “who will guarantee that in the future Israel won’t attack Iran itself?” For Iran, he added, it is crucial to see whether the US can “guarantee that Israel will abide by the terms of any upcoming agreements”. Linking Lebanon to Iran-US deal could backfire: Former US official Mark Kimmitt said it was “very, very unwise” for Iran to make an end to Israel’s war in Lebanon a condition of the agreement. “They can’t control what Hezbollah is going to do, and the United States doesn’t control what Israel is going to do,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that while Washington and Israel have “overlapping interests”, they do not have “identical interests”. Attempting to tie the two conflicts together, he warned, is “going to blow back in Iran’s face”. Analyst sees long road to a broader US-Iran agreement: Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said the MoU is likely to hold but warned that turning it into a broader agreement will be “very difficult” and “very ambitious” within the 60-day timeframe. Citing the technical complexity of the negotiations and the deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran, Vaez said both sides will likely remain in “MoU-land for a period of time” because “there is no better alternative”. Advertisement In the US: Trump frustrated with Israel: Signs of tension between Washington and Israel are growing as the Trump administration pushes for a “complete ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel”, while Israeli forces continue strikes and ground operations in Lebanon. Analysts say Lebanon remains the deal’s greatest vulnerability, with Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute arguing that Tehran is “not joking” about its demand for a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. US to host new Israel-Lebanon peace talks next week: The Trump administration has announced a new round of talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington on June 23 and 25, aimed at advancing a “lasting peace”. The US has described direct negotiations as the only viable path to Lebanon’s reconstruction and economic recovery, though the process remains complicated by Hezbollah’s rejection of the talks and ongoing disagreements over calls for the group’s disarmament. In Lebanon: Israeli strikes cast doubt on Lebanon ceasefire: Israeli attacks continued in southern Lebanon after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect, raising questions about the truce’s viability. The deal, brokered by Qatar, the US and Iran, was meant to prevent the Lebanon conflict from undermining wider US-Iran peace efforts, but strikes continued almost immediately after the deadline despite both sides signalling support for the agreement. Adblock test (Why?)