A Dhaka court has acquitted former Bangladesh national cricketer Nasir Hossain and his wife Tamima Sultana of all charges in a long-running case concerning the legality of their marriage. The verdict, delivered on June 10, 2026, concluded that there was insufficient legal evidence to prove the allegations. The case began in 2021 when Tamima’s former husband, Rakib Hasan, filed a complaint alleging that she married Nasir without legally divorcing him, making the subsequent marriage invalid and punishable.

The controversy started after photos of Nasir and Tamima’s wedding surfaced on social media in February 2021, sparking widespread discussion and leading to legal proceedings. The Police Bureau of Investigation later reported conflicting interpretations regarding the legality of Tamima’s previous divorce. The court formally began the trial in 2022, hearing testimony from about ten witnesses before both sides presented final arguments.

After reviewing all evidence and arguments, the court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The verdict ends a five-year legal process that had drawn significant public and media attention in Bangladesh’s sports and social circles.

Former England footballer Ian Wright has sharply criticized the United States after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry just one day before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins. Artan, selected as one of 52 match officials by FIFA and set to become the first Somali referee in World Cup history, was stopped at Miami airport by US border authorities despite holding a valid visa and documents. After extended questioning, he was declared ineligible and sent back, with US Customs and Border Protection citing “vetting concerns.” FIFA later confirmed that Artan would not officiate in the tournament.

Wright expressed outrage in a social media video, calling the event a “World Cup of chaos.” He criticized the organizers for high costs and poor management, saying the situation embarrassed US football fans. The incident follows other visa and travel complications affecting officials and supporters from several countries, including Iran.

FIFA stated it has no control over national visa or immigration policies, emphasizing that such decisions rest solely with the host governments of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

As the World Cup draws near, football enthusiasm is surging across Rajshahi city and its surrounding villages. From tea stalls and markets to schools, offices, and universities, conversations are dominated by football. Streets, rooftops, and local shops are adorned with colorful flags and jerseys, while fans eagerly debate their favorite teams and players.

Communities in areas such as Sahebbazar, Laxmipur, Puthia, and Tanore are organizing collective viewing events, with many already collecting funds to set up large screens for night matches. Shops in Sahebbazar, New Market, and other town centers are seeing brisk sales of team jerseys, particularly those of Argentina and Brazil, followed by France, Portugal, and England.

Supporters of Argentina and Brazil remain the most visible, with massive flags displayed on rooftops and buildings. Social media is also buzzing with fan activity. Across Rajshahi, the atmosphere has turned festive as residents count down the days to the tournament’s opening whistle.

Former England captain and legendary defender John Terry has made a bold statement ahead of the World Cup, claiming that at least 11 players in the current England squad are not of the standard required to win the tournament. In an interview, Terry said the team is talented but lacks the overall strength needed for a World Cup victory. He also criticized head coach Thomas Tuchel’s selection decisions, suggesting that three to four major mistakes were made that could affect England’s performance.

Terry specifically disagreed with the exclusion of experienced players such as defender Harry Maguire, midfielder Cole Palmer, and forward Phil Foden, arguing that their experience and ability would have strengthened the team. Tuchel’s 26-man squad includes several young players, but Terry emphasized that experience is crucial in handling the pressure of major tournaments.

Despite the criticism, Tuchel has stated that his team remains confident and ambitious, though he admitted that England cannot yet be called the tournament’s main favorite.

Argentina completed their final World Cup preparation match with a commanding 3-0 victory over Iceland in Auburn, Alabama. Captain Lionel Messi came off the bench to score and inspire the reigning world champions to a confident win ahead of their World Cup campaign. Iceland missed an early chance, but Argentina took control when Valentin Barco opened the scoring with a long-range strike in the eighth minute.

Recovering from a muscle injury, Messi was initially rested by coach Lionel Scaloni but made an immediate impact after entering in the second half. His precise pass led to a penalty earned by Lautaro Martínez, which Messi converted to double the lead. Later, Thiago Almada sealed the result with a third goal following a well-coordinated attack involving Messi and Martínez.

Having also won their previous warm-up match against Honduras, Argentina now head into the World Cup with back-to-back victories. Scaloni’s team will face Algeria in their opening match of the tournament.

Brazil’s World Cup camp has received a boost as Neymar could return earlier than expected from a calf injury. Initially, the plan was for the forward to play in the second group match against Haiti, but Brazilian outlet Globo reported that his rehabilitation is progressing faster than anticipated. Following a new medical assessment, Brazil’s medical staff no longer rule out his participation in the first match against Morocco on June 13.

Neymar, who suffered a grade-2 calf injury before the tournament, missed all of Brazil’s warm-up matches and stayed in New Jersey for a special recovery program while the team played Egypt in Cleveland. The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that his recovery has been positive. Coach Carlo Ancelotti and the medical team are now optimistic that Neymar could feature, at least partially, in the opening match.

A final decision on Neymar’s inclusion will depend on last-minute medical evaluations. Brazil’s Group C opponents are Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland, and fans’ hopes have risen again as the 34-year-old forward nears full fitness.

Iran’s national football team will travel to the United States just one day before its opening World Cup match against New Zealand on June 16, 2026. The late arrival is due to ongoing political tensions and visa complications, according to a statement from Iranian Football Federation spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi. The team will fly on a chartered flight and reach the host city one day before the match, while arriving two days early for their subsequent group games.

Although Iranian players have received U.S. visas, more than a dozen administrative and management officials were denied entry. In response to these difficulties, Iran has shifted its main World Cup training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, a Mexican city near the U.S. border. The decision reflects the continuing strain in U.S.-Iran relations that has affected the team’s logistical planning.

The adjustments may impact Iran’s preparation schedule, but the federation confirmed that all matches will proceed as planned under FIFA’s official timetable.

A joint study by FIFA and the World Trade Organization projects that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, could generate a combined economic output of $80.1 billion. The tournament is expected to contribute $40.9 billion directly to global GDP and bring in about $9.4 billion in tax revenue for the three host governments. The United States will host 78 of the total matches, while Canada and Mexico will each stage 13. Cities like Los Angeles and Dallas anticipate hundreds of millions in local revenue from their matches.

Despite the optimistic projections, independent economists have voiced skepticism about the actual financial gains. Victor Matheson, a sports economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross, told Newsweek that the U.S. may see lower-than-expected returns due to high organizational costs and unsold tickets. The event has nonetheless created 824,000 full-time jobs worldwide, including 185,000 across 11 U.S. host cities.

FIFA’s revenue for the 2023–26 cycle is expected to reach $11 billion, with prize money for teams increased by over 50% to $655 million.

Bangladesh achieved a historic milestone by defeating Australia for the first time in a One Day International on home soil. The match, held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, saw Bangladesh secure an 86-run victory under the DLS method in the first game of a three-match series. Batting first after losing the toss, Bangladesh posted 284 for 8 in 50 overs, led by Mosaddek Hossain’s unbeaten 86, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 67, and Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s 54.

In reply, Australia reached 191 for 9 in 42.2 overs before rain ended play. Young pacer Nahid Rana took four wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman and Mosaddek each claimed two. For Australia, Alex Carey scored 47, Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 52, and Cooper Connolly added 35. Nathan Ellis was the most effective Australian bowler with three wickets for 38 runs.

With this victory, Bangladesh took a 1–0 lead in the series, marking their first ODI win over Australia at home and their second overall after the 2005 Cardiff triumph.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has provided financial assistance to Bangladesh national women’s football team star Rituparna Chakma for the construction of her house. The donation was handed over on Tuesday afternoon at the Prime Minister’s office inside the National Parliament complex during a break in the budget session. Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque, Chittagong Hill Tracts State Minister Mir Helal Uddin, Textiles and Jute State Minister Shariful Alam, and Bangladesh Football Federation President Tabith Awal were present at the event.

The report notes that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had previously supported Rituparna and her family. In 2025, when her mother required cancer treatment, BNP leaders visited their remote home in Rangamati and provided financial help under Tareq Rahman’s direction. Rituparna Chakma has been a key figure in Bangladesh’s women’s football success, contributing to SAFF Women’s Championship victories in 2022 and 2024 and helping the team qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals in 2025.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury announced that Bangladesh Television (BTV) has finalized a deal with FIFA to broadcast the upcoming Football World Cup for 3.85 million US dollars. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Department of Information’s conference room in the Secretariat on Tuesday.

He stated that the total cost, including VAT and income tax, amounts to 637.9 million Bangladeshi taka, but BTV will not have to bear the expense directly. The ministry has already recovered nearly the entire amount by selling broadcasting rights and advertisements to telecom operators, satellite channels, and OTT platforms. As a result, BTV will be able to air the matches at a nominal cost.

According to the minister, the agreement with FIFA was reached through a transparent and policy-based process at a reasonable price, ensuring that the public broadcaster can deliver the World Cup coverage efficiently and affordably.

Bangladesh recovered from an early setback to post a strong total against Australia in their ongoing match on June 9, 2026. After losing opener Saif Hasan in the second over, the team stabilized through a 96-run partnership between Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Both batters reached half-centuries before getting out, helping Bangladesh reach 197 for 4 after 37 overs at the time of reporting.

Australia had opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Their bowling was steady, but fielding lapses cost them momentum, with three dropped catches in the first 36 overs. Despite a few spectacular catches, the missed chances allowed Bangladesh to build a solid platform.

Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, returning to the national team after four years, was batting on 39 alongside Towhid Hridoy on 21 as Bangladesh aimed for the 300-run mark.

Somali referee Omar Abdulqadir Artan, set to make history as the first from his country to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, has been denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 tournament. Despite holding a diplomatic passport and valid FIFA accreditation, US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport refused him entry and sent him back. He is currently in transit at Istanbul Airport. The US Customs and Border Protection has not clarified the reason for the denial, though American media have linked it to the Trump administration’s travel ban affecting several countries, including Somalia.

Following emergency discussions with US officials, FIFA confirmed that Artan will not be able to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. The organization stated it has no authority over host nation visa or immigration decisions. Somalia’s Football Federation and Sports Ministry have expressed strong anger over the incident, calling it a humiliating setback. Fans on social media have condemned the decision as political interference in sports.

The Iran national football team has finally arrived in Mexico after overcoming visa complications ahead of the World Cup. However, several key officials have yet to receive U.S. visas, prompting veteran defender Ehsan Hajsafi to express frustration and question FIFA’s handling of the matter. Due to the delays, Iran relocated its planned training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, near the U.S. border.

Iran’s participation had faced uncertainty because of regional conflicts and diplomatic tensions. Although the team was eventually cleared to compete, the visa process forced logistical changes. According to Iranian media, those still awaiting visas include the federation’s secretary general Hedayat Mombeyni, vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, and several senior staff members from management and media operations.

Hajsafi emphasized that these officials play vital roles in daily operations and urged a swift resolution. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei has received his visa and continues leading preparations. While the visa delays have affected Iran’s pre-tournament readiness, the team now aims to focus on on-field performance as discussions over the unresolved visa issues continue.

The Iranian national football team has arrived in Mexico to begin final preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Before departing, players and officials followed a long-standing tradition by kissing the Holy Quran and walking beneath it, seeking divine protection and success. The farewell ceremony took place in Antalya, Turkey, where the ritual was performed before the team flew to Mexico for training ahead of their group-stage matches in the United States later this month.

The ritual, deeply rooted in Iranian culture, symbolizes faith, unity, and national pride. Iran’s World Cup participation has faced complications due to ongoing conflict with Israel and U.S. involvement in that situation. Visa issues forced the team to relocate its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, near the California border. The team had been training in Antalya before traveling to Mexico.

Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged Iran from participating, citing safety concerns. Iran’s team responded firmly, asserting that no one could exclude them from the tournament. The team is now preparing to compete despite earlier obstacles.