Three members of Iran’s women’s football team who had stayed in Australia on humanitarian visas have decided to return to Iran. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced on Sunday that the players informed officials of their decision after being given multiple opportunities to discuss alternatives. Initially, seven team members had sought asylum, but only three now remain in Australia.

The Iranian team had traveled to Australia in February for the Women’s Asian Cup, arriving before the outbreak of war in the Middle East on February 28. Out of the 26-member squad, six players and one support staff member initially stayed behind on humanitarian grounds. On March 9, the rest of the team departed Sydney for Kuala Lumpur, where they have been waiting. Two players and one support staff member are among those now returning.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency described the return as a “shameful failure of the American-Australian project” and “another defeat for Trump,” reflecting Tehran’s political framing of the event.

Iran’s national football team has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments about Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The team stated that no individual or country has the authority to exclude Iran from the tournament and instead called for the host nation, the United States, to be disqualified if it fails to ensure the safety of participating teams.

The reaction came after Trump warned that Iranian players should reconsider traveling to the United States to compete, citing security concerns amid ongoing military tensions. For nearly two weeks, Iran has been under attack from U.S. and Israeli forces, and the situation remains volatile. Iranian players emphasized that the World Cup is governed by FIFA, not by political leaders, and that their qualification was earned through performance and merit.

According to the schedule, Iran is set to play its group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. However, the ongoing conflict has cast uncertainty over the team’s participation in the tournament.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is considering banning US President Donald Trump and senior American officials from attending major global sporting events, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The move follows the United States’ failure to pay its membership dues to WADA, totaling 7.3 million US dollars for 2023 and 2024. The agency has not yet made a final decision but plans to revisit the issue at its next executive committee meeting.

The US government has withheld payment in protest, accusing WADA of covering up doping scandals involving Russian athletes and 23 Chinese swimmers. Under WADA rules, countries with unpaid dues lose their committee representation, and the US seat has been vacant since January 2025. WADA previously proposed a rule change in 2024 to impose sanctions but did not finalize it. With the US no longer on the executive committee, passing the amendment has become easier.

WADA spokesperson James Fitzgerald said the policy change does not target any specific country, while US official Sara Carta stated that the United States will not bow to WADA’s threats.

The government has announced a new initiative to resolve the shortage of playgrounds across the country. State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque said that each ward will have a dedicated futsal field to ensure easy access to sports for all. He made the announcement during the first meeting of the central committee formed to identify, develop, and implement playground projects nationwide.

Highlighting the acute shortage of playgrounds in Dhaka, Aminul Haque stated that special strategies would be adopted to locate suitable spaces. Where space is limited, one playground will be built between two wards, and if necessary, a larger field will be created for three wards combined. The government also plans to promote futsal by constructing one dedicated futsal ground in every ward.

The minister added that open spaces under the city corporations, the Public Works Department, and various schools in Dhaka will be identified and made accessible for children’s use.

Several human rights organizations have written to FIFA expressing concern over safety and freedom issues ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The letter, sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, highlights worries about the impact of U.S. immigration and visa policies on fans, journalists, and migrant workers traveling to the tournament. The Sport and Rights Alliance stated that ensuring the safety of all foreign participants and visitors is essential for a global event of this scale.

The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada across 16 cities, marking the first time 48 teams will compete. However, discussions have already begun worldwide about the strict U.S. visa and travel regulations. The White House responded that the administration is focused on hosting a successful tournament, with spokesperson Davis Ingle noting President Donald Trump’s goal of ensuring one of the most secure World Cups in history.

Human rights groups warned that most host cities have yet to publish their human rights plans and urged early action to identify and mitigate potential risks before the tournament begins.

Speculation has emerged in European football ahead of the summer transfer window, with reports suggesting that Barcelona has held discussions with Manchester City regarding Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. However, Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta stated in a Spanish television interview that the talks are not at a decisive stage. She added that any decision will depend on future circumstances and that a quick transfer is unlikely at this point.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United is planning to strengthen its midfield, reportedly considering Italy’s Sandro Tonali and Monaco’s young midfielder Lamine Camara. Manchester United is monitoring 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who could move if his current club faces relegation from the Premier League.

In addition, Newcastle is also tracking 19-year-old German winger Said El Malak from FC Cologne, while Juventus has shown interest in Barcelona’s veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, whose contract may expire this summer, leaving open the possibility of a move.

Swedish pole vaulter Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis set another world record at the Mondo Classic indoor meeting in Uppsala, Sweden. Competing at the IFU Arena, he cleared 6.31 meters, surpassing his previous record of 6.30 meters set at last year’s World Athletics Championships. This achievement marks his 15th career world record, further extending his dominance in the event.

Duplantis, who was born in the United States but competes for Sweden through his mother, thrilled the home crowd by clearing 5.65m, 5.90m, and 6.08m on his first attempts before successfully vaulting 6.31m. The audience and fellow competitors celebrated as he completed the record-breaking jump. Since first setting a world record of 6.17m in Poland in February 2020, Duplantis has raised the mark by a total of 14 centimeters, often improving by just one centimeter at a time.

This was Duplantis’s second world record on Swedish soil and his first of 2026. The victory also extended his winning streak to 38 consecutive competitions, bringing his career total to 130 wins, including 50 in a row.

With less than three months remaining before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, uncertainty has emerged over Iran’s participation. U.S. President Donald Trump advised Iran to withdraw from the tournament, citing concerns over safety amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The war, which began after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, has entered its second week and is now affecting global discussions, including preparations for the World Cup scheduled to begin on June 11 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Iran had earlier expressed security concerns about playing in the United States. Trump initially downplayed the issue but later suggested that Iran should consider withdrawing for safety reasons. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, after meeting Trump, stated that the U.S. was ready to welcome Iran to the tournament. However, Trump reiterated his caution, saying participation might not be suitable for Iran’s team.

In response, Iran’s national football team issued a statement on its official Instagram account asserting that participation in the World Cup is determined by FIFA, not by any individual or country, emphasizing its rightful qualification through consistent success.

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 128 runs in the second One Day International on March 13, 2026, leveling the series 1–1. Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and opted to bowl first, but Pakistan’s openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maj Sadakat built a strong foundation. Despite losing momentum later, Pakistan posted 274 runs in 47.3 overs, with Sadakat scoring 75 and Salman Agha 64. Bangladesh’s chase faltered early, collapsing to 15 for 3 before rain halted play. After a two-hour delay, the hosts were bowled out for 114 in 23.3 overs.

Litton Das top-scored for Bangladesh with 41 runs, while Towhid Hridoy added 28. Pakistan’s bowlers dominated, with Maj Sadakat taking 3 for 23, Haris Rauf 3 for 26, and Shaheen Shah Afridi 2 for 22. For Bangladesh, Rishad Hossain claimed 3 for 56, and Miraz took 2 for 34. Sadakat was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.

The victory allowed Pakistan to equalize the series, setting up a decisive final match to determine the winner.

Bangladesh midfielder Hamza Choudhury will join the national football team directly in Vietnam ahead of their friendly match against the host nation on March 26, 2026. The team will then face Singapore on March 31 in their final AFC Asian Cup qualifying match, to be held in Singapore. The national training camp begins on March 16 at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, but Hamza will miss the camp as he plays his last English Championship match for Leicester City on March 21 before flying to Vietnam on March 22.

Bangladesh, placed in Group C, have already been eliminated from the qualifiers after five matches, securing one win and two draws for a total of five points. Despite the early exit, the team aims to perform well in the Singapore match to improve their FIFA ranking. Coach Javier Cabrera’s squad will start with 30 players, including expatriates Shamit Som, Zayan Ahmed, Fahamidul Islam, and Tariq Kazi, before being trimmed to 23 for the Vietnam trip.

The Bangladesh Football Federation has yet to make a final decision on Cabrera’s future, which will be determined after the Vietnam friendly.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reversed his earlier position on welcoming Iran’s national football team to the upcoming World Cup. In a post on Truth Social, Trump began by welcoming the team but added that he did not believe it would be safe for them to come to the United States given the current situation. His statement came less than a day after FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed that Trump had reaffirmed support for Iran’s participation.

Tensions between the two nations have escalated since a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28 in Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. In response, Iran launched drone and missile attacks on U.S. bases in the region. Following Infantino’s earlier post, Iran’s sports minister announced on state television that the country would not participate in the World Cup, citing the U.S. government’s actions.

The World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with Iran’s group-stage matches set in the U.S. FIFA has not yet commented on the situation, leaving uncertainty over Iran’s participation.

Uncertainty is growing over Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Due to recent political circumstances, Iran has yet to make a final decision on whether it will compete. The country’s sports minister, Ahmad Doniyamal, stated that Iran is currently not in a position to take part in the tournament.

If Iran ultimately withdraws, FIFA will need to fill the vacant spot. According to standard procedure, a replacement team is usually selected from the same continent as the withdrawing nation. This has led to speculation that either Iraq or the United Arab Emirates could take Iran’s place. FIFA rules allow the runner-up from the same qualifying group or the highest-ranked team from the same confederation that failed to qualify to be considered.

The UAE’s higher ranking in Asia strengthens its case, while Iraq remains in contention as it is scheduled to face Bolivia or Suriname in an intercontinental playoff. FIFA could directly award Iraq a World Cup berth, with the UAE potentially taking Iraq’s playoff position instead.

Real Madrid secured a commanding 3–0 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on March 12, 2026. Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde scored all three goals, marking his first career hat-trick. Despite missing key players Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham due to injury, Real dominated the match from the start.

Valverde opened the scoring in the 20th minute, doubling the lead seven minutes later from a Vinícius Júnior assist, and completed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute from a Brahim Díaz cross. In the second half, Vinícius missed a penalty, while City’s Erling Haaland failed to convert his chances, with Antonio Rüdiger making a crucial defensive block. The Spanish side maintained control until the final whistle.

With this result, Real Madrid take a strong advantage into the return leg in Manchester next Tuesday, where City face a difficult task to overturn the deficit.

Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the first match of their three-match ODI series held in Mirpur on March 12, 2026. Pakistan were bowled out for just 114 runs in 30.4 overs, with only the opening and final partnerships offering brief resistance. Bangladesh comfortably chased the target in 15.1 overs, finishing at 115 for 2. Opener Tanzid Tamim remained unbeaten on 67 off 42 balls, guiding the team to victory well before the scheduled break.

The match was dominated by Bangladesh’s bowlers, particularly Nahid Rana, who took five wickets for 24 runs in seven overs. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz added three wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman also contributed. Pakistan’s batting collapsed after a steady start, with eight partnerships ending in single digits. The visitors’ decision to field four debutants backfired as their batting lineup faltered.

With this emphatic win, Bangladesh took a 1–0 lead in the series and moved within one victory of clinching it. The second ODI is scheduled for March 13.

Iran has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming World Cup, citing security concerns following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the United States and the ongoing war between the two countries. The decision was confirmed by Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Ahmad Daneyamali, on state television, according to a WPDE News report. He stated that the Iranian team would not be safe in the United States and described the situation as untenable after two wars and thousands of deaths within months.

The conflict between Iran and the United States has intensified since the killing of Khamenei, with Tehran declaring that playing on American soil is both unsafe and unacceptable. In response, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump, who assured that Iran’s team would be welcome if it chose to participate. Infantino emphasized the importance of global unity through football and thanked Trump for his stance.

The situation underscores the intersection of global politics and sports, with FIFA calling for unity despite escalating geopolitical tensions.