ROME (ITALPRESS) – Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to referee the World Cup, will still receive his full compensation from FIFA for the tournament. Artan was questioned for 11 hours by US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport on Monday before being informed that he would not be allowed to enter the country because his diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa had been rejected. A US government official stated that Artan was denied entry due to an alleged “association with suspected members of terrorist organizations.” The referee himself later stated that he had been questioned by border officials about his denied ties to the Somali militant group Al Shabab. “I had all my documents in order. I had the right visa,” Artan said. “I’m simply a referee trying to fulfill his dream of coming to the World Cup.”

After being deported back to Turkey, Artan received assistance from FIFA officials in Istanbul before boarding a flight to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. According to BBC Sport, FIFA has now decided to pay the African referee’s salary, although it cannot be determined, as the exact amount is paid at the end of the competition. Artan, named 2025 Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has subsequently been invited to referee the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.

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Source: medNews

KANSAS CITY (USA) (ITALPRESS) – Nothing has been easy for England since arriving in the United States. After a shooting near their training ground, an earthquake felt in the region, and the theft of some of their equipment, Thomas Tuchel’s national team suffered another setback last night due to a tornado warning in Kansas City. Shortly after 8:00 PM (local time), the entire delegation received an emergency message from US authorities urging them to seek immediate shelter. The National Weather Service warned of a “severe thunderstorm” accompanied by violent wind gusts reaching nearly 80 mph, specifying that “flying debris can be deadly” and advising people to stay indoors and away from windows.

The England players remained confined to their hotel in Prairie Village, while the FIFA fan festival in Kansas City was canceled as a precaution. Fortunately, neither the Three Lions’ hotel nor their training center were affected. However, the region was hit by a violent storm with heavy rain, lightning, thunder, and strong winds, which also caused several power outages. Now that the worst of the storm has passed, England should be able to resume normal preparations ahead of their opening match against Croatia, scheduled for Wednesday.

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NEW YORK (USA) (ITALPRESS) – “We can’t expect the team to be perfect from the start; you don’t win the World Cup in your first match. I have absolute faith in the players. In football, not everything always goes smoothly; this is just the beginning of the journey.” Carlo Ancelotti commented on Brazil’s 2026 World Cup debut, which ended with a 1-1 draw against Morocco.

“I think the team was a little nervous at the start,” emphasized the former AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, PSG, and Real Madrid coach. “The nerves were on edge; we didn’t have much possession. The second half was much better, but it was still difficult. I’m sure the team will do better in the next match.”

Ancelotti, however, appreciated his players’ reaction after a difficult first half: “The team fought until the last minute, that’s the positive. It’s quite clear that we need to improve.” Regarding the lineup, and specifically the decision to rely on Casemiro and Ibanez, who were substituted at halftime, the Emilian coach did not apologize: “They’re good players, I think I made the right choices, and I won’t accept criticism of individuals. If there is criticism, it’s about the whole team, which didn’t play well in the first half,” Ancelotti concluded.

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Source: medNews

MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Ralf Rangnick has extended his contract with the Austrian Football Association until 2028, effectively ruling out a future move to AC Milan.

The current Austria national team head coach, who is leading the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, had been considered one of the candidates for the role of technical director at the Rossoneri club.

“It is clear that the federation cannot compete financially with the world’s top clubs,” said Austrian FA president Josef Pröll. “And I want to stress this explicitly: other factors also convinced Ralf. Austria and Ralf Rangnick are simply a perfect match. It is an important sign of unity and shared sporting objectives. The clarity we have achieved is particularly important for the team.”

Rangnick’s renewal secures continuity for the Austrian national side and ends speculation linking him with a move to Milan.

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BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) (ITALPRESS) – “I am still a Roma player until the end of the month and, out of respect for the club, I will not talk about my future. I have not made a decision yet, I do not know what will happen, so I cannot say anything.”

Paulo Dybala’s response was not a typical attempt to dodge journalists’ questions, but rather the words of a player whose contract is expiring and who genuinely does not yet know what he will do next season.

Speaking in Argentina to ESPN, the Roma forward ruled out no possibilities, including a contract renewal with the Giallorossi, a move to Boca Juniors, or even a return to Instituto de Córdoba, the club where he developed as a player before joining Palermo in the summer of 2012.

“A contract renewal with Roma? Yes, it’s possible. Anything is possible in football,” said the former Juventus star and 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina. “Throughout my career, I have experienced many situations where I thought one thing would happen and then something completely different happened. That’s how it works; football always has surprises in store. Boca? We’ll see. Every club is an option, including Instituto.”

(ITALPRESS)

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BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Robert Lewandowski’s future most likely lies in the United States. According to Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo, the Polish striker, having concluded his time with Barcelona, ​​is traveling to the United States not to attend the World Cup, where his native Poland is absent, but to meet with the Chicago Fire, a Major League Soccer team that, according to coach Gregg Berhalter, is strongly targeting the 37-year-old striker.

Lewandowski, however, has several other offers to consider, including Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, but Manchester United is also reportedly considering his salary, and according to Mundo Deportivo, Juventus and AC Milan have also not definitively abandoned their pursuit of the Pole. Chicago is in pole position, both for the financial offer and the project.

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VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield said the success of the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact will depend on effective implementation and fair burden-sharing among member states.

Speaking following an informal meeting of EU ministers in Cyprus marking the pact’s entry into force, Bedingfield stressed that frontline countries such as Malta must receive meaningful support.

First adopted in 2024, the pact introduces a major reform of the EU’s migration and asylum system through 10 legislative measures aimed at strengthening external borders and harmonising procedures.

The framework includes mandatory screening for irregular arrivals, faster border procedures and a solidarity mechanism allowing member states to contribute through relocations, financial support or operational assistance.

Bedingfield said migration management must be reinforced by stronger EU external action, effective returns and tougher measures against smuggling networks amid growing geopolitical instability and changing migration routes.

He also called for greater investment in countries of origin to address poverty, climate change and limited economic opportunities, describing such efforts as a long-term investment in stability and shared security.

“The most effective migration policy is not only about stronger borders, but also about stronger opportunities,” he said.

The pact, which entered into application on 12 June, is expected to provide greater support for frontline states, according to Maltese MEPs David Casa and Alex Agius Saliba.

However, both Bedingfield and Agius Saliba said its effectiveness would depend on credible implementation, particularly on improving returns, which remain a longstanding challenge for the EU.

Human rights groups have criticised the reforms, warning that they could weaken asylum safeguards and increase the risk of detention and accelerated procedures for migrants.

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Source: medNews

KANSAS CITY (USA) (ITALPRESS) – Harry Kane and his teammates are missing their work boots. According to the BBC, the England national team was the victim of a theft of technical equipment, discovered upon the arrival of the shipment in Kansas City. Among the missing items, in addition to boots, were balls and other work tools.

The Football Association is in contact with law enforcement to determine the thieves’ loot, and a Kansas City police spokesperson confirmed the existence of an investigation last week, although according to the BBC, two arrests have already been made.

Tuchel’s England team will debut on Wednesday, June 17 (at 10 p.m. Italian time) against Croatia. The other two teams in Group L are Ghana and Panama.

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Source: medNews

NEW YORK (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – Thomas Partey will be able to play in the World Cup, but not in all the matches, at least not the first in Toronto against Panama on June 17.

Canada has denied an entry visa to the Ghanaian midfielder who has to answer to rape charges brought by the London police: five cases, plus one for sexual assault. The former Arsenal player, now at Villarreal, will be able to play in the other two matches in Group L against England and Croatia, scheduled respectively in Boston (23) and Philadelphia (27).

“FIFA confirms that player Thomas Partey will not be able to travel from the Ghana national team’s training camp in Boston to Canada for the first match against Panama on Wednesday, June 17, as his visa application has been rejected by the Canadian government,” the federation said in a statement, as reported by The Athletic.

“FIFA is not involved in host countries’ immigration procedures, including the granting of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives visas and who is admitted to the country.”

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VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta recorded the second-highest year-on-year GDP growth rate in the European Union during the first quarter of 2026, according to figures published by Eurostat.

The Maltese economy expanded by 4.2% compared with the same period in 2025, placing it behind only Denmark, which registered growth of 5.9%. The figure was significantly above the EU average of 0.7%.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, Malta’s economy grew by 1.1%, giving it the joint second-best performance in the bloc alongside Estonia and behind Denmark, which recorded growth of 1.9%.

Prime Minister Robert Abela described the figures as another “positive certificate” for the country’s economic policies.

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Source: medNews