Ivory Coast and Sweden win, FIFA issues statement after flight disruption, latest news and updates you may have missed overnight
FIFA President Gianni Infantino watched the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan (Image: (Ulises RUIZ / AFP via Getty Images))
FIFA issued a statement after the Uruguayan national team’s flight from Mexico to the United States was delayed on Sunday. The reason for the delay was a paperwork issue with the aircraft, which had not been approved to take the route from Cancun to Miami.
And the Uruguayan federation appears to be blaming FIFA for the delayed statement. “Due to issues beyond AUF’s control, the departure from Mexico has been delayed. The team is resting in a hotel. The new departure time set by FIFA is 4:15 p.m.”
However, FIFA criticized the airline for this. “The Uruguayan national team’s departure from Cancun to Miami has been delayed due to the airline’s admission of a mistake in Mexico,” the statement said.
“The airline apologized for the inconvenience caused. FIFA remained in close contact with the Uruguayan national team during the delay and worked with airports and operational partners to expedite the process and minimize disruption to the team’s travel arrangements.”
Uruguay then arrived in Miami and held a belated press conference with manager Marcelo Bielsa and captain Jose María Jimenez. They begin their World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia tonight.
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ITV viewers furious
Japan fought back twice to start their World Cup campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, but ITV viewers were not impressed. Virgil van Dijk headed home the Dutch goal six minutes into the second half, and Keito Nakamura equalized just before the hour mark.
Crisencio Somerville then restored his team’s lead, and Daichi Kamata’s late header gave Japan a deserved point. But viewers watching at home on Sunday night weren’t too impressed with the picture quality they got.
One person wrote: “What’s up with @ITV’s picture quality? It’s really bad. I’m glad I’m not a football fan because I couldn’t sit and watch a game like that.”
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Another said: “The picture quality on @ITV for the World Cup is terrible. They should have stayed in Salford and invested in camera technology. It’s like watching Granada on a rented 24 inch in the early 80s.”
A third fumed: “@ITV what’s wrong with the bad quality of the World Cup matches? The Japan vs Netherlands match gave me a headache and I had to stop watching it. Same thing with the last match.”
Another ranted: @itvfootball has been thrown in the trash. The quality is worse than dial-up streams from 20 years ago. It literally makes my eyes go crazy. That’s terrible @ITV. ”
UEFA president furious
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has come under fire from the 13 World Cup nations, claiming the expansion has made many matches “uninteresting”.
However, the football associations of Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and South Africa have united to “express their deep disappointment” in Ceferin.
“We respectfully and categorically reject these comments. There is no such thing as a World Cup match that is not important to our country,” they said in a statement.
“For Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, qualifying for the FIFA World Cup is a historic achievement and represents the realization of a dream shared by generations.
UEFA President Alexander Ceferin (Image: Harry Murphy – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
“For countries like Congo and Haiti, returning to football’s biggest stage after a long absence has special meaning for the millions of supporters who have been waiting for this moment for years, even decades.
“To suggest that these matches are of any less importance is deeply disappointing and fails to recognize the hard work, sacrifices and aspirations of players, coaches, clubs, football leaders and supporters around the world.”
Iran captain sets his sights on FIFA
FIFA officials warned reporters to be faithful to sport and tactics ahead of a press conference attended by Iran national team head coach Amir Ghalenoei and captain Mehdi Taremi. Iran’s involvement in the finals has been suspected since US and Israeli airstrikes began in February.
The team moved its practice base to Tijuana, Mexico to avoid visa issues, but 11 officials were still denied U.S. visas to cross the border and attend the team’s games. They arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday ahead of the opening game against New Zealand, but Taremi said controversy and confusion over involvement in the World Cup undermined FIFA’s message of peace.
“This kind of tension spoils that joy and undermines FIFA’s and the people’s message of bringing football and peace,” the forward said. “I think this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than in the past and I hope that in the future it will be a better atmosphere for all fans, regardless of who they are rooting for.
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei and captain Mehdi Taremi (Image: (Patrick T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images))
“Iran is not the only country affected. Other countries are affected as well, including the referees (Somalia international Omar Altan was refused entry). I have felt nervous from the first moment I arrived at this World Cup.
“Of course, we don’t have the beautiful experiences that we usually talk about, peace and joy. I know there were visa issues in some countries and changes in training camps. There is a sense of tension, but it was there even before the World Cup started. I think that this feeling, that feeling that people always look forward to the World Cup, they didn’t have the same feeling this time.”
Sweden issues a statement
Yassin Ayari scored twice and Alexander Isak scored, as Sweden delivered their best performance in the competition so far, dealing a blow to Tunisia. Viktor Gökeres and Mattias Svanberg also found the target, and Omar Rekik scored the goal, which turned out to be a consolation.
Graham Potter’s side currently sit top of Group F and will next face the Netherlands on Saturday night. A win in this match should be enough for Sweden to advance to the final tournament.
Please stay late in Ivory Coast
Just prior to that game, Amad Diallo’s late goal gave Ivory Coast a 1-0 victory in their first game against Ecuador in Philadelphia. The South American team hit the wooden frame three times and Ivory Coast also rattled the bar before Amado fired into the bottom corner in the 90th minute.
Germany next awaits Emerse Fé’s side, with both teams heading into the match with wins after Julian Nagelsmann’s side defeated debutant Curaçao in Houston. Group E matches are scheduled to be held on Saturday night.
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