The Iran football team has decided to move its FIFA World Cup 2026 base camp from the United States to Mexico after receiving approval from FIFA, according to Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj. The move comes amid rising geopolitical tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel ahead of next year’s tournament.

Iran were originally scheduled to train in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, but will now reportedly base themselves in Tijuana, Mexico, which is closer to the US border and allows for easier travel to their Group G fixtures in the United States.

Speaking in a statement released on Saturday, Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj confirmed that FIFA had approved their request after discussions with tournament officials.

“All team base camps for countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA,” Taj said.

“Fortunately, following the requests we presented and our meetings with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting held yesterday with the respected FIFA Secretary General in Tehran, our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved.”

However, FIFA has yet to officially confirm the change publicly.

Why did Iran remove World Cup base from America?

The decision comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel over Iran’s nuclear program and broader Middle East instability.

Iran had earlier explored alternative arrangements for its World Cup stay Amid security concerns and uncertainty over how the political situation could affect the team’s movement and preparations inside the United States.

Despite the concerns, Iran is still set to play its Group G matches in the US as originally planned.

Their World Cup campaign begins against New Zealand at the SoFi Stadium in California on June 16, followed by group-stage matches against Belgium and Egypt in the tournament.

Earlier this month, former US President Donald Trump publicly supported Iran’s participation in the contest. This came after FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the country would play its matches in the United States.

Trump, speaking to reporters, said, “Well, if Gianni said it, I don’t mind. Did Gianni say it? … You know what? Let them play.”

FIFA has not yet issued an official confirmation

Iran’s football federation was already in talks with FIFA officials over logistical and security concerns during the tournament.

In early May, federation head Mehdi Taj said he planned to meet with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to seek assurances that Iran would be treated with “respect” during the World Cup.

The issue also gained attention during the FIFA Congress earlier this year, where Iran’s delegation was notably absent amid ongoing political uncertainty.

Although FIFA has not formally announced the relocation of Iran’s base camp, the federation’s approval – if confirmed – would allow Iran to remain outside the United States for the majority of the tournament, while also traveling across the border for matches.

– ends

Multiple gunshots were reportedly heard outside the White House on Sunday, prompting a massive security response as police and federal agents cordoned off the area around the presidential complex. According to AFP report, US President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time amid ongoing talks related to Iran.This happened when Trump said in his social media post that he was in the Oval Office and the final agreement with Iran would be announced soon.I’m in the Oval Office of the White House, where we have President Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani and Minister Ali Al-Thawadi of Qatar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah of Pakistan, President Recep Tayyip of Pakistan. Had a good conversation. “Turkiye’s Erdoğan, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and everything related to a memorandum of understanding related to peace,” he said.“An agreement has been substantially negotiated, which is subject to finalization between the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and various other countries listed. Separately, I had a call with Israel’s Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, which went very well. The final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced soon. In addition to many other elements of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” He added. An ABC journalist said that media persons were rushed into the press briefing room after hearing “dozens of gunshots”.ABC journalist Selina Wang said in a post on

The United States and Iran are moving toward extending their fragile ceasefire for another 60 days, with mediators working on an interim agreement that could create a framework for broader talks on Tehran’s nuclear program and regional security issues, according to a report in the Financial Times. People briefed on the talks told the newspaper that the proposed agreement includes a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, phased sanctions relief for Tehran, easing of the US blockade of Iranian ports and discussions on Iran’s reserves of highly enriched uranium. The talks are aimed at preventing a new round of military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.US Iran War News – Follow Live UpdatesIranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmael Baghai said on Saturday that Tehran was discussing a “memorandum of understanding” to formally end the war as a first step before broader talks in the next 30 to 60 days.“We are now finalizing this MoU,” Baghai said.Also read: Trump connection? How does Iran finance its war machine?The proposed extension comes amid fears that President Donald Trump could resume attacks on Iran if talks fail, potentially escalating a conflict that has already destabilized large parts of the Middle East.

What does the proposed agreement reportedly include?

According to diplomats involved in the talks, one of the central elements of the agreement is the phased reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important shipping route through which a large share of global oil exports passes. Gulf countries are particularly concerned that a prolonged conflict could disrupt maritime trade and trigger fresh energy shocks around the world.The agreement will also reportedly include discussions on Iran’s stockpile of approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched near weapons-grade levels. Washington wants Tehran to either dilute the material or move it elsewhere as part of a broader nuclear understanding.In return, the United States is expected to ease sanctions on Iranian ports and gradually move toward providing sanctions relief and freeing up Iranian assets held abroad.

Why is conversation important?

Mediators believe a 60-day extension could help stabilize the situation enough for comprehensive diplomatic talks to take shape. Giving information about the talks, a diplomat said that progress is being made.“The agreement is going in the right direction. It is now up to the Americans for review,” the diplomat said.“The Iranians are probably willing to give up more on nuclear energy, but they won’t do so as long as the war continues – this deal helps bridge the gap,” the diplomat said.The talks gained momentum after Pakistani and Qatari negotiators held discussions with Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday and Friday. Pakistan later said the talks had led to “encouraging progress towards a final understanding” between the US and Iran.The mediation effort reportedly included regular contacts with US envoy Steve Witkoff, while the Iranian delegation was led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

What are the stuck points?

Despite signs of diplomatic movement, deep disagreements remain unresolved. One of the biggest obstacles is Trump’s demand that Iran completely abandon any path to a nuclear weapons capability.The US President has reportedly insisted that Iran hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and dismantle its three major nuclear facilities at the Natanz Nuclear Facility, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. The facilities were targeted during US strikes following Washington’s involvement in Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran last June.Enriched uranium is believed to be buried beneath the debris of those facilities, particularly in Isfahan.Meanwhile, Iranian leaders have continued to insist that they will not give up their sovereign rights.Ghalibaf told Pakistani negotiators that Tehran would not back down from its “rights”, especially when dealing with the United States, which “is not honest and cannot be trusted”.At the same time, he said Iran is willing to pursue diplomacy to secure its “legitimate rights and interests.”Baghai also cautioned that talks remain delicate.Baghai said, “On the one hand, we have the experience of contradictory statements and changing stances from the American side. They have put forward contradictory positions many times.” “We cannot be completely sure that this approach will not change.”“On the other hand, the idea [of the two sides] Coming closer, not in the sense that we have reached any agreement on such important issues, but in the sense that we can reach a mutually satisfactory solution based on certain parameters,” he said.

Why are Gulf countries worried?

Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are closely watching the talks as renewed conflict could destabilize the Gulf region and worsen the global energy crisis.Trump said earlier this week that the United States had postponed new strikes on Iran while “serious talks” continued. He said Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE had requested Washington to suspend military operations.Regional allies fear that if US-Israeli strikes resume, Iran could retaliate by targeting Gulf states and disrupting energy infrastructure and shipping routes across the region.

New Delhi: Online satire movement Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) suffered another blow on Saturday when founder Abhijit Dubke said the official website of the organization has been taken down by the Centre, days after its main X handle was blocked in India following a legal demand.However, there was no statement from the Center till the filing of this report and a counter-narrative was running on social media that Dipke was playing the “victim card” by deleting his website. Deepke did not respond to messages and DMs.Dipke alleged that the website was removed after the movement grew rapidly among young users online and amid the petition over NEET-UG paper leak. “The government has taken down our iconic website,” he wrote, adding that “10 lakh cockroaches” had registered and “6 lakh cockroaches” had signed a petition demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In another post, Dubke stepped up his attack on the Centre, asking, “Why is the government so afraid of cockroaches?” He said the episode was exposing India’s youth to “dictatorial behavior”.In another X post, he said that the party’s Instagram page, his personal Instagram account and a backup X handle have also been hit. “You can hack and block accounts but you can’t hack this movement,” Dupke wrote. He stressed that the campaign would continue online.According to sources, the original CJP handle on X was blocked in India after the Ministry of Electronics and IT took action under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act on Intelligence Bureau inputs citing sovereignty and national security concerns. Neither X nor the Ministry of Home Affairs and Information Technology provided any official confirmation.X’s own policy states that an “account frozen” notice reflects action taken in response to a valid legal demand or local law. After the ban, the party soon launched a handle called Cockroach is Back.The viral, meme-driven movement emerged following the controversy over Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s comments that sparked outrage online, before he clarified that his comments were aimed at people using “bogus and bogus degrees” and not unemployed youth. On Saturday, BJP’s Rajiv Chandrashekhar alleged that CJP’s overtures were part of a cross-border “influence campaign”, a charge Deepke denied.

New Delhi: Three Indian Army officers had a narrow escape when their helicopter crashed in the mountainous Tangste near Leh in Ladakh.A Major General, a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major survived the crash but sustained injuries when the Cheetah helicopter fell down. “The helicopter crashed on May 20. All three officers are safe. An inquiry has been ordered,” officials familiar with the matter told TOI.An officer’s selfie after the May 20 accident has now gone viral. All three came out of the debris on their own. The single-engine HAL Cheetah helicopter was piloted by a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, while Major General Sachin Mehta, who commands the 3 Infantry Division, was on board as a passenger.The accident occurred while flying in the high altitude area of ​​Ladakh. The specific cause of the incident is still under investigation.Cheetah helicopters, inducted into service in 1976, have been a vital asset for the Indian Army, especially in high altitude and forward areas such as the Siachen Glacier. The Cheetah, which is vital for the armed forces for high-altitude logistics and reconnaissance missions, has been the subject of ongoing technical scrutiny due to its aging fleet.Over the past decade or so, more than 15 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters have been involved in accidents, resulting in the loss of many pilots’ lives.Due to these security issues, the Army plans to phase out the old Cheetah and Chetak helicopters within the next 1 to 2 years, to be gradually replaced by new generation Light Utility Helicopters (LUHs) over a period of 8 to 10 years.Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is playing a key role in this transformation. The Army has already placed orders for six limited-series-production LUHs, which are designed to reach a top speed of 220 kmph, a service range of 6.5 km and an operational range of 350 km.

Ludhiana: Riot police were deployed on a major national highway on Saturday after furious residents blocked traffic for two hours to protest against prolonged municipal water and power failure that has left thousands without drinking water during the scorching heat.growing standoff PunjabThe largest industrial hub highlights how crumbling civic infrastructure and a lack of inter-agency coordination are fueling public unrest as temperatures rise across the region.Dozens of women, many of them carrying children in their arms, sat across the highway near Tibba Road to block vehicular movement, forcing the police to divert traffic. An emergency fire brigade vehicle became temporarily stuck in the standoff before officers could find their way through the crowd.Residents of Jai Shakti Nagar said there was acute water shortage in their neighborhood for two weeks and it has become worse in the last seven days. Families reported being forced to buy bottled water to survive, with some even struggling to cook food.“Drinking water is not even reaching our homes,” resident Rohit Arora said. “Children, elderly and women are in bad shape in this extreme heat.”The protesters expressed anger that local officials, including the MLA and the mayor, live nearby, yet they have ignored their repeated complaints. A previous demonstration outside the local municipal office earlier this week failed to yield any results, forcing residents to extend their protest to the national highway.Municipal Corporation Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Amritpal Singh Acknowledged the crisis but held the power utility solely responsible for it. He said that unscheduled power cuts are constantly clashing with the scheduled hours of water pumping.To resolve the impasse, senior municipal corporation officials are now formally requesting that the State Electricity Corporation exempt water-pumping stations from power cuts during delivery windows.The blockade attracted political personalities including former MLA Sanjay Talwar, who joined the protest and accused the current administration of failing to provide basic public necessities.The protest ended after municipal engineers reached the spot and formally assured residents that water services would be restored immediately. However, community leaders warned the authorities that they would launch an intense agitation if the supplies failed again.

New Delhi: After a rocky last 12 months, the US and India are trying to stabilize ties, with visiting Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and inviting President Donald Trump to visit the US “in the near future”. As the two sides discussed the situation in West Asia, according to the US readout, Rubio stressed that the US will not let Iran hold the global energy market hostage and affirmed that US energy products have the potential to diversify India’s energy supply. Speaking at a US Embassy event later, Rubio, who will attend the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday, also said the India-US relationship “is the cornerstone of our vision for the Indo-Pacific”. The announcement about the invitation was made by US Ambassador Sergio Gore, who accompanied Rubio on what he described as a “productive” discussion with Modi on ways to deepen US-India cooperation in security, trade and critical technologies – areas that “strengthen both our countries and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific”. Although India is open to the idea of ​​Modi visiting the US, it is learned that the government will wait to get more information from Washington about the possible schedule of the visit. Modi may in any case travel to Florida for the G20 summit, which will be hosted by the US in December this year. Officials are tight-lipped on what the invitation could mean for the Quad summit, for which Trump’s presence in India has been long awaited. The Indian readout or Modi himself did not mention the invitation. “India is an important partner of the United States,” Gore said in a post on Twitter after the meeting. Rubio said he also discussed efforts to secure energy and supply chains with Modi. According to an Indian readout, Rubio also briefed Modi on the US perspective on regional and global issues, including the situation in West Asia. It said Modi reiterated India’s continued support for peace efforts and called for peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. Rubio’s visit comes amid hectic efforts to secure a US-Iran peace deal, and the threat of imminent US military action if these efforts fail. “Delighted to welcome US Secretary of State Mr. Marco Rubio. We discussed the continued progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security. India and the United States will continue to work together for global good,” Modi said in a post on Twitter. The Indian readout also said Rubio briefed Modi on “continued progress in bilateral cooperation” across a range of areas, including defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties. Rubio began his visit to India in the morning from Kolkata, before reaching Delhi for a scheduled meeting with Modi in the afternoon. His bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to be held on Sunday. At the US Embassy event, she recalled that her first assignment as Secretary of State was the meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers. “And we were going to renew it. We wanted to do it here, not only because of our commitment to that structure of work, but as a concrete signal of how important a role India plays in the United States and in our approach, and our approach to the Indo-Pacific,” Rubio said, adding that this commitment was implicit in the relationship between Modi and Trump. Rubio said, “The relationship between the leaders is incredibly important. These are two very serious leaders who are focused not just on the short-term, but the long-term. And so, I think that’s important to note, because it’s an important part of the foundation of the relationship between our countries.”