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FIFA World Cup 2026 draw sets stage for biggest event ever

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FIFA World Cup 2026 draw sets stage for biggest event ever


FIFA President Gianni Infantino, US President Donald Trump, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney during the draw Pool at John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, US on December 5, 2025. — Reuters
  • Trump, Sheinbaum, Carney join Infantino for the expanded WC launch.
  • Star-studded event features Bocelli, Klum, Hart, multiple sports icons.
  • 6 spots undecided ahead of March playoffs; full schedule out Saturday.

The 48 nations participating in the largest FIFA World Cup ever, next summer in North America, were placed into 12 groups on Friday.

The drawing ceremony took place at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, where US President Donald J. Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino to represent the three countries co-hosting the expanded global soccer tournament.

“This will be the greatest FIFA World Cup ever. The greatest event humanity will ever see,” Infantino said before the draw.

“I will put it in terms that the American audience will understand,” he added. “The World Cup is like 104 Super Bowls in one month.”

Friday’s festivities were hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and actor/comedian Kevin Hart and kicked off with a performance by legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger sang the official FIFA anthem “Desire,” followed by the presentation of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to Trump. Wayne Gretzky, Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal and Aaron Judge participated in the drawing.

Forty-two nations have qualified. The other six participants are still to be determined through UEFA and inter-confederation playoffs being held in March.

In 188 days, Mexico will play the first match of the tournament on June 11 against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

The complete World Cup schedule, including venues and kickoff times, will be confirmed at noon ET on Saturday.

The United States is in Group D along with Australia, Paraguay and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff team (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo).

Team USA will play Paraguay on June 12 (Inglewood, Calif.), Australia on June 19 (Seattle) and the third group member on June 25 (Inglewood, Calif).

Mexico is in Group A with South Korea, South Africa and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff team (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia or Ireland).

Joining Canada in Group B are Switzerland, Qatar and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff team (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina).

The top two finishers from each group, along with the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the final 32 for the knockout stage.

The championship match will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

Matches are taking place in 16 cities across North America, including two in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver) and three in Mexico (Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara).

Locations across the US are Atlanta, Boston (Foxborough, Mass.), Dallas (Arlington, Texas), Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles (Inglewood, Calif.), Miami (Miami Gardens, Fla.), New York/New Jersey (East Rutherford, N.J.), Philadelphia, San Francisco (Santa Clara, Calif.) and Seattle.

The pre-tournament favourites, according to DraftKings, are Spain (+450), England (+600), France (+700), Brazil (+800) and Argentina (+800).

Argentina is the defending World Cup champion, with superstar Lionel Messi leading the team to a championship in the 32-team tournament in Qatar in 2022.

The rest of the 2026 FIFA World Cup groups:

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti

Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, TBD (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania)

Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde

Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, TBD (Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq)

Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, TBD (New Caledonia, Jamaica or Congo DR)

Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana





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Over 73,000 passengers offloaded in 2025: interior ministry

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Over 73,000 passengers offloaded in 2025: interior ministry


 student leaving for the United States at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, Pakistan, on January 21, 2023. — Reuters
  • 35,270 passengers were offloaded in 2023: interior ministry.
  • Number of those offloaded increased to 39,214 in 2024, it adds.
  • 45,356 passengers offloaded in 2025 on technical grounds.

In the wake of tightened screening measures at airports and growing reports of passengers being offloaded, the Ministry of Interior has revealed that more than 73,000 passengers were offloaded during 2025.

“A total of 35,270 passengers were offloaded in 2023, 39,214 in 2024 and 73,358 in 2025,” read the Ministry of Interior’s reply to a question in the Senate, adding that 147,842 passengers were offloaded during the three-year period.

The ministry’s submission comes against the backdrop of thousands of Pakistanis being deported from various countries for begging, while tens of thousands were also offloaded at airports over suspected illegal travel attempts, a National Assembly committee was informed in December 2025.

Last month, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed the relevant authorities to enforce strict screening of passengers’ travel documents at all airports across the country to curb illegal immigration.

Directing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to continue strict and impartial action against the mafia involved in illegal immigration, he ordered the agency to ensure the effective implementation of immigration laws and strengthen airport immigration systems.

He also called for rigorous scrutiny of travellers’ documents at all airports to prevent illegal activities.

Meanwhile, explaining the reasons for passengers being offloaded, the interior ministry informed the Senate that only those passengers are offloaded whose behaviour indicates possible illegal intentions.

Out of the total 73,358 passengers offloaded in 2025, 45,356 were offloaded for technical reasons, including flight cancellations, passengers’ refusal to travel, technical faults in aircraft, bad weather, flight delays and offloading by airlines.

Providing data on illegal immigration attempts, the ministry said that 861 suspects carrying fake documents were identified at airports over the past three years.

It said that 303 suspects were deported on fake documents, 417 cases were registered, 557 people were arrested and 206 were convicted.

The ministry further stated that 153 additional cases were registered in connection with fake documents and deportations, 181 suspects were arrested and 93 were convicted.

It also noted that 23 departmental inquiries are under way against FIA employees over fake document cases, of which 17 have been concluded.

Beggars issue

The ministry also shared details of beggars who were offloaded and deported over the past two years.

It said that 507 beggars were offloaded in 2024 and 90 in 2025, while 49 inquiries and 32 first information reports (FIRs) were registered in connection with beggars offloaded in 2024.

Of those offloaded in 2024, 59 beggars and 17 agents were arrested and 19 were convicted.

Meanwhile, in 2025, 43 inquiries were initiated into beggars who were offloaded, 37 FIRs were registered and 36 beggars were arrested, while one was convicted.

The ministry further said that 4,850 beggars were deported in 2024, whereas the number declined to 1,187 in 2025.

It added that 105 inquiries and 48 FIRs were registered against beggars deported in 2024.

During the same year, 91 deported beggars and two agents were arrested, while 12 were convicted.

In 2025, the ministry said, 354 inquiries were initiated and 201 FIRs were registered, leading to the arrest of 589 beggars and one agent, of whom 27 were convicted.





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Princess Kate sends ultimatum to Harry as royals land in grave crisis

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Princess Kate sends ultimatum to Harry as royals land in grave crisis


Princess Kate sends ultimatum to Harry as royals land in grave crisis

Kate Middleton sped up her efforts to bring back Prince Harry to the royal fold, especially during hard times for the royal family.

The Princess of Wales is reportedly urging her brother-in-law to share his plans related to Princess Diana’s death anniversary, so it won’t spoil the Waleses plans.

As Harry is in the news related to a possible reunion with his family, Catherine does not want his actions to shatter reconciliation dreams, Heat World reported.

The source shared, “Royal aides have been working behind the scenes to ensure that Diana’s anniversary is marked in a way that William is comfortable with.”

However, the Sussexes are “said to be organising their own thing, despite requests to coordinate activities.”

Princess Kate seemingly is not in favour of any “clash” between the two brothers, who are already on the verge of lifelong estrangement.

An insider claimed that the future Queen warned Harry that if he wouldn’t share his plans for the sombre event, it “could be the final nail in the coffin for Kate.”

“She’s always tried to see both sides in the hope that Harry would come back to his family. But this situation risks crossing a line,” added the source.

The mother-of-three is no longer in favour of defying her husband William, as the upcoming occasion also holds a special place in his heart.

“She will always stand by her husband. If siding with William means going against Harry, so be it,” the report shared.

Notably, Kate Middleton’s ultimatum to Harry came at a time when the royal family once again made it to the negative limelight following Andrew and Fergie’s vulgar exchange with Epstein. 





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Royal Princess photo emerges in Epstein files weeks after Palace notice

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Royal Princess photo emerges in Epstein files weeks after Palace notice


Royal Princess photo emerges in Epstein files weeks after Palace notice

Fears sweep royal families across Europe as shocking revelations have come to light in the latest tranche of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in US.

King Charles had ousted his shamed brother Andrew from the royal fold, stripping off the shamed royal of his honours and titles including Prince-style, over his ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. After the King’s landmark move, a beloved royal’s name emerged in the documents.

The Swedish Royal Court had to release a statement which confirmed that Princess Sofia, wife of Prince Carl Philip, had met Epstein but asserted that Sofia did not have any contact with the financier since 2005.

Although, a new email from 2010 reveals that Epstein was receiving updates on the Sofia, as she was getting ready to marry the Prince. Epstein had been interested in inviting Sofia to his private island in the Caribbean.

Sofia’s connection came from her mentor, financier Barbro Ehnbom, who had ties to Epstein. He had introduced her to Epstein as an “aspiring” actress.

Royal Princess photo emerges in Epstein files weeks after Palace notice

In the email sent by Barbro, as it was signed off as ‘BE’, he sent a photo of “our Sofia” who had been enjoying her time in Africa.

Epstein replied by asking whether she wanted to come to the Caribbean and offering to send a ticket.

The exchange was from the time when Sofia had started dating the second son of King Carl XVI Gustaf. She went on to marry Prince Carl Philip in 2015, and welcomed four children together.

There has been no new statement from the Royal Courts so far.





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