Players of Royal Challengers Bangalore, an Indian Premier League cricket franchise, picked their favourite team to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which starts in Mexico City tonight (June 11).
The first 48-team FIFA World Cup and the first to have three co-hosts (USA, Canada and Mexico) will feature 1248 players, with 891 of them set to appear in the competition for the very first time.
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Some legendary names, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, Harry Kane and Manuel Neuer, to name a few, will grace the greatest show on planet earth for contending teams like Portugal, Argentina, England and France.
The picks of RCB players ranged from Argentina, France, Brazil and Portugal. Here’s what they said:
“I’m a big Messi fan, so I’m going to back Argentina. (Wish them) all the best. Hope they will win back-to-back World Cups, like we’re going to win back-to-back IPLs” said fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar a day before RCB went on to successfully defend their title.
“My prediction is for France to win. I think they are a really well-rounded side, but I think Brazil have a good chance as well. It’s very hot, humid conditions there, so I’m sure the South Americans would enjoy that a little bit,” said Devdutt Padikkal, an RCB batter.
“As soon as I saw Cristiano Ronaldo’s name in the Portugal squad, it has to be Portugal,” said RCB batter Venkatesh Iyer.
As per Opta, Spain (16.1%), France (13%), England (11.2%), Argentina (10.4%) and Portugal (7%) – in that order – emerged ‘victorious’ in 25,000 simulations.
Somalian referee who was denied entry to US for FIFA World Cup to oversee UEFA Super Cup
Somalian referee Omar Artan was selected by FIFA as one of 52 officials to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, on Monday (June 8), he was denied entry to the US at Miami international airport.
As per an US official, Artan, being from Somalia – one of 12 countries on president Donald Trump’s travel ban list – wasn’t allowed to enter the country due to suspected links with terror outfits.
On Thursday, the BBC reported that UEFA has selected Ortan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League champions Istanbul on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. UEFA president Ceferin said about the development:
“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football. Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination.”
Artan, the 2025 Caf men’s referee of the year, has expressed his wish to officiate at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Edited by Bhargav