Sport

Friday, March 20, 2026 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern won 4-1 against Atalanta on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Kane says Bayern ‘don’t fear anyone’ ahead of Real clash

Harry Kane said Bayern Munich had nothing to fear in taking on Real Madrid after setting up a quarter-final clash with the European giants by beating Atalanta on Wednesday. Kane, who sat on the bench in the first leg, scored twice as Bayern won 4-1 on Wednesday, wrapping up a 10-2 aggregate victory to book a date with the 15-time European Cup winners. “We don’t fear anyone,” the England captain said of the Real match-up. “We know it’ll be tough, but with the confidence from this game and the season so far, we just need to keep doing what we’re doing.” Kane’s brace brought his career total to 50 goals in 66 Champions League games. This season, he has 47 goals in 39 games in all competitions -- more than he has ever scored for a club in a single season. Nine points clear in the Bundesliga with eight games to play, Bayern have lost just two of 41 games in all competitions this season. In his first season in Germany, Kane lost over two legs in the semi-finals against Real, who beat Bayern’s rivals Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley. Kane, who wore the captain’s armband at Bayern for the first time in the Champions League, suggested his side had learned from the defeat and knew how to take on Real. “Whenever you play Real Madrid in the Champions League, you have to expect a tough opposition, you have to be ready for a fight,” Kane said. “You have to be ready to try and play in a certain way, and we’ll be ready for that.” Bayern have not beaten the Spanish giants since the semi-finals of the 2011-12 competition. “Both clubs are giant,” Bayern manager Vincent Kompany said. “Who’s the best right now isn’t important -- the history of both clubs is huge It’ll be very special. Honestly speaking, with Madrid, when the level goes higher, then they get better. That’s why I’m expecting an absolute top game. It’ll be good for the fans – the neutral fans as well – but at the end we want to win.”

(FILE PICTURE) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum holds a FIFA Wold Cup 2026 official ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 organization plan presentation in Mexico City, on November 10, 2025. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on March 17, 2026, that her country was prepared to host Iran's first-round matches at the 2026 World Cup if needed due to the conflict in the Middle East. (AFP)

Mexico prepared to host Iran World Cup games, says president

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that her country is prepared to host Iran's first-round matches at the 2026 World Cup if needed due to the conflict in the Middle East.Iran's participation at this summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been in doubt since the war began last month, with President Donald Trump warning that Iranian players' safety would be at risk if they travelled to the US.Iran's football federation has opened talks with FIFA about potentially relocating its matches from the United States, though the global governing body has so far maintained that the tournament's schedule remains unchanged.Asked directly if Mexico was open to hosting the matches, and if the decision will purely come down to FIFA logistics, Sheinbaum told a press conference: "Yes. Mexico maintains diplomatic relations with every country in the world, therefore we will wait to see what FIFA decides."Iran's place at the tournament was thrown into question after the US and Israel launched a massive offensive against the Islamic Republic, which responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory and American targets across the Middle East.FIFA president Gianni Infantino initially said that Trump had given assurances that the Iranian team – scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle – would still be welcome.But the Republican president then triggered uproar last week after stating that Iran's football team should not travel to the tournament "for their own life and safety". Iran hit back at Trump's comments saying that "no one can exclude Iran's national team from the World Cup".Iran were the second Asian team after Japan to qualify for the World Cup, securing their place almost a year ago as they topped their qualifying group. On Monday, Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj wrote on social media: "When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America. We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico."Iranian football authorities "are currently discussing with FIFA whether it is feasible – since they were originally scheduled to go to the United States – to see if they can" move Iran's games to Mexico, confirmed Sheinbaum. "The matter is under review and we will provide an update in due course."When contacted on the matter, FIFA said it was "looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025". "FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026," a spokesperson said.The Iran team's base camp for the tournament is currently slated to be located in Tucson, Arizona. Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran's ambassador to Mexico, on Monday denounced "the US government's lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and the provision of logistical support" for the Iranian delegation ahead of the World Cup, in a statement published on the embassy's website.Should Iran not take part in the World Cup, it is not yet clear which country might replace them.