DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Gruelling African World Cup qualifying gets under way
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The New York/New Jersey's FIFA World Cup 2026 logo is revealed during the kickoff event in Times Square in New York City, U.S., May 18, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCAPE TOWN, Nov 14 (Reuters) - More places for Africa at the next World Cup finals has not lessened the intensity of the qualifying process, often described as the toughest in world football, and which kicks off this week. Carlos Queiroz, who coached Colombia, Egypt, Iran, Portugal, South Africa and now Qatar, once described the African preliminaries as "a nightmare". For the 2026 World Cup, the 54 African entrants were divided into nine groups with only the winners assured of a place at the finals. A total of 13 African countries, starting with Egypt in 1934, have played at the World Cup finals.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Carlos Queiroz, Ed Osmond Organizations: New, FIFA, REUTERS, U.S, Mauritius, D, Eritrea, January’s Africa, Nations, Rwanda, Wednesday’s, Central African, Thomson Locations: York, New York City, U.S, Africa, Asia, South America, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Egypt, Iran, Portugal, South Africa, Qatar, Cameroon, Douala, Libya, Morocco, Tanzania, January’s, Ivory Coast . Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Namibia, Niger, Sao Tome e Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan

☆ Michael Boxall: New Zealand abandons soccer match against Qatar at halftime after racial abuse allegation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( George Ramsay | Kevin Dotson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The New Zealand team said it refused to continue because defender Michael Boxall was racially abused by a Qatar player and no action was taken. “Michael Boxall was racially abused during the first half of the game by a Qatari player,” New Zealand Football said in a statement on social media shortly after the abandonment. In a statement on its website, New Zealand football said the alleged racial slur against Boxall, who is of Samoan heritage, was heard by several players. CNN has also contacted the Qatar Football Association for additional comment. But the staff of New Zealand also, they supported the statement of the New Zealand player; we support our player.

Persons: Michael Boxall, “ Michael Boxall, “, Al Annabi’s, Boxall, Andrew Pragnell, Carlos Queiroz, ” Queiroz, … It’s, ”, Madrid’s Vinícius, Gianni Infantino, Vinícius Organizations: CNN, New Zealand, ” New Zealand Football, Qatar Football Association, New, Qatar FA, Generali, “, Qatar, Whites, ”, FIFA, Alkass Sports Locations: New Zealand, Qatar, Qatari, Zealand, Austria, Wien, ”

☆ ‘Soccer’: The Sport’s American Name Is Actually British
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Ben Zimmer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Linguist and lexicographer Ben Zimmer analyzes the origins of words in the news. Read previous columns here. A day before the U.S. defeated Iran in the World Cup to advance to the knockout stage, Iran’s coach, Carlos Queiroz, paid the U.S. men’s team a rather sniffy compliment: “I can say it like this: They jumped from soccer to football.”

☆ Mired in crisis, World Cup run was always a dream for Iran
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DOHA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Having come to Qatar amid a firestorm of public criticism at home, then leaking six goals to England in a chaotic opening match, Iran's World Cup campaign was all but finished even before it started. The players carried a heavy mental burden, under immense public pressure to use the World Cup and their high profiles at home to take a stand against a deadly state crackdown on widespread protests in Iran seeking the end of theocratic rule. There were gestures of support from the players, including them not singing their national anthem in one match. Queiroz has been incensed by what he called the politicisation of his World Cup team, blasting some fans who booed them in Qatar and complaining of harassment of a squad that just wanted to play football and make their nation proud. After their elimination on Tuesday, Queiroz lauded his players for trying to turn their campaign around and win the respect of the world.

☆ Political bad blood between U.S. and Iran dominates run-up to World Cup showdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The politics of anti-regime protests are dominating the run-up to a World Cup showdown between the U.S. and Iran, with coaches and players fielding politically charged questions before Tuesday’s match. I’m a soccer coach.” He also was asked for his thoughts about the U.S. military’s presence in the Persian Gulf. The protests at home have followed Iran’s soccer team throughout the World Cup, which began Nov. 20 in Qatar. At some of the games, Qatari police have confiscated T-shirts or signs supporting the protests in Iran. More recently, a prominent former soccer player in Iran, Voria Ghafouri, was arrested after he endorsed the protests, according to Iranian state-linked media.

☆ Sargent replaces Wright for U.S., Iran's Beiranvand back in goal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Hritika Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DOHA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter recalled Josh Sargent to his starting lineup for Tuesday's Group B showdown against Iran, who were boosted by the return of first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand after his recovery from concussion. Sargent, who started the Americans' opener against Wales, was dropped for Friday's match against England but has regained his spot from Haji Wright up front, while centre back Cameron Carter-Vickers replaces Walker Zimmerman. Beiranvand was the only change to the Iran side that stunned Wales 2-0 after the concussion and broken nose he sustained against England last week. Iran coach Carlos Queiroz kept faith up front in Sardar Azmoun for a second straight match, with the forward having not started in their opener, as well as Ramin Rezaeian, scorer of one of Iran's two late goals against Wales. Iran: Alireza Beiranvand, Ehsan Hajsafi, Milad Mohammadi, Saeid Ezatolahi, Morteza Pouraliganji, Mehdi Taremi, Ali Gholizadeh, Majid Hosseini, Sardar Azmoun, Ahmad Nourollahi, Ramin RezaeianUnited States: Matt Turner, Sergino Dest, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, Tim Weah, Josh SargentReporting by Hritika Sharma; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Soccer Iran's Queiroz dismisses 'mental games', hopes less politics at next World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Monday said he hoped the next World Cup would feature less about politics and more about football, stressing there were better ways to use the sport as a force for good. Speaking ahead of his team's Group B match on Tuesday against the United States, Queiroz was asked about the U.S. Soccer federation temporarily displaying Iran's national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, in solidarity with the protest movement. "I still believe I can win games with those mental games," he told a news conference. "Those ... events surrounding this World Cup I hope will be a lesson for all of us in the future and we learn that our mission is here to create entertainment and for 90 minutes make people happy." In a barely veiled reference to the United States, he added: "You talk of human rights, racism, kids dying in schools with shootings, we have solidarity with all those causes.

☆ Iran faces USA in winner-takes-all match to progress to World Cup knockout stages
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The knockout stage has already arrived for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) at the World Cup – nothing less than a win on Tuesday will suffice when it takes on Iran in a winner-takes-all match. In the build-up to the game, Iran state media called for the US to be kicked out of the 2022 World Cup after US Soccer changed Iran’s flag on its social media accounts to show support for the protestors in Iran. In the other Group B match, England looks to seal its almost certain place in the knockout stages against Wales. If England defeats Wales, the USMNT would qualify in second place in the group providing it beats Iran; while if England loses, the USMNT would finish first. Tuesday’s fixturesNetherlands vs Qatar: 10pm ETEcuador vs Senegal: 10pm ETWales vs England: 2pm ETIran vs USA: 2pm ETHow to watchUS: Fox SportsUK: BBC or ITVAustralia: SBSBrazil: SportTVGermany: ARD, ZDF, Deutsche TelekomCanada: Bell MediaSouth Africa: SABC

CNN —Iran state media has called for the US to be kicked out of the 2022 World Cup after the United States Soccer Federation changed Iran’s flag on its social media platforms to show support for protesters in Iran. A now-deleted graphic of the Group B standings posted on Saturday displayed the Iranian flag only bearing its green, white and red colors. “We have the main flag on our website and other places.” The emblem is currently back on the flag on US Soccer’s social media channels. A US soccer federation screenshot displaying Iran's national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic. “No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iran Culture, Iran National Team and my Players are a disgrace to Football.

☆ Diplomatic foes Iran and U.S. clash in winner-takes-all contest
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Hritika Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ties have been strained in recent years when then-President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of an Iran nuclear deal. The United States killed a top Iranian general in 2020 and Tehran responded with missile strikes at U.S. forces based in Iraq. The eagerly awaited meeting is a rematch of the 1998 World Cup group stage contest, dubbed the "mother of all games", which Iran won 2-1. Overshadowing Iran's World Cup build-up this year has been civil unrest at home over the September death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, arrested for flouting the country's strict Islamic dress code. They sang quietly on Friday at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, where boos and jeers were heard from Iran supporters.

"You question my character with a typical prejudiced judgment of superiority," he said in an open message to Klinsmann, in remarks shared by the Iran team. "No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iran culture, Iran national team and my players are a disgrace to football." 'FAMOUS DRAMATIC DIVES'Iran's football federation said it had sought clarity from world soccer governing body FIFA and demanded Klinsmann apologise and resign from the FIFA Technical Study Group. It also invited Klinsmann to visit the Iran team's World Cup camp "for a lecture on the millennial Persian culture and the values of football and sport". Queiroz, in his earlier remarks, said Klinsmann should socialise with his team and learn how much his players loved and respected football.

☆ Iran deliver sucker punch to Wales with stoppage-time winners
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

After Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off in the 87th minute, Iran produced a remarkable finale, with Roozbeh Cheshmi driving home to give them the lead before Ramin Rezaeian added another in the 11th minute of stoppage time. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Wales would have been forgiven for thinking they had survived, but Cheshmi had other ideas. That strike rocked Wales to the core and left them open for the coup de grace elegantly delivered by Rezaeian. Taremi cut in from the left and played the ball to Rezaeian in acres of space on the right. He bore down on Wales' substitute keeper Danny Ward before lifting the ball nonchalantly over him into the back of the net.

☆ Analysis: Relentless Iran do their talking on the pitch in defeat of Wales
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Rohith Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We played today with amazing character, which is the profile of our team. We played with a sense of unity, cohesion," said Queiroz, who was thrown into the air by his players after the full-time whistle. "Sometimes you lose your dignity, your honour, but of course in our first game we were bleeding in our pride. "The sending off didn't help, of course, but at that point we had five forwards on the pitch, so couldn't get a defensive shape." Reporting by Rohith Nair in Al Rayyan, Qatar; Additional reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by Ken Ferris and Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ For Iranians, this World Cup is about more than football
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

In the buildup to the World Cup in Qatar, there were calls for Iran to be thrown out of the tournament. Protesting at the World Cup, on the biggest stage of all for football, carries potentially huge risks for the current players in the national team. Nonetheless, players will be free to protest at the World Cup so long as they do not break FIFA rules, their manager Queiroz has said. Iran’s football authorities vowed that “people who have not followed professional and sports ethics … will be dealt with according to the regulations,” a statement published by Iran’s Football Federation after the beach soccer game said. “While this is happening, I cannot see people being overly excited [about the World Cup] when they’re out on the street fighting for freedom,” Mossavat says.

☆ Iran players remain silent during national anthem at World Cup lin apparent protest at Iranian regime
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Doha, Qatar CNN —Before a ball was even kicked in Iran’s World Cup opener against England on Monday, Iran’s players made a powerful statement. Before the tournament began, Iran’s manager Carlos Queiroz said players would be allowed to protest while they competed in Qatar. The silent show of respect on Monday was met with a loud reaction from the Iranian fans, many of whom cheered throughout. “We know players are under immense pressure, nevertheless the Iranian population expects them to do something,” one fan told CNN. In October, a group of prominent Iranian athletes lobbied FIFA via a law firm, urging the governing body to suspend the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) and ban it from participating at the World Cup.

☆ Saka at the double as dynamic England hit Iran for six
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

England, semi-finalists in 2018, came into the tournament without a win in six games, but a dynamic opening 45 minutes in which Jude Bellingham scored his first England goal, Bukayo Saka doubled the lead and Raheem Sterling grabbed a third set up a second-half stroll. read moreThe game eventually took centre stage and it was not long before England were in top gear. Shaw was the provider again for England's second as his corner was headed back across the area by Harry Maguire to Saka, who volleyed home expertly. England were not done, however, as Saka grabbed his second in the 62nd minute. His side face Wales on Friday when England take on the United States.

☆ England to take knee, Kane to wear One Love armband against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DOHA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - England will take the knee and captain Harry Kane will wear the One Love armband at their opening match of the World Cup against Iran on Monday, manager Gareth Southgate confirmed on Sunday. "It's what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time," he told reporters on Sunday. Kane, along with the captains of the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales, will wear the One Love armband on Monday. World soccer's governing body FIFA takes a dim view of political statements and according to reports could punish those wearing the One Love armband with fines or disciplinary action. "We've made it clear as a team, the staff and an organisation that we want to wear the armband," Kane said.

☆ Kane in a hurry to surpass Rooney's England scoring record
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Harry Kane said he hopes to break Wayne Rooney's England scoring record "as soon as possible" as the striker prepares to lead his country into their World Cup Group B opener with Iran on Monday. Kane scored six goals in Russia in 2018 when England's run was stopped by Croatia in the semi-finals. Aged 29, he knows that this tournament might also present his best opportunity to do what no England captain has done since Bobby Moore lifted the World Cup in 1966. "I was lucky enough to play in the 2018 World Cup and had an amazing experience at a great tournament. "We know that under Carlos in the last World Cup they were very organised against big opponents and difficult to play against.

☆ World Cup: Iranian men's soccer manager Carlos Queiroz says players can protest at Qatar 2022 within FIFA regulations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The manager of the Iranian men’s soccer team said his players are allowed to protest while they participate at the World Cup in Qatar, as long as those protests do not break FIFA rules. Carlos Queiroz made the comments at a press conference in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. According to Reuters, Queiroz said: “The players are free to protest as they would if they were from any other country as long as it conforms with the World Cup regulations and is in the spirit of the game. Queiroz selected star player Sardar Azmoun for the nation’s squad for the upcoming World Cup despite his public comments supporting anti-government protests. Iran begins its World Cup campaign on Monday against England.

☆ Iran players can protest at World Cup says coach Queiroz
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DOHA, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Iran's players are free to join in the protests sweeping their country over women's rights while they are playing at the World Cup in Qatar but must do so within the rules of the tournament, national team coach Carlos Queiroz said on Tuesday. Iran said her death was due to pre-existing conditions and accused its enemies of fomenting the unrest to destabilise the country. “The players are free to protest as they would if they were from any other country as long as it conforms with the World Cup regulations and is in the spirit of the game,” Queiroz told a news conference. The coach said Iran’s players had set themselves the target of reaching the second round, despite being paired in a tough Group B with England, Wales and the United States. Iran have failed in their five previous World Cup finals appearances to reach the second round.

☆ Every World Cup 2022 squad announced: USMNT, Germany, Belgium and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —‘Tis the season for wall charts and fans gathering around to pick their starting teams for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “It’s always difficult when a guy helps you get to the World Cup, he scores three goals in World Cup qualifying and isn’t going to be a part of the program. Again, it’s more about who we did add that we felt good about.”All but one of the 26 will be making their World Cup debut at this year’s tournament and, according to the USMNT, it will be the youngest team to qualify for the World Cup. Octavio Passos/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesGhanaManager: Otto AddoThe final squad has not been announced yet. READ: Meet Otto Addo, the coach responsible for guiding some of Europe’s brightest young talents (2021)—–PortugalManager: Fernando SantosThe final squad has not been announced yet.

☆ Goal machine Taremi ready to lead Iran's World Cup push
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Since featuring for Team Melli at the last World Cup -- and missing a late opportunity against Portugal to take Iran into the knockout rounds for the first time -- the 30-year-old from Bushehr has turned into a scoring machine. The goals have flowed as the striker helped his team to the Portuguese league and cup double last season, with Taremi also impressive in the Champions League. The road for Iran was slightly less smooth, even if Taremi was scoring regularly under former coach Dragan Skocic. A fall-out with the Croatian saw him dropped for World Cup qualifiers against Lebanon and Syria last year before the pair patched up their differences and Taremi returned to the squad. Taremi, whose brother Mohammad played professionally, can lead the line alone or partner Sardar Azmoun, should the Bayer Leverkusen striker shake off an injury before the World Cup.

☆ STATBOX Soccer-Iran at the World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 2 (Reuters) - Following is a statbox on Iran at the World Cup. FIFA Ranking: 20Odds: 500-1Previous tournaments:Iran have reached their third World Cup in a row but have yet to move beyond the group phase. They first qualified in 1978 and also featured in 1998 and 2006 before appearing in 2014 and 2018. How they qualifiedIran dominated Group A of Asia's final round of preliminaries, topping their group by two points ahead of South Korea. Led by Dragan Skocic, Team Melli lost just once, a 2-0 defeat by the Koreans when qualification was already secured.

☆ Queiroz's return gives Iran hope of World Cup history
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Carlos Queiroz's return as Iran coach threatened to throw the country's preparations for a third straight World Cup appearance into turmoil but instead the re-hiring of the Portuguese has galvanised an ageing squad for one last crack at history. In five previous World Cup campaigns, Iran have never progressed beyond the group phase but after being drawn in a group alongside England, Wales and the United States hopes are growing that their disappointing record might be broken. For their September friendlies against Uruguay and Senegal, Queiroz picked 16 of the 23-man squad he selected for the finals in Russia in 2018, when Iran recorded their best-ever result at a World Cup with four points from three games. The meetings with England and the United States will be politically charged domestically while protests over women's rights in Iran have had a psychological impact on a squad that was fractured by the controversy over Queiroz's re-hiring. Former Brighton & Hove Albion winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh will also be keen to prove English football fans did not see the best of his talents during his three-season stint in the Premier League as Iran look to break new ground at the World Cup.

☆ Carlos Queiroz a fost concediat de pe banca naționalei de fotbal a Columbiei
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-20 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: 1 min

Selecționerul Carlos Queiroz a fost concediat de pe banca naționalei de fotbal a Columbiei. Tehnicianul portughez și-a exercitat funcția timp de un an și nouă luni.Ultimele două eșecuri usturătoare, 0-3 în partida de acasă cu Uruguay și 1-6 în meciul din deplasare cu Ecuador în preliminariile Mondialului din 2022, i-au fost fatale.Potrivit presei, federația columbiană urmează să-i plătească clauza de două milioane de dolari.Un alt motiv al demisiei lui Quieroz este atmosfera negativă în vestiarul echipei. Săptămâna trecută, tensiunea din lot a atins cote maxime. Căpitanul James Rodriguez s-a bătut cu un alt jucător al reprezentativei țării sale, Jefferson Lerma.Sub comanda lusitanului în vârstă de 67 de ani, echipa Columbiei a jucat 18 meciuri, în care a înregistrat nouă victorii, cinci egaluri și patru înfrângeri.

Persons: Selecționerul Carlos Queiroz, Quieroz, Căpitanul James Rodriguez, Jefferson Organizations: Columbiei Locations: Columbiei, Uruguay, Ecuador

Search resuls for: "Carlos Queiroz"

25 mentions found