‘For the 1ST Time' – OKC NBA CHAMPIONS!
NBA: The Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA Champions for the first time ever, after knocking over the Indiana Pacers in game seven.
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Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Iran could be banned from the 2026 World Cup in USA over bombings
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News. Iran could be spectacularly banned from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid the threat of war between the Islamic Republic and tournament host nation USA. The national team back in March were the sixth team to qualify for the tournament set to take place in America, Mexico and Canada next year, but the latest air strikes on the country's nuclear facilities have the world watching on with ongoing military tensions continuing to escalate. The situation makes it unlikely Team Melli — Iran's national football team — will be playing games on US soil. Their fourth successive World Cup appearance is now in serious jeopardy. A tournament ban is a genuine possibility given several teams have been barred from international tournaments previously on the basis that warring nations cannot participate. Russia have been indefinitely suspended by FIFA since invading Ukraine while FIFA and UEFA also banned Yugoslavia during 1990s as a result of the Balkans conflict. Even if Iran do participate in next year's tournament, they are most likely to be without supporters as the country remains on President Donald Trump's banned travel list which bars citizens from travelling to America. The decision was made back in March and included severe travel restrictions to over 40 countries including Iran, Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and others. Exemptions will most likely be granted for the team and associated staff only. There is no associated ban from Mexico and Canada, who will host the other 26 matches of the tournament. Despite already qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Iran's hopes of participating may be quashed as the threat of war continues to loom between them and the tournaments host nation. Photo: AP Photo/Vahid Salemi. With the schedule already drawn up to decide cities, date and stages, the best case scenario would be for Iran to be drawn into Group A and play all three group stage matches in Mexico. However, any progress to the knockout stages means the side will play at least one match in America, creating a logistic nightmare for organisers. Meanwhile, Iran and Inter Milan striker Milan Mehdi Taremi has found himself stuck in his home country in the capital city of Tehran amid the ongoing war with no way of getting out. Taremi was named by Inter in the 32 man squad for the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in the US, but is unable to join his side as the conflict continues. The 32-year-old initially flew back to Iran to compete in their qualifiers against Qatar and North Korea and to accept Iran's footballer of the Year award, and planned to leave for Los Angeles straight after but was left stranded. Iran and Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi remains stranded in Iran and unable to join his teammates currently in America playing the FIFA Club World Cup. Photo: AP Photo/Vahid Salemi. It was Taremi's two goals in the 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan that sealed his sides World Cup qualification back in March, but the striker has now been left stranded as his club scrambles to find a way out. It is reported that Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has been in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Italian ambassador to Tehran to find a way out for the Milan striker, but has been unsuccessful. The player himself is said to been in constant contact with teammates, who won their most recent group stage match against Urawa Reds. Neither FIFA president Gianni Infantino nor host nation President Trump have yet commented on Iran's participation in the tournament. Originally published as Iran could be banned from the 2026 World Cup in USA over bombings
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Iran could be banned from the 2026 World Cup in USA over bombings
Iran could be spectacularly banned from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid the threat of war between the Islamic Republic and tournament host nation USA. The national team back in March were the sixth team to qualify for the tournament set to take place in America, Mexico and Canada next year, but the latest air strikes on the country's nuclear facilities have the world watching on with ongoing military tensions continuing to escalate. The situation makes it unlikely Team Melli — Iran's national football team — will be playing games on US soil. Their fourth successive World Cup appearance is now in serious jeopardy. A tournament ban is a genuine possibility given several teams have been barred from international tournaments previously on the basis that warring nations cannot participate. Russia have been indefinitely suspended by FIFA since invading Ukraine while FIFA and UEFA also banned Yugoslavia during 1990s as a result of the Balkans conflict. Even if Iran do participate in next year's tournament, they are most likely to be without supporters as the country remains on President Donald Trump's banned travel list which bars citizens from travelling to America. The decision was made back in March and included severe travel restrictions to over 40 countries including Iran, Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and others. Exemptions will most likely be granted for the team and associated staff only. There is no associated ban from Mexico and Canada, who will host the other 26 matches of the tournament. With the schedule already drawn up to decide cities, date and stages, the best case scenario would be for Iran to be drawn into Group A and play all three group stage matches in Mexico. However, any progress to the knockout stages means the side will play at least one match in America, creating a logistic nightmare for organisers. Meanwhile, Iran and Inter Milan striker Milan Mehdi Taremi has found himself stuck in his home country in the capital city of Tehran amid the ongoing war with no way of getting out. Taremi was named by Inter in the 32 man squad for the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in the US, but is unable to join his side as the conflict continues. The 32-year-old initially flew back to Iran to compete in their qualifiers against Qatar and North Korea and to accept Iran's footballer of the Year award, and planned to leave for Los Angeles straight after but was left stranded. It was Taremi's two goals in the 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan that sealed his sides World Cup qualification back in March, but the striker has now been left stranded as his club scrambles to find a way out. It is reported that Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has been in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Italian ambassador to Tehran to find a way out for the Milan striker, but has been unsuccessful. The player himself is said to been in constant contact with teammates, who won their most recent group stage match against Urawa Reds.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
NBA world says same thing about Josh Giddey after OKC Thunder championship
Josh Giddey has sent a message of total class after watching his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates win the NBA Championship in euphoric scenes on Monday (AEST). In the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016, the Thunder took advantage of a heartbreaking serious injury to Indiana franchise star Tyrese Haliburton to win the decider 103-91 on their home court. It must have been a rollercoaster of emotions for Giddey, watching his former team go all the way just 12 months after he was shipped off to the Chicago Bulls. Giddey has thrived since joining the Bulls and is reportedly set to sign a staggering $46 million per-year deal with the iconic franchise. However, that all seems somewhat insignificant when watching his former team take the league by storm this season. Giddey shared an Instagram story with a photo of OKC's triumph, writing: 'Congrats to the guys' with three love hearts. It was all class from the Aussie point guard, who also shared his heartbreak at Haliburton's Achilles injury in the first quarter that proved a cruel blow for the Indiana Pacers. HaliðŸ˜'ðŸ˜'ðŸ˜'ðŸ˜' — josh giddey (@joshgiddey) June 23, 2025 The man OKC replaced Giddey with, Alex Caruso, turned out to be a pivotal piece in the Thunder's championship puzzle. The 31-year-old, who one of the league's best defender's in 2023 and 2024, was sent to OKC by the Bulls in a straight swap for Giddey. Caruso had the third most steals in NBA Finals history as he won his second NBA championship following his 2020 title with the Los Angeles Lakers. OKC Thunder general manager Sam Presti paid tribute to OKC's entire squad including Caruso, who at 31 years of age is by far the oldest player in the Thunder's rotation. 'Age is a number,' an emotional Presti said about his young squad that shapes as the NBA's next dynasty. 'Sacrifice and maturity is a characteristic and these guys have it in spades. It's a privilege to work with these guys. 'These guys represent at that is good at a young age. They prioritise winning, they prioritise sacrifice. This just unfolded very quickly. Last offseason, Presti recruited Caruso and centre Isaiah Hartenstein, bringing in players to bolster the Thunder's three-point shooting, defence and rebounding. The Thunder winning the title a year after his departure would be a tough pill to swallow for Giddey, and it seems everyone is saying the same thing about the 22-year-old point guard. One American sports writer posted on X: 'Josh Giddey has to be sick right now'. The Thunder traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso and won a championship The Bulls traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso and now get the right to pay him 30 million dollars a year It’s ok to like Josh Giddey and still admit the Bulls lost that transaction — Justin Talks Hoops (@J_Talks_Hoops) June 23, 2025 The Hartenstein and Caruso acquisitions are both all-time moves from Sam Presti. Addressed clear needs on the roster + added a veteran presence to a young group. — Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 23, 2025 Australian basketball legend Luc Longley, who won three championships with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, is backing Giddey to bounce back from getting traded. 'I don't feel a single bit sorry for Josh,' Longley told recently. Andrew Bogut, who won an NBA title with the Golden State Warriors, said the brutal nature of Giddey's benching by the Thunder in last season's playoffs would sting. 'I mean he essentially got benched and was somewhat told that 'we can't win with him in the line-up',' Bogut told 'He's been on record saying he'd rather it happened now than in year seven, eight, nine, ten — and work out the kinks at an earlier age. 'But to some young guys that could derail you, that could mentally screw you.' Giddey became a near triple double machine in the back-end of the NBA regular season and the Bulls are expected to re-sign him as they are urged to lean into a rebuilding around a young core. 'He's bounced back even better for it and now you know second half of the year for him was phenomenal,' Bogut said. 'Chicago's gonna have to have to pay him, I think. I don't think they have any choice with the way the (salary) cap is.' Longley added: ''With Josh, I hope that they build the right pieces with him and around him. And I do believe in his appetite for it. 'I think he is supremely motivated by things more than money. He is deeply competitive.' Meanwhile, Alex Ducas, who is on a two-way contract with the Thunder, has now become just the eighth Australian to win an NBA championship and is likely to be awarded with a championship ring by team officials as a member of the support staff.
