On 28 February 2026, the Middle East witnessed a dramatic escalation in military hostilities involving the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United States, and Israel. Early in the day, joint U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated military strikes on Iran’s military infrastructure and strategic targets, including urban centres in Tehran and other major cities. The offensive was presented by U.S. and Israeli leadership as a pre‑emptive action aimed at neutralizing perceived threats from Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. The initial bombardment included strikes on civilian infrastructure. In southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, explosions at a girls’ school in Minab resulted in significant loss of life. Local authorities reported that at least 70 people were killed and over 90 injured in the attacks on Minab and surrounding areas, including children and staff at the school. These figures were confirmed by regional medical officials and state sources. The strikes also...
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to become the largest and most historic tournament in football history. For the first time ever, the competition will feature 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32-team format. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first tri-nation hosting arrangement in World Cup history. Scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026, the tournament promises over a month of elite global football action across North America. TOURNAMENT FORMAT The expanded format introduces 16 groups of three teams each. Every team will play two group-stage matches. The top two teams from each group will advance to a newly created Round of 32, followed by the traditional knockout rounds: Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and the Final. This structure guarantees more matches, wider global participation, and increased competitiveness. QUALIFIED COUNTRIES Below are the nations that have officially secured qualificatio...