Amid riots, strikes and Thatcher’s Britain, Frank Bruno fought not just for boxing glory, but for a nation desperate for heroes, writes JOHN WIGHT

A WIN against the United Arab Emirates and a draw with Uzbekistan were enough to see Iran become one of the first non-host nations to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Their qualification and likely visit to the United States raised familiar problems around the nation that will host the 2026 tournament along with Canada and Mexico.
A New York Times report earlier this month revealed that the Trump administration is proposing a new travel ban on 43 countries. The list is separated into three groups, with countries in one of those groups subjected to a full visa suspension, ie a complete ban. Iran is one of the nations in that group, along with other potential World Cup qualifiers, Sudan and Venezuela.

As football grapples with overloaded calendars and commercial pressure, the Mariners’ triumph reminds us why the game’s soul lives far from the spotlight, writes JAMES NALTON

As the concept of league games being played overseas has come about once again, JAMES NALTON writes how a club is not a club without its links to location, community and fans

Vermont Green FC’s viral Bernie Sanders tifo was more than a joke. It was a sharp critique of US soccer’s top-heavy capitalism and a celebration of grassroots power, writes JAMES NALTON