Sports
Report: FIFA, Iran hold talks ahead of World Cup
Mar 20, 2025; Marina Del Rey, California, USA; Mattias Grafstrom at the The Global Center of Gravity for Soccer is in North America pannel at Marina Del Rey Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Bailey Holiver-Imagn Images FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom described his Saturday meeting with the head of Iran’s Football Federation (FFIRI) as “constructive” as concerns about the nation’s participation in next month’s World Cup have not abated.
Grafstrom met with FFIRI President Mehdi Taj in Istanbul and told Reuters he was confident about Iran competing in the United States, despite hostilities between the two countries extending into their third month.
“We’ve had an excellent meeting and constructive meeting together with the Iran FA,” Grafstrom said during a visit to Istanbul. “We’re working closely together and looking very much forward to welcoming them in the FIFA World Cup.”
Iran is slated to play all three of their group matches in the United States, beginning with a contest vs. New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They are also scheduled to take on Belgium in Los Angeles and conclude Group G play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Iran asked that their games be moved to Mexico, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino denied that request.
Taj has served as president of Iran’s governing body since 2022, but he had previously served in Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The 66-year-old was not allowed to enter the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada earlier this month due to his IRGC ties.
Canada and the United States, who are co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico, have classified the IRGC as a “terrorist entity” and have stated that they will not permit people with ties to that group in their respective nations.
Grafstrom would not specifically address entry and visa arrangements for Iranian players. The discussion with Taj primarily involved operational issues.
“We’ve discussed all relevant matters, but I think it’s not the place to discuss the details,” he said. “Overall, a very positive meeting and we’re looking forward to continuing the dialogue.”
Taj also shared with Reuters that the meeting with Grafstrom and other FIFA officials was positive.
“I am pleased that they listened to Iran’s points, all 10 points that we had raised, and they offered solutions for each of them. I hope, God willing, that our national team can go to the World Cup without any problems and achieve very good results there,” he said.
The Iranian squad is scheduled to leave Tehran for a training camp in Turkey on Monday. Their base in the United States is located at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, and they are slated to travel there in early June.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets place RHP Clay Holmes on IL with fibula fracture
May 15, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The New York Mets placed right-hander Clay Holmes on the 15-day injured list Saturday after he fractured his right fibula when he was hit by a comebacker in Friday’s game against the New York Yankees.
In a corresponding move, right-hander Joey Gerber was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
Holmes was hit by a 111.1-mph line drive from Spencer Jones in the fourth inning but remained in the game and faced seven more hitters. The fracture was revealed in X-rays at the ballpark.
“It’s a huge blow,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s been one of the most consistent guys that we had in that rotation.”
Holmes, 33, is 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA in nine starts this season and has gone 40-34 with a 3.53 ERA during 353 appearances (44 starts) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2018-21), New York Yankees (2021-24) and Mets.
Gerber, 29, made one relief appearance for the Mets last month and has a career 3.27 ERA in 20 relief appearances with the Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays and Mets going back to 2020.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios scheduled for elbow surgery
Sep 16, 2025; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) walks to the dugout after he pitched the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios, who has not pitched in a major league game since last September, will undergo surgery for a stress fracture in his elbow, manager John Schneider said Saturday.
Berrios, 31, did not participate in the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series last season or the World Baseball Classic this spring for his native Puerto Rico with what was first diagnosed as right elbow inflammation last season.
After making four minor league appearances while on a rehab assignment this season, more elbow discomfort led to a diagnosis of a stress fracture.
A timetable for a return will be made after surgery is performed Wednesday with a possibility he could miss the entire 2026 season.
Berrios was 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 31 appearances (30 starts) last season. In 10 major league seasons, the two-time All-Star is 108-82 with a 4.08 ERA in 275 appearances (273 starts) for the Minnesota Twins (2016-21) and Blue Jays.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Elina Svitolina defeats Coco Gauff in 3 sets for Italian Open title
Elina Svitolina hits a return during her match against Elena Rybakina at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., March 13, 2026. Elina Svitolina recovered from a second-set tie-breaker loss and went on to defeat Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 on Saturday to win her third Italian Open championship in Rome.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian became the second woman age 30-plus to take the WTA 1000 title in the Italian capital. Serena Williams won three after she turned 30 in 2013-14 and 2016.
Svitolina, who was seeded seventh in the tournament, won back-to-back Italian Open titles in 2017-18 and her win on Saturday was the 20th in her career.
“It’s very hard to believe that it’s been eight years since I held this trophy,” said Svitolina on-court after the match. “Very, very pleased with the two weeks here. I want to say congrats to Coco for a great tournament and for your team as well. You’re such a great champion. Hopefully we’ll have more battles in the future.”
“I want to thank my team. I had a tough loss in the final in Dubai this year. It was my 19th title and I was aiming for 20. I told my coach it would be nice before I finish my career to have a round number.”
The third-seeded Gauff broke her foe’s serve out of the gates and led, 4-2, before Svitolina rallied to win the next four games to capture the set. She saved 8-of-10 break points, while Gauff conceded all three break points on her shaky service.
The two women held serve for the first ten games of the second set. Then, there were back-to-back breaks, with Gauff failing to hold at 6-5. But she won all five points on serve during the tie-breaker and tallied the final six points to send the match to a decider.
The Floridian had one break point chance at 2-1, but Svitolina responded and captured 17 of the next 24 points of the match to take a 5-2 lead.
Ever the fighter, Gauff dug in, earning three break points and fending off two match points before Svitolina won her first WTA 1000 title since 2018.
She defeated the No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina (quarterfinals) and No. 4 seed Iga Swiatek (semifinals) to reach the big stage in Rome.
Ukrainian women swept the clay court WTA 1000 events in 2026, as Marta Kostyuk captured the 2026 title in Madrid last month.
–Field Level Media
Mets place RHP Clay Holmes on IL with fibula fracture
Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios scheduled for elbow surgery
