Ghana’s 4x100m Team Faces Tough World Relays Test as FIFA Confirms Iran’s 2026 World Cup Participation

Team Ghana has officially commenced its quest for a fourth consecutive appearance at the World Athletics Championships, facing a formidable challenge at the World Relays in Botswana. The national men’s 4x100m relay squad has been drawn into a highly competitive Heat 3, where they will go head-to-head against continental rivals Nigeria and South Africa, as well as a strong team from Great Britain. The Ghanaian squad, featuring prominent sprinters Joseph Paul Amoah, Benjamin Azamati, Ibrahim Fuseni, Abdul Rasheed Saminu, and Edwin Gadayi, faces immense pressure to secure a top-two finish in their heat or rank among the fastest non-qualifiers to advance to the next stage of global competition.

In international football news, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has moved to dispel rumors of a potential boycott regarding the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Infantino confirmed that Iran will participate in the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Despite significant political tensions between Tehran and Washington, Infantino emphasized that discussions with various stakeholders have ensured Iran’s involvement. According to the current scheduling, Iran is slated to face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in their group stage matches, all of which are expected to be held in the United States.

The lead-up to the World Cup has not been without controversy, as Iranian football officials were notably absent from the recent FIFA annual congress held in Vancouver, Canada. Iran was the only nation not represented at the gathering after Canadian immigration authorities revoked entry permissions for the delegation. Reports indicate that the refusal was linked to the Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj and his alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a group designated as a terrorist organization by the Canadian government. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly confirmed the revocation of entry permissions, citing security and policy concerns.

Amidst these geopolitical sports developments, Gianni Infantino also used the platform to announce his candidacy for re-election as FIFA President. Having already secured support from several continental confederations, Infantino appears set to lead the global football governing body into its expanded 48-team tournament format. As both the Ghanaian athletics team and the Iranian football squad prepare for their respective global stages, these developments highlight the complex intersection of elite sports performance, international diplomacy, and the logistical challenges of hosting world-class events.