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GENEVA (AP) — The public wrangling between Iran, FIFA and U.S. President Donald Trump over the narrative of playing at the World Cup in June shifted on Tuesday to Mexico where its diplomats suggested Iran's soccer team could play its games.

Iran-US-Trump-World Cup

The Iranian ambassador and embassy in Mexico City said the country was negotiating with FIFA to move Iran's three group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico after Trump last weekdiscouragedthe team from attending the48-nation tournament, citing safety concerns.

It was already unclear whether such talks were even happening before FIFA said such unprecedented changes in World Cup history were not planned to a match schedule agreed three months ago.

In a statement, FIFA said it is "in regular contact with all participating member associations, including (the Islamic Republic of) Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026. FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on Dec. 6, 2025."

The Feb. 28 start of U.S. and Israeli bombing of Iran that killed the Islamic republic'sSupreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneiand senior officials immediately cast doubt on the national soccer team going to play at least three World Cup games in the U.S., which is co-hosting the most watched global sports event with Mexico and Canada.

Iran's soccer federation has not canceled its World Cup entry with FIFA, though official comments have variously suggested the U.S. is unable or unwilling to ensure the delegation's secure arrival and accommodation.

Since last week, Trump has variously said "I don't really care" if the Iran team comes, that it was welcome and would be treated like all players as stars, and that the players' safety was at risk.

In comments posted late Monday on the embassy website, Iran's Ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh urged FIFA to move the team's games to Mexico, saying the U.S. was not cooperative on visas.

"We love the Mexican people very much and for us, the best situation is for our games to be held in Mexico," he was quoted as saying by state-run news agency IRNA.

An Iranian government spokesman andthe team itselfhave said in recent days it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup. The Iran team's planned training camp is in Tucson, Arizona.

Pasandideh's embassy in Mexico City also posted astatementattributed to national soccer federation president Mehdi Taj saying Iran wants to move its group-stage matches out of the U.S.

"When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," the statement said. "We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico."

Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood, California, before finishing group play in Seattleagainst Egypt on June 26.

Moving the games would be remarkable less than three months before the World Cup and risks being judged a failure in the history of tournament hosting.

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It also is not envisaged by Iran's first opponent.

New Zealand soccer federation chief executive Andrew Pragnell said on Monday "I also don't foresee it as remotely feasible" to move scheduled games to another country. Tens of thousands of tickets have been sold for Iran games, including to visiting fans who have booked flights to the U.S.

"By trying to move the match schedule, you actually create more problems down the track," Pragnell told New Zealand media outlet Stuff, adding "I don't think it'll happen."

The Belgian soccer federation declined to comment on Tuesday.

Trump said last week that the Iran team was welcome at the World Cup despite the ongoingwar in the Middle Eastbut "I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."

Iran's mixed signals includesports minister Ahmad Donyamalitelling state TV last week that it was not possible to play "due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran."

But after Trump's post thenational teamsaid on Instagram that "no one can exclude" it from the tournament and a government spokesman in Tehran stressed it was theresponsibilityof FIFA and the U.S. as a co-host nation to keep players safe and secure.

"FIFA is the organizer of the World Cup," Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said. "When warnings are issued at the highest level about the environment being unsafe for Iranian football players, this indicates that the host country apparently lacks the capacity and ability to provide security for such an important sporting event."

Soccer is followed passionately in Iran, a nation of more than 90 million people which has qualified for seven men's World Cups and each of the past four editions. The team is ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and behind only Japan from Asia.

FIFA has not commented in recent days beyondan Instagram postby president Gianni Infantino last week that he'd received assurances from Trump that Iran was welcome at the tournament.

Pye contributed from Brisbane, Australia. Amir-Hussein Rajdy in Cairo also contributed.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

For the rest of history UMBC being in the NCAA tournament will bring up good memories — unless you're a Virginia fan.

In 2018, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County pulled off an upset that was thought to be close to impossible for years. The Retrievers became the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. They not only won, but they beat Virginia by 20 points. In 2023, Fairleigh Dickinson repeated the feat by beating No. 1 seed Purdue, but UMBC will always be associated with the No. 1 vs. No. 16 upset. And now the Retrievers are back in the tournament, looking to get another shot at a No. 1 seed.

Here are the picks for the First Four games on Tuesday, with all oddsfrom BetMGM:

UMBC (-1.5) over Howard

Both of these teams played well late in the season. UMBC won 15 of its last 16, while Howard won 14 of 16 to finish.

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Howard lives on its defense, which is very good at forcing turnovers and missed shots, and UMBC has a solid offense. One difference here might be that UMBC doesn't turn it over. It's 27th in college basketball in turnover rate,according to KenPom.That could mitigate one of Howard's biggest strengths.

As the spread shows, this should be a competitive game to get the tournament going. The pick is UMBC, which is far better at making shots.

NC State (+1.5) over Texas

NC State was a hot team during the offseason. It hired Will Wade, a good coach who was run out of LSU due to controversy over paying players (kind of funny now, isn't it?), went to McNeese and built a program there that won an NCAA tournament game last season. NC State did well in the transfer portal, in particular landing coveted forward Darrion Williams from Texas Tech. But the results didn't follow the hype. NC State is 20-13 and went an ugly 2-7 down the stretch.

Picks by region:East|South|Midwest|West

Texas is in Dayton for the First Four for a reason, too. It's a mediocre Longhorns team that lost five of its last six, including an opening-round loss at the SEC tournament to a bad Ole Miss team.

Even though both teams stumbled to the finish, it should be an entertaining game. Both teams are strong on offense and match up well. In a tight matchup, here's the deciding factor: NC State shoots 3-pointers very well, ranking 10th in the nation, and Texas doesn't cover the perimeter that well. The Longhorns are 299th in 3-point percentage allowed. One of these teams has to break a bad late-season slump.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Cameron Young had given up on his own expectations, and for good reason.

Players Championship Golf

Seeing him pose withThe Players Championship trophymakes it easy to forget thathe once tied a PGA Tour record with seven runner-up finishes— all of them in a 30-month span — before winning. His Sunday stroke average for those silver medals was 67.5. Someone was always a little bit better.

Young missed winning two majors by a whisker his rookie year in 2022. He made double bogey from a bunker on the 16th hole in the PGA Championship and finished one shot out of a playoff.

"One of those times I'm going to shoot 5 under on the back and that's going to be good enough," he said that day at Southern Hills. Two months later he shot 5 under on the back nine at St. Andrews. Cameron Smith shot 30 and beat him by one.

But the 28-year-old New Yorker had big expectations for his biggest moment at The Players.

Young was tied for the lead with Matt Fitzpatrick on the fearsome 18th tee at the TPC Sawgrass, the entire left side of the fairway framed by water he had found only the day before. Young had 18 holes to recover from that shot, no room for error on this one.

"My thought process over that ball is one, making sure that I'm committed to my line. And two, the overarching thought is I'm going to hit the best shot of my life right here," Young said. "I don't know if I can think of one that's better."

Tiger Woods had his"better than most" putt on the island-green17th in 2001. Young had his"longer than anyone" moment on the 18thon Sunday with a 375-yard drive that will become part of Players Championship lore.

It was a surprising admission from Young, who keeps so much under wraps. The beard is reminiscent of Dustin Johnson, the emotional flatline of David Duval.

"First time that thought's really popped in my mind," Young said. "And I think I did what I intended. It's one of the best shots I've ever hit in my life."

It was only his second PGA Tour victory, but the body of work — seven runner-up finishes, three top 5s in the majors, a big performance in the Ryder Cup — would suggest more is to come. How much more? That might require setting goals, and Young has been down that road before.

"I'm kind of trying to give up on that, in terms of looking at where I am versus where I think I should be in my career," Young said, adding that his expectations used to be "wildly unreasonable" without sharing what they were.

"This is a hard game," he said, "and there's a lot of people that are really good at it."

There are players to chase, like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, and there are players running alongside him. All of them are highly skilled.

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Eight of the 10 winners on the PGA Tour this year are in their 20s, two of them (Scheffler and Collin Morikawa) already multiple major champions.

Chris Gotterup (26) wasn't on anyone's radar until he left Rutgers for Oklahoma as a senior and won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the best player in college. Gotterup now has four wins, three of them in the last eight months.

Jacob Bridgeman (26) made it to the Tour Championship last year despite not playing in half of the majors and half of the signature events. He looked strong winning at Riviera, and he was right back in the mix at The Players until a couple of shots found the water.

Gotterup, Young and Bridgeman have compiled more world ranking points in 2026 than anyone. It's fair to assume big stuff is on the horizon for them.

For Young, there are goals and there are expectations, and there is a difference.

He set a big goal a year ago to play in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where he won a New York State Open. He dreamed of being on that U.S. team the day it was announced when he was a junior high school.

Fast forward to 2025 and Young was No. 67 in the world with four months left to qualify. He had gone 11 starts since his last top 10 and had missed six cuts during that stretch.

That's when he hired his Wake Forest teammate Kyle Sterbinsky to caddie for two weeks, which turned into two months, which turned into a job. Sterbinsky has a knack for reading greens. "I knew he would be a good fit before I hired him," Young said.

The goal was not to win or live up to his expectations. It was to get to East Lake for the Tour Championship, his only hope of Ryder Cup consideration. He managed to do both.

The goal this year wasn't about winning. It was about having enough chances so he would be ready if the situation presented itself at the Masters. This is more discipline than wild expectations.

"My goal is to be prepared for playing late on Sunday at Augusta," Young said. "It's not necessarily to win, it's not to do any certain number of things. It's to be ready and comfortable when that moment comes."

One big moment already arrived, and he was ready for it.

On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season. AP golf:https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Meghan Marklereturned to social media this week with a short-lived message that quickly drew attention and then disappeared. On Monday, the Duchess of Sussex posted an Instagram Story featuring a close-up of a mug printed with the words "Cultivate Kindness," placed beside a copy of "They Bloom Because of You," a poetry collection by Jessica Urlichs. The book's cover describes it as a reflection on motherhood, love, and personal growth.

Meghan Markle removes cryptic post on 'kindness' amid bombshell book claims

On Monday, Meghan Markle posted a clip on her Instagram Story with "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" by Natalie Cole, which gave the moment a warm and reflective feel. Soon after posting it, the duchess removed the story without any explanation. The now-deleted post came just as fresh claims about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex began circulating ahead of the release of a new royal book.

According toGB News, author Tom Bower's upcoming title, "Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family," has already generated headlines following excerpts published in The Times Magazine. The book explores the ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the wider royal family, including claims related to their public roles and projects.

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After removing the original post, Markle returned to Instagram with a series of more personal clips from her home. One video showed her arranging flowers in a vase, creating a soft scene. In the background, Harry's voice could be heard reacting to the arrangement. "It's beautiful," he said off-camera. Markle laughed and replied, "Thanks," before Harry added, "It's so pretty and pink."

Markle also shared a short video of Princess Lilibet spending time at the family's chicken coop. In the footage, the 4-year-old, dressed in Wellington boots, reached out toward one of the hens as Markle filmed and laughed behind the camera. The child's auburn hair was clearly visible, a feature she shares with her older brother, Prince Archie.

The postMeghan Markle Posts & Deletes Cryptic 'Kindness' Post After Bombshell Bookappeared first onReality Tea.

Gwyneth Paltrow's nearly exposed moment at theOscarsbecame one of the most debated fashion moments of the night.

Netizens called it "inappropriate" and a "red carpet nightmare" after the 53-year-old actress was seen running away from the camera at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre on Sunday.

Insiders have now spoken about thebackstage drama,which made fans wonder whether she suffered awardrobe malfunctionor deliberately "flashed the camera" for the world to see.

Gwyneth Paltrow's nearly exposed moment at theOscarsbecame one of the most debated fashion moments of the night

Image credits:Trae Patton / The Academy

Before attending the Oscars for the first time in 11 years, Gwyneth Paltrow tried on a "million dresses" before choosing the ivory Giorgio Armani Privé gown for the98th Academy Awards.

Insiders revealed that theMarty Supremestar felt she "looked hot" in the strapless silk gown.

The dress appeared completely normal from the front, like a classic Oscars red carpet look. But from every other angle, it was anything but.

Image credits:John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images

The floor-length dress featured wide slits running from top to bottom, exposing an almost unnoticeable pair of see-through tulle pants with crystal embellishments.

Paltrow wasn't "afraid of her body" and chose that dress because "she loved it and thought it looked amazing," a source told theDaily Mail.

The dress appeared completely normal from the front, but from every other angle, it was anything but

Image credits:gwynethpaltrow

While the actress confidently embraced the look, not everyone on the internet was convinced.

A viral video captured somebehind-the-scenes drama, showing Paltrow clutching her dress and running down a staircase in a crowded area at the 2026 Oscars venue.

"Gwyneth Paltrow is breaking the internet after suffering an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction at the Oscars," an X user wrote in the video's caption.

The moment made netizens run wild with speculation, debating whether it was actually a "malfunction" or whether she had deliberately "flashed the camera."

Netizens debated whether it was a wardrobe malfunction or a moment where she deliberately "flashed the camera"

Image credits:usweekly

Despite the relentless chatter online, insiders said Paltrow enjoyed wearing the outfit for the biggest night in Hollywood.

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"Gwyneth loves her body and thinks she looked hot, she does not give a s**t if anyone thinks she is too old for the dress," another insider told the outlet.

The actress shared a pre-show snap of her outfit on social media, capturing the reaction of someone in the background who was reportedly her aide.

Image credits:gwynethpaltrow

The source said the actress "does what she wants" and has worn similar outfits in the past, including the time she worea thigh-baring dressto theIron Man 3premiere in 2013.

The Antonio Berardi dress was completely covered up in the front and flaunted sheer panels on the side, similar to her latest Oscars gown.

For someone who "has sold a candle that smells like her v*gina, she's not embarrassed," an insider declared

Image credits:Maddie Knight / The Academy

The Oscar-winning actress rocked a similar style at the premiere ofCountry Strong, wearing an Emilio Pucci gown with a side lace-up.

"So it's clear she lovesshowing off her bodythat she works hard for," the source said.

Image credits:David Livingston/Getty Images/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Apart from being in Hollywood for decades, Paltrow founded the lifestyle brand Goop, which has never shied away from pushing boundaries.

One of the brand's most famous offeringswas a candlethat smells like a v*gina.

She is also a mother to kids Apple, 21, and Moses, 19, withex Chris Martin, and a stepmom to husband Brad Falchuk's children, Isabella, 21, and Brody, 19.

Insiders said Paltrow chose the outfit not to give a "free show" but "because she can still wear dresses like that"

Image credits:usweekly

For someone who "has sold a candle that smells like her v*gina, she's not embarrassed by her outfit she wore at the Oscars," the source declared.

The actress attended the 2026 Oscars to celebrate her filmMarty Supreme's nine nominations. She also presented the award for the newly introduced category, Best Casting.

The insider said Paltrow didn't choose the outfit to give viewers a "free show" but was wearing it "because she can still wear dresses like that."

"She will look back at the night fondly years from now, because she knows she looked hot," they concluded. "She won't remember the night because trolls on the internet thought something differently about how she was presenting herself."

"That looks like a massive bruise she's trying to hide with the glitter situation," one speculated online

LONDON (AP) — Len Deighton, a prolific writer whose tough, stylish spy thrillers featured on bestseller lists for decades, has died. He was 97.

Britain Obit Len Deighton

Deighton's literary agent, Tim Bates, said he died Sunday. No cause of death was given.

Deighton's first novel, "The IPCRESS File," helped set the tone of cool and gritty 1960s thrillers and was made into a film starringMichael Cainethat helped launch both author and actor to long and stellar careers.

"Len was a Titan," Bates said Tuesday. "He was not only one of the greatest spy and thriller writers of the 20th century but also one of our greatest writers in any genre."

Born to a working-class family in a wealthy part of London in 1929 — his father was a chauffeur and his mother a part-time cook — Deighton grew up with a keen eye for the intricacies and absurdities of Britain's class system.

He served in the Royal Air Force as part of Britain's then-mandatory national service, studied art and worked as a waiter, pastry chef and flight attendant before having success as a book and magazine illustrator. His designs included the first U.K. edition of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" in 1958.

He wrote "The IPCRESS File" to amuse himself during a vacation. The story of a secret agent confronted with duplicity and bureaucracy from his own side while investigating a Soviet kidnap ring, it was published in 1962 and went on to sell millions of copies.

The novel was adapted into a 1965 film, with Caine in a star-making performance as Deighton's protagonist, a sardonic working-class sophisticate with a love of gourmet food. The character is unnamed in the book, though Caine's character was given the name Harry Palmer.

Deighton's depiction of espionage as a grubby, error-strewn business was a contrast to the glamour of Ian Fleming'sJames Bondnovels.

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"I had never read a James Bond book," Deighton said in a 1997 BBC interview, but by chance "The IPCRESS File" was published the month the first 007 movie, "Dr. No," was released.

His book's gritty mood, like the murky spy world ofJohn le Carré'sfiction, chimed with the times, and Deighton said he benefited from a backlash against Bond's huge success. He recalled a friend telling him that "You're a blunt instrument that the critics have used to smash Ian Fleming over the head."

Subsequent thrillers "Horse Under Water," "Funeral in Berlin," "Billion-Dollar Brain" and "An Expensive Place to Die" all featured the same hero. "Funeral in Berlin" and "Billion-Dollar Brain" were both also filmed with Caine in the starring role.

"Berlin Game," published in 1983, was the first of 10 novels featuring the smart, cynical MI6 officer Bernard Samson. Along with "Mexico Set" and "London Match" it was adapted into the 1988 TV series "Game, Set and Match."

Deighton set several novels around World War II, including "Bomber" (1970), which depicted the conflict in the air war from both British and German viewpoints, and "SS-GB" (1978), an alternative-history novel set in a Nazi-occupied Britain. It was made into a TV series in 2017.

Deighton wrote more than two dozen novels in all. The last book in his final trilogy, "Faith," "Hope" and "Charity," was published in 1996.

He also wrote historical nonfiction, including a book about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and "Fighter: The True Story of the Battle of Britain."

Another passion was food. Deighton was food correspondent for The Observer newspaper in the 1960s and wrote several cookbooks aimed at men — a then-novel idea — including "Len Deighton's Action Cook Book" (1965), with recipes illustrated like comic strips.

Deighton's first marriage, to illustrator Shirley Thompson, ended in divorce. He later married Ysabele de Ranitz. They had two sons.