World Cup
Nigerian-Born Defender Ime Okon Named in South Africa Squad to Face Super Eagles
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria will come up against one of their own when they travel to Bloemfontein for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa, after Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos included Nigerian-born defender Ime Okon in his final squad.
Okon, who was born to a Nigerian father and South African mother but grew up in South Africa.
He has been making waves in the Premier Soccer League and has now earned a place in Broos’ squad for the back-to-back qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.
The 20-year-old centre-back could line up against the Super Eagles in Bloemfontein on September 9, in what is already being billed as a decisive clash in Group C.
While South Africa sit comfortably at the top of the group with 13 points, Nigeria are languishing in fourth with just seven points from six matches.
Victory for the Super Eagles would revive their campaign, but defeat could leave their hopes of reaching the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico hanging by a thread.
Before hosting Nigeria, Bafana Bafana will face Lesotho on September 5 at the Free State Stadium, which Lesotho are using as their temporary home ground.
Broos, according to a South African publication, IOL, has cautioned his squad against complacency, reminding them that Lesotho held Nigeria to a shock draw in Uyo earlier in the qualifiers.
“The biggest mistake the South African players can make is underestimating Lesotho,” Broos warned. “We beat them before, so we must beat them again.”
Who is Ime Okon?
Ime Okon was born in 2004. He came through the youth ranks at SuperSport United before making his breakthrough into the first team, where his composure on the ball and aerial strength quickly caught the eye.
Although eligible to represent Nigeria, Okon opted to represent South Africa at the international level, featuring in youth squads before earning his senior call-up under Hugo Broos.
For Nigeria, however, the spotlight will not only be on their desperate need for points but also on the intriguing subplot of facing Ime Okon — a player born to a Nigerian father but now donning South African colours in one of the continent’s fiercest football rivalries.
Bafana Bafana squad:
Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, Ricardo Goss, Sydney Mobbie, Zuko Mdunyelwa, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba, Khulumani Ndame, Ime Okon, Samukelo Kabini, Siyabonga Ngezana, Teboho Mokoena, Luke le Roux, Bathusi Aubaas, Thalente Mbatha, Patrick Maswanganyi, Relebohile Mofokeng, Lyle Foster, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Oswin Appollis, Iqraam Rayners, Mohau Nkota and Mduduzi Shabalala.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday that he met with United States President Donald Trump, who told him he welcomed Iran’s participation in the 2026 Soccer World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Iran was the only nation missing from a FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held last week in Atlanta, deepening questions over whether the country’s soccer team will compete on U.S. soil this summer amid an escalating regional war.
Trump told Politico earlier that he is not concerned about Iran’s participation, as they were a “very badly defeated country”.
“We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026,” soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, boss Infantino said in a post on his official social media account.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.
“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World.”
Iran secured a trip to a fourth successive World Cup by topping Group A in the third round of Asian qualifying last year, but Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said the viciousness of the attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces did not augur well for the World Cup, to be held from June 11 to July 19.
The Iranians were grouped with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. Their matches are scheduled to take place in the U.S., two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
If both the U.S. and Iran finish second in their respective groups, the two countries could meet in a July 3 elimination match in Dallas.
-Reuters
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A delegation from FIFA has begun a crucial inspection tour across Spain, Portugal and Morocco to evaluate preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The two-week tour, which started on March 9, forms part of FIFA’s evaluation process ahead of the official announcement of host stadiums scheduled for December 2026.
The inspection mission, conducted in collaboration with the national football federations of the three countries, is aimed at assessing stadium infrastructure, organisational readiness and logistical arrangements across the candidate host cities.
Spain and Portugal First Stops
The FIFA delegation began its tour in Spain, where it visited major stadium facilities in Barcelona and Madrid. Officials inspected venues and reviewed ongoing infrastructure works as part of the preparations for the historic centenary tournament.
After completing the Spanish leg of the inspection, the delegation proceeded to Portugal before concluding the tour in Morocco.
Reports from the inspection indicate that FIFA officials were impressed by the progress of the redevelopment of Camp Nou in Barcelona, highlighting the importance of stadium readiness in the final selection of host venues.
Morocco’s Candidate Cities Under Review
The final stage of the inspection will take place in Morocco, where FIFA officials will assess stadiums and facilities in six candidate host cities.
In Casablanca, the delegation will review the construction progress of the proposed Grand Stade Hassan II, which is expected to seat about 115,000 spectators and is being considered as a possible venue for the tournament final.
Other Moroccan venues scheduled for inspection include the Complexe Moulay Abdellah in Rabat and the Grand Stade de Tanger, which is currently undergoing expansion.
Existing stadiums in Marrakech, Agadir and Fès are also being renovated and upgraded to meet FIFA’s technical and safety standards.
Key Areas of Assessment
During the inspection, FIFA officials are evaluating several critical areas including stadium safety, VIP facilities, media operations, transport infrastructure and accommodation capacity for teams, officials and supporters.
Morocco has already embarked on several major projects to strengthen its readiness for the tournament.
These include the implementation of an integrated security system featuring facial recognition technology, surveillance drones and a specialised judicial framework designed to manage large-scale sporting events.
On the administrative side, the Moroccan authorities have established the Morocco 2030 Foundation to coordinate development projects linked to the tournament.
Race to Host the Final
One of the most closely watched aspects of the 2030 World Cup preparations is the competition between Morocco and Spain to host the tournament’s final match.
With the construction of the massive Grand Stade Hassan II and ongoing stadium upgrades across the country, Morocco is positioning itself strongly to host several knockout-stage matches, including potentially the final.
FIFA officials say the ongoing inspection tour is a critical step in ensuring that all candidate cities meet the organisation’s requirements for hosting the global showpiece.
Findings from the two-week inspection will form part of FIFA’s technical evaluation report, which will influence the final decision on host venues expected to be announced in December 2026.
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FIFA Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi said the World Cup is “too big” and that the 2026 tournament will go on as planned despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking at the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas on Monday, Schirgi was specifically asked about Iran, whose participation in the World Cup is uncertain due to the war waged on the country by Israel and the United States.
“At some stage, we will have a resolution, and the World Cup will go on, obviously,” Schirgi said, per NBC 5 in Dallas. “The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone who has qualified can participate.”
Schirgi said that FIFA is monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely while working with federal and international partners to evaluate daily developments.
FIFA said last week that it is keeping an eye on events in Iran just months ahead of the start of the World Cup in June. Iran qualified for the tournament through its participation in the Asian Football Conference.
Iran is scheduled to play Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt in Group G. Two of the games are set for Los Angeles, one in Seattle. Schirgi said that FIFA has been in contact with Iran’s soccer federation but declined to provide details of those conversations.
The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history, with 48 nations competing across three countries. The United States will host games in 11 cities, Mexico in three and Canada in two.
FIFA officials were in Dallas for the announcement of plans for the city’s fan festival, with the International Broadcast Centre inside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center still under construction. Schirgi said the IBC will operate around the clock during the World Cup and is expected to bring between 3,000 and 3,500 media members to Dallas.
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