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Good morning football fans. It’s Monday, June. 08 - A Spanish club bet against itself ahead of a potential relegation, Fifa confirms the pre-match ceremony at the World Cup, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
TOP TALKING POINTS
New Pre-Game Ceremony Confirmed
FIFA has introduced a new pre-match ceremony for every game at the 2026 World Cup. All players in the matchday squad, not just the starting eleven, will stand around the centre circle, with large country flag banners displayed on the pitch behind them, during the national anthems. This marks a departure from the traditional format, in which players stood in two parallel lines facing one stand. See a visual of the pre-match ceremonies here.
The aim, Fifa says, is to create a “360-degree ceremony” that provides an “experience from every seat.” It is not the first time Fifa has sought to, in the words of governing body president Gianni Infantino, “innovate the way the game is experienced.” During last year’s Club World Cup, also hosted in the United States, every starting player received an individual walk-on introduction. The ceremony was not well received by fans, and a number of games kicked off late due to the time it took, ultimately leading to it being scrapped in future tournaments.
In related news, Fifa has performed another policy U-turn, now allowing fans to bring one sealed bottle into World Cup stadiums. The initial move to ban bottles drew sharp criticism from fan groups and heat experts, who were already concerned about spectator welfare. However, the stricter ban remains in place at venues in Mexico.
Club Bets Against Itself
A top-tier Spanish team placed a multimillion-dollar bet against itself in case it was relegated to the second division on La Liga’s final day, as first reported in Semafor. The owners reportedly placed the bet on a popular prediction market, a largely unregulated space where users can wager on almost anything. Importantly, the La Liga club’s bet shows how these prediction markets may move from speculative bets on news events into markets that companies use to hedge real-world risk.
While the report doesn’t mention the club’s name, it does say the club narrowly avoided relegation after a 1-0 loss on the final day. On La Liga’s final matchday this season, Osasuna lost 1-0 to Getafe away from home and avoided relegation on goal difference, though it’s not confirmed that they are the club in question.
More broadly, market operators on these prediction markets are now making most of their income from sports wagers. As reported in the Financial Times, bets on the winner of the World Cup, the first such edition in which prediction markets are active, are among the largest on record, with one prediction market reporting that the total value of contracts bought and sold reached almost $1.5bn.
Editor’s note: Route One does not, and will never, promote gambling in any form. We also don’t actively condone it, either. We simply report on the developments so you stay informed.
Politicised World Cup
Iran’s World Cup team has been notified that they must enter and leave United States soil on the same day as their matches. This development comes a week after Iran moved their World Cup base to Mexico, instead of their initial site in Tucson, Arizona.
Iran are also claiming that the U.S. had “effectively denied the Iranian national team the opportunity for a level playing field” after they said 15 staff and officials have been denied U.S. visas before their opening game in Los Angeles. While a U.S. official confirmed on Friday that all Iranian players had been approved for visas, another report suggested that some members of the team’s support staff had been denied, as it “would not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.” It’s likely those denied visas had ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which potentially includes Iran FA president Mehdi Taj.
Iran and the U.S. could face each other in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, at the renamed Dallas Stadium, if both teams come second in their groups.
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POLL
Are you excited for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
ON THE BALL
International friendlies: France vs Northern Ireland and the Netherlands vs Uzbekistan take place on Monday (June 8); see all upcoming international friendlies (More)
Europe
> Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen is conscious after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly match against Ukraine, and the match was abandoned; Eriksen previously suffered a cardiac arrest during a Euro 2020 match (More)
> Former Tottenham exec chairman Daniel Levy has reportedly agreed to sell a majority of his stake in the club’s parent company; ENIC and Spurs deny knowledge of the sale (More) | Spurs have signed former Liverpool left-back and Scotland captain Andy Robertson on a free (More) | West Ham’s joint-chairman David Sullivan has resigned from his position after being accused of “serious historic allegations,” of which he denies any wrongdoing (More)
> Yaya Toure has reportedly agreed terms with Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava to become their new head coach (More); see Yaya Toure pick his ultimate XI (More) | Robin van Persie has been sacked as coach of Dutch club Feyenoord after one full season in charge, despite the club finishing second (More)
> Kylian Mbappe is reportedly considering leaving Nike to join a less established brand in football, according to reports in France (More)
Americas
> Nine people have suffered injuries in a shooting near England’s World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri (More)
> Most 2026 World Cup stadiums have achieved green building status, recognising buildings that reach strict sustainability standards (More); see a detailed guide of every World Cup stadium (More) | A union that represents workers at SoFi Stadium has voted 96% in favour of a strike, just a week before the USMNT play their World Cup opener, though a strike is not guaranteed (More)
> World Cup holders Argentina beat Honduras 2-0 on Saturday as Lionel Messi was left out as he recovers from a strain in his hamstring (More); Messi is training with the Argentina squad, although his return date remains unclear (More)
> The NWSL has announced its May team of the month; eight teams are represented, while the Utah Royals have three players included (More)
Rest of the World
> Algeria have extended the contract of national team coach Vladimir Petkovic until 2028, with the previous deal due to expire after the tournament (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Friday’s Poll: Will Andoni Iraola be a success as Liverpool head coach?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👍 Yes (62%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅♂️ Nope (33%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (5%)
Your punditry takes:
👍 T.C: “At Bournemouth, he showed us that an attack-first offence and a get-the-ball-back-now defence (Klopp's gegenpressing) works. In his first interview, Iraola said he understands that being a part of Liverpool is more than just what happens on the field; it is a whole culture, and he wants to learn and even adapt to earn the respect of Liverpool fans. He also said he wants to be both cold-headed (his words) and analytical, while also being passionate and emotional. Remember, he is a Basque. His last name is a Basque combination of ‘fern’ and ‘iron’, flexible, but tough as nails. I hope that describes him.”
🙅♂️ R.M: “No, I think he is jumping into a career opportunity of a lifetime, but the timing is not optimal. He is a very talented manager, but this is akin to hiring Ruben Amorim at United. Young and talented, but not prepared for the onslaught of media and supporter group attention and criticism that will follow at every moment of struggle. It will change a person and, in some cases, break them.”
✍️ E.J.S: “Liverpool is Liverpool. It's hard not to be successful there. But this is a man with little experience coaching football at the highest level, regardless of his playing pedigree, so it is a big step up. It may come down to how you define 'success'. Qualifying for Europe? Or winning the Prem and other major trophies? He should have some success, but a coach without experience winning the big trophies could also struggle.”
EXTRA TIME
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Messi’s signature boots revealed for the World Cup.
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16 players who could get a big transfer in Europe next season.
Why do Latvia’s best football clubs keep vanishing? (video)
GAME FACE ON
Question: Without including the 2026 World Cup, which five nations have hosted the men’s World Cup more than once?
Scroll below for the answer.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
If you tell me Ronaldo lacks natural talent or Messi hasn't put in the work, it means you’ve never in your life laced up your boots to train day in and day out.
Answer
Mexico. Italy. France. Germany. Brazil.
