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Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMFIFA 2026: Official song slammed as Portugal goes viral
SEN • April 13th, 2026 5:49 pm
World Cup 2026 Weekly news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as we countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
UNOFFICIAL ANTHEMS OF 2026
Apologies to Jelly Roll but the official World Cup song just isn't going to cut it.
"Lighter" - a collaborative offering by the country-rapper and Mexican singer Carin Leon - was released last month and has been universally panned by fans across social media.
So forget the actual World Cup song, there are some absolute bangers doing the rounds.
Brazil, Portugal and France are in a three-way tie for the lead when it comes to best team song.
We don't care if these were AI generated, whoever put them together needs a Grammy.
Simple in their content, all three songs list the big name players set to be named in the squads for the USA with particular nodes to "the kings" Neymar and Ronaldo.
- Warning * these tracks will live in your head rent free for the rest of the year.
PORTUGAL
BRAZIL
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IRAN'S BID TO MOVE MATCHES
Despite the best efforts from Iran, FIFA has rejected the nation’s bid to have its World Cup matches relocated to Mexico amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Iran’s three group matches are scheduled to take place on American soil and nothing will change according to the governing body.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said logistically any relocation of fixtures was not feasible.
“FIFA ultimately decided that the matches cannot be moved from their original venues,” Sheinbaum said.
“It (relocation) would make logistics too complicated, and this decision was taken by FIFA.”
Iran have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
ITALIAN FANS COP IT
It’s been a rough road for the Italian national football team.
For the third consecutive tournament, they will play no part in the World Cup – which could be just as well for the governing body amid claims players were demanding $15,000 bonuses each if they had made the cut.
Across the squad it would have amounted to over $500,000.
According to Italian media outlet La Repubblica, players made the demands before they played Bosnia in their do-or-die qualifying clash earlier this month which they ultimately lost on penalties.
In better news for Italian fans, Canada made an offer to replace the European nation’sa kits with the red and white after the Azzurri failed to make the tournament’s final line-up.
“Don’t wait four more years” Canada Soccer told Italy fans, inviting them to a kit swap in Toronto.
The organisation said: “Canada Soccer is inviting Italian-Canadians to get behind the home team.
“On Saturday 4 April from 10am to 2pm (EST), Canada Soccer will be outside Cafe Diplomatico on College Street in Toronto, offering fans the chance to swap their Italy colours for a Canada jersey and join the momentum heading into the Fifa World Cup 2026.”
“On Saturday 4 April from 10am to 2pm (EST), Canada Soccer will be outside Cafe Diplomatico on College Street in Toronto, offering fans the chance to swap their Italy colours for a Canada jersey and join the momentum heading into the Fifa World Cup 2026.”
A huge queue of fans turned up to take the governing body up on their offer.
FANS PRICED OUT
Some fans won’t be able to watch their teams play at the World Cup and that’s all down to one Donald Trump and a new visa policy.
With the majority of matches slated to be played in the USA, new “visa bonds” have been launched covering 50 countries, many of which will be playing in the World Cup.
Bonds are, in some cases, upwards of $15k US which, when added to the extortionate price of FIFA ticketing, hotels, travel and general costs of being over seas, will rule a large chunk of fans out of attending.
Who says soccer is the world’s game?
Bonds range from $US5k-$US15k and that is per person so if you’re travelling with a family of four you’re looking at a minimum of $US20k.
The bonds apply to 30 African nations, 9 Asian countries, 5 from North America (including the Caribbean and Central America), 5 from Oceania, and 1 from South America.
