Kane will wear One Love armband

QATAR – Harry Kane will defy FIFA and the FA will risk a fine by wearing their One Love armbands tomorrow against Iran after FIFA tried to out flank them yesterday by announcing their own official armband slogan campaign.

The issue of captains’ armbands has been contentious ever since eight UEFA nations, including Germany, Denmark, Wales and Holland, announced they would wear One Love armbands as a sign of their commitment to gay rights and in support of human rights.

FIFA launched their own armband initiative yesterday, with captains in the first round instructed to wear an armband with the slogan #FootballUnitesTheWorld. FIFA are likely to fine nations who veer from official FIFA diktats but will be weighing up how ridiculous they will look if they impose fines of nations over the issue.

The FA have said that they respect FIFA’s initiative, but both them and Wales FA have insisted they will stick with their plan to wear One Love armbands.

QATAR – The partners of England’s World Cup squad have been told to dress modestly when out and about in Qatar.

At least three WAGs have turned to personal stylists to ensure they don’t cause offence in the strict Islamic nation, with low-cut tops and short skirts strictly banned.

Instead, the wives and girlfriends will enjoy evenings out in linen trouser suits and long dresses, with their arms covered to show respect to local tradition in Doha.

QATAR – France are reportedly sweating over the availability of Karim Benzema for their World Cup opener against Australia on Tuesday.

Benzema has endured something of a disrupted season, already having been forced to miss 11 matches for the club and country after enjoying the best season of his career in 202122. Said to be battling two injuries concurrently - a hamstring problem and knee strains - L’Equipe (via Get French Football News) reported that the France medical staff remain unsure over what is causing the issues.

Didier Deschamps, who is likely leading France into his final major tournament, having taken over a decade ago, offered assurances surrounding Benzema’s fitness when he announced the squad on national television.

(Source: Daily Mail) New data from the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) has ranked England as having the most valuable squad in the World Cup, with Jude Bellingham the tournament’s most valuable player. According to the CIES Football Observatory, England’s 26 players in Qatar are worth a combined £1.305 billion (€1.499 billion), with the midfielder making up £176.9 million of that total all by himself. Behind Gareth Southgate’s squad are predictably Brazil, France, Spain and Portugal, who are the only other sides valued at more than £1 billion at the tournament, with Germany’s squad worth only £892.9 million - despite Jamal Musiala’s £132.2 million valuation.