Boss, sit down and grab something strong, because I've got news that'll make you forget about price hikes and our two-bit politics! The US and Iran national football teams could face off in Dallas on July 3, 2026, one day before the 250th anniversary of America's Declaration of Independence. Yeah, right while they're killing each other, these guys are duking it out on the pitch! If both make it out of their groups, the match is in North Texas. Can you imagine the atmosphere? Bigger than FCSB vs Dinamo, but with rockets instead of flares!
Now check out the stats: The US and Israel attacked Iran about three months ago. Relations are more tangled than the cables on my 2008 BMW. The two national teams have met before at the World Cup: in '98 Iran won 2-1, and in 2022 the US won 1-0 with a goal from Christian Pulisic. Now, if they meet again, it'll be a match with more tension than a meeting with the taxman!
But wait, here comes our part of the world! Dan Șucu, that shareholder at Genoa, opened a football academy in Muscat, Oman, exactly 300 km from Iran, separated only by the Strait of Hormuz. And he's already signed a young Omani, Suhayb Al-Kharusi, 20 years old. While we're arguing over Ioana's allowance, this guy is scouting talent in a war zone! Genoa wants to discover wonder kids, but I say bring some players from Berceni, because that's a conflict zone during rush hour too!
The conflict between the US and Iran continues, peace talks are stalled. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman told CNN the problem is the White House's "contradictory" positions. Chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned they will break the US-imposed naval blockade, which he calls a war crime. Trump, for his part, says the blockade stays until peace. Same at my place: Mioara blocks my card until I make peace with my mother-in-law!
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resisted Trump's pressure to stop attacks. The Israeli army struck military targets in western and central Iran, and Tehran announced a temporary halt to operations against Israel but warns it will resume the offensive if aggression in southern Lebanon doesn't stop. The European Union sanctioned Iran for restricting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and Kaja Kallas called for restraint. Come on, I have more restraint with my shawarma than they have with war!
Now for the macabre part: 100 days after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed in an attack on his office in Tehran, Iran still hasn't buried him. The delay is unusual for Shia tradition and fuels speculation about the state of the remains and about successor Mojtaba Khamenei, who hasn't appeared in public since the attack. Officials promise a massive funeral at the end of the month, in several cities, with the final burial in Mashhad. Bro, if they can't bury him after 100 days, it's like waiting for my money from the Romanian state: takes forever!
In the meantime, I'm getting ready for the match. I'll watch Iran-USA at Fane's terrace, with a beer and a bet on a draw. Who pays? Me, as usual!
