Why Australia’s politicians are skipping out on the Socceroos

CANBERRA, Australia — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a Sydney audience Thursday that he’d urge state governors to declare a weeklong holiday if Australia wins the World Cup. Albanese’s enthusiasm for the Socceroos’ prospects — when Australia plays Egypt in their first knockout match — isn’t shared by many of his colleagues: POLITICO approached a…

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Police unamused by Starmer’s 5 am pub call

LONDON — Not everyone is happy that Prime Minister Keir Starmer decided to keep pubs open until 5 a.m. Monday for screenings of the England match against Mexico. The National Police Chiefs’ Council complained that the “late announcement” means officers will be removed from other duties and work longer hours, despite the World Cup fixtures…

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Trump holds the golden tickets

When FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the Oval Office last August, he presented President Donald Trump with a giant oversized ticket to the World Cup final. It turns out 10 real ones accompany it, raising anticipation around the White House for a much-coveted invitation to the July 19 match at MetLife Stadium, not far from…

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Spot the pol!

This world leader visited his team’s dressing room after an epic victory that helped send them to the elimination rounds. That’s Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who paid the team a visit after their 6-0 win against Qatar in Vancouver on June 18. Canada plays Morocco in Houston on Saturday. ​Politics

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Is a fan march better than a Super Bowl parade?

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has participated in three Super Bowl parades and one World Series parade celebrating his hometown Chiefs and Royals. None compared to when Netherlands fans marched through downtown Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of their team’s June 25 game at Arrowhead Stadium. “It is special and different,” Lucas said, with a politician’s…

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Egyptian coach smooths over issues with Dallas police

DALLAS — Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan said he has no issue with the Dallas Police Department after an officer had a brief altercation with the coach’s brother, team manager Ibrahim Hassan. “Incidents like that happen, of course,” Hassan said in a press conference after Egypt’s shootout victory over Australia. “We have nothing to follow up…

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