Pilot, gunner of US fighter jet eject over Iran. One rescued, hunt on for the other

US forces launched a search-and-rescue operation before Iran could reach any "survivors", reported The New York Times, citing American and Israeli officials. Sources also told American news website Axios that the aircraft had a two-person crew.

The F15-E has two crew members, including the pilot in the front seat, and a Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) in the back seat.

According Israel's Channel 12, citing a Western source, one of the two American crewmembers onboard the downed F-15E Strike Eagle has been rescued and evacuated from southern Iran.

US President Trump has been briefed on the downing of an American fighter jet, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN, as searchandrescue efforts continue for the aircraft's crew, a pilot and weapons officer.

Iran's Tasnim News Agency and several open-source intelligence handles had earlier reported that at least one American pilot ejected after the jet was shot down over southern Iran.

The fighter jet was reportedly downed by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Friday.

The news agency also reported that there are indications the US forces attempted to extract them from Iranian territory in a combat-search-and-rescue operation.

However, some sources told Tasnim News Agency that at least one pilot has likely been captured by Iranian forces.

US fighter jet crashes in Iran; search launched for 2 crew members

A U.S. fighter jet crashed in southern Iran on Friday, prompting a search and recovery mission for the two-person crew, two U.S. officials said, marking the first known instance of an American aircraft going down inside hostile territory in the month-long conflict.

The fate of the crew was not immediately clear. Also unclear is whether the aircraft was brought down by enemy fire or if an accident or malfunction may have played a role.

کمال خرازی امروز در حمله‌ای یا کشته شده یا به شدت مجروح شده است. زنش اما کشته شد. pic.twitter.com/wqZ6muIoAA

— Rouzbeh Hosseini (@HosseiniRouzbeh) April 1, 2026

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European countries fume over 'extremely unfair' World Cup qualifying

European countries feel that Uefa's mere 16 places in a 48-team World Cup are not enough, amid some disquiet about the nature of having home advantage for play-offs of such immense stakes.

Some senior officials have been describing the latter as "extremely unfair", and feel neutral venues could be explored for the future. It is a situation that could also be influenced by having more teams.

With this World Cup expanding to 48 teams for the first time, Uefa was given a mere three extra places, going up from 13 to 16. It is understood that this has been a long-running issue for European associations, who do not feel that increase is fair representation.

Such arguments have nevertheless fallen on deaf ears so far. Other continents point to how Europe is still by far the best represented continent, with 16 sides, although South America has six of its 10 teams in the competition. Europe has just 16 of 55.

A moral historical point is also made about how this is essentially a correction of decades when European countries dominated representation, and that a greater distribution of places is needed to help develop the game in the rest of the world. The counterpoint to that is that if one of Fifa's aims is to increase revenue for wider good, a bigger European country is likely to be more lucrative than one of the smaller populated Concacaf teams that qualify, and that the entertainment quality of the event would be less diluted. It is also felt that the proportions should be the same as for the Club World Cup.

European countries fume over 'extremely unfair' World Cup qualifying

Iran official grilled on massacres live on TV

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/iran-official-grilled-on-massacres-live-on-tv/vi-AA1ZLHV0?ocid=socialshare

Gianni Infantino insists Iran will play at World Cup despite Donald Trump's 'safety' claims

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has once again insisted that Iran "will play at the World Cup" and that "everything's fine," despite the ongoing conflict with America and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. The war between Iran and Israel and the U.S. is now over a month old and has presented a very obvious problem, with the World Cup now a mere 72 days away.

"We want Iran to play, and Iran will play at the World Cup," he reportedly told Univision. "There is no plan B, C or D – there is only plan A. Iran represent their people – both those living in Iran and those living abroad."

In a separate interview with AFP in Antalya on Tuesday, he added: "Iran will be at the World Cup. That's what we're here for. The matches will be where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.

Gianni Infantino insists Iran will play at World Cup despite Donald Trump's 'safety' claims

جشنواره گل شاگردان قلعه‌نویی مقابل کاستاریکا در حضور اینفانتینو

تیم ملی فوتبال ایران در دومین بازی تدارکاتی خود در ترکیه برابر کاستاریکا به برتری پرگل دست یافت.

رئیس فیفا: ایران تیمی بسیار قوی است و در جام جهانی فوتبال در آمریکا بازی خواهد کرد

 

Iran using children in security roles in war, reports and witnesses say

Last week, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official in Tehran told the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency that the organisation would enrol "volunteers" aged 12 and above.

Eyewitnesses have told the BBC they have seen children, including some armed, in security roles in the capital and other cities.

Foreign-based human rights organisations have also reported Alireza's death. The Kurdish group Hengaw said he was a "fifth-grade student" who was killed while present at a checkpoint in Tehran.