News And Events

FIFA Boss Invites Trapped Boys and Coach to World Cup Final

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has invited the Thai boys' football team trapped in a cave to the World Cup final, as messages of support poured in from top players. Infantino said he hoped the Wild Boars team, who were stranded by rising floodwaters two weeks ago, would be rescued in time to watch the final in Moscow on July 15. Representatives for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk are also reportedly in talks with Thai authorities to aid the rescue operation. Authorities say they have a "limited amount of time" to get them out, as they race against worsening weather and lowered oxygen levels in the underground complex. The massive operation inside and around Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai province suffered its first fatality on Friday when a former Thai navy SEAL passed out underwater on an overnight mission and was unable to be revived. The boys, aged 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach went exploring in the cave after a soccer game June 23. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days as the only way to reach them was by navigating a series of dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents. Authorities have been racing to pump out water from the cave before more storms hit the region in the coming days and send water levels rising again. At this time though, the only way for the boys to get out of the cave is by diving, something cave rescue experts warn is extremely dangerous even for those with experience.