Lookman a doubt for Atletico ahead of Champions League semifinal against Arsenal. Eze set to return

MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid could be without striker Ademola Lookman when it takes on Arsenal looking to return to the Champions League final for the first time in a decade.

Arsenal, trying to get back to the final two decades later, is expected to have attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze available for Wednesday's match.

Atletico and Arsenal will meet at the Metropolitano stadium in the first leg of the semifinals, seeking their first Champions League title.

Lookman has been key for Atletico since arriving from Atalanta this year, but he missed the last two games because of a muscle issue from the Copa del Rey final on April 19.

He practiced with the rest of the squad in the last few days and seemed ready to make his return. But Atletico coach Diego Simeone said on Tuesday the Nigeria striker was still a doubt to start at Metropolitano.

“We'll see if he recovers well tomorrow,” said Simeone, who turned 56 on Tuesday. “He still has some discomfort.”

Lookman has seven goals for Atletico since arriving, one of them in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona, when Atletico advanced 3-2 on aggregate.

“His arrival has made a very positive impact on the team,” Simeone said. “He brings new things to our attack. He has been working much better in the defensive phase as well.”

The 28-year-old Lookman said it's been great to have the trust of Simeone and acknowledged he has improved in all areas under the coach.

“My all-around game has improved,” he said. “Definitely, my defensive side of the game has also improved, which has allowed me to be more of a complete player who can help the squad even more.”

Lookman, who was born in London, signed with Atletico in February. He played for Fulham and Leicester before joining Atalanta in 2022. He also previously played for Leipzig and Everton.

“Atleti is one of the biggest clubs in the world, with top players,” he said. “The team is amazing, the squad is amazing, so it's a blessing to be here. The work that we've shown together has been amazing, so its been great.”

Atletico is playing in its fourth Champions League semifinal since Simeone arrived in late 2011. It lost finals to Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016.

“It’s extraordinary that Atletico is in a semifinal again, the fourth in 14 years," Simeone said. "We’re playing against a great team, but we’ll go for it.”

He said winning the title was “not pressure, it’s responsibility.”

“It’s a huge objective, something the club has never achieved," Simeone said. "But it’s a soccer match and, ultimately, it’s the players who decide these games.”

Kai Havertz has been ruled out. The Germany international was substituted in the first half of Arsenal’s win over Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday because of a muscle problem. Jurrien Timber also won’t make it to Wednesday’s match.

Arsenal’s only previous final was in 2006 when it lost to Samuel Eto’o’s Barcelona. The London club was eliminated by eventual champion Paris Saint-Germain in last year’s semifinals.

“What an opportunity and we’re going to grab it with both hands,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said. “We have shown in Europe at any ground what we are capable of. We have to play with that confidence and that desire.”

Arteta called Simeone “an absolute role model.”

“A lot of the work he’s carried out, he has transformed the club in 15 years," said Arteta, a Spaniard. "The way he has done it, I have always had admiration for these kind of people. He is very connected to the club.”

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Arsenal's Eberechi Eze during a training session in London, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi during a training session in London, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli during a training session in London, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone reacts during the Copa del Rey final soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad in Seville, Spain, Saturday, April. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Sociedad's Jon Aramburu, left, and Mikel Oyarzabal, centre right, challenge for the ball with Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman during the Copa del Rey final soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad in Seville, Spain, Saturday, April. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

VANCOUVER, B.C. (AP) — Representatives from Iran's soccer federation were not present Tuesday at the largest formal meeting of Asia's soccer leaders before this summer's World Cup.

In the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, there was no discussion at the Asian Football Confederation Congress about Iran's participation in the tournament or whether the team's games should be moved out of the United States because of the conflict between the two nations.

There have been concerns that visa issues could impact the Iranian delegation's ability to travel to both Tuesday's confederation meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the overall FIFA Congress on Thursday, as well as the World Cup starting on June 11. The 48-team tournament is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

It was not clear if visa issues prevented Iranian representatives from attending the AFC Congress. However, as the nine AFC teams that qualified for the World Cup were presented with commemorative gifts, it was announced that Iran would receive its token “once they arrive.”

An Iranian government spokesperson said last week that the national team was preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the United States.

FIFA, soccer's international governing body, has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup game schedule decided last December, before the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on Feb. 28, and has refused to entertain suggestions that the team's games be moved to Mexico.

“Now even more, now that the world is going through a very, very delicate, difficult, dangerous time with many conflicts, and many of you are directly affected and involved in these conflicts,” Infantino told the AFC leaders. “Now even more, we need to find ways to build these famous bridges, or maybe to build football fields instead. And to build competitions where people can join and come together.”

Iran is in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt. Iran’s planned training camp would be in Tucson, Arizona, and the team opens the World Cup on June 15 against New Zealand in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles.

Iran goes on to play Belgium in Inglewood on June 21 before facing Egypt in the final group match in Seattle on June 26.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, presents President Donald Trump with the new FIFA Club World Cup official ball in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, March 7, 2025. (Jim Watson/Pool Photo via AP, file)

FILE - Iran's Mehdi Taremi shoots a penalty kick to score his side's second goal during a friendly soccer match between Iran and Costa Rica, in Antalya, southern Turkey, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Riza Ozel, File)