Beirut, Lebanon — (AFP): Football fans looking for a respite from Lebanon’s crushing economic crisis have found it challenging to simply watch the World Cup. The state after having gone bankrupt has failed to pay for broadcasting rights. “No football this year,” said Jean Bassil angrily, flicking through channels on his...
TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Opponents of the Iranian regime took to the streets to show their joy after Iran lost to the US on Tuesday in the World Cup in Qatar. Images circulating on social media show groups across Iran taking to the streets and celebrating the defeat by chanting slogans and setting off fireworks. […]
ANKARA (AA) – Former German forward and football pundit Sandro Wagner has apologized for his disparaging remark during a 2022 FIFA World Cup match when he characterized a traditional Qatari men’s garment as “bathrobes.” “It was an ill-considered saying with an inappropriate remark that I would be better off not sa...
BRUSSELS/AMSTERDAM (AA) – Riots erupted in Belgium’s capital and several Dutch cities on Sunday after Morocco beat Belgium in a World Cup match. Following their team’s upset win, Moroccan fans in Brussels drove around the city in a peaceful celebration, honking their horns. But some people who were covering their faces gathered around Br...
ISTANBUL (AA) – The US football federation briefly displayed Iran’s national flag without the emblem on social media ahead of the World Cup game between the two sides. The federation later restored Iran’s national flag with the emblem, saying “we wanted to show our support for the women in Iran with our graphic for 24 [&helli...
TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Iran has hit out at former German footballer and coach Jurgen Klinsmann, demanding his resignation from the FIFA Technical Study Group for his comments after Iran’s 2-0 win against Wales on Friday. In a statement on Sunday, Iran’s football federation accused Klinsmann of making judgments about Iranian R...
DOHA, Qatar (AA) – The Katara Cultural Village Mosque in Qatar’s capital of Doha has become the focus of attention for World Cup fans who want to know about Islam. Multilingual male and female preachers at the mosque explain the religion and tolerance of Islam to tourists. Electronic boards about Islam in more than 30 […]
ANKARA (AA) – The Iranian football team on Monday refused to sing their national anthem before the match against England in the 2022 FIFA World Cup to protest the death of Mahsa Amini. In addition, some sections of the Iranian fans at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar’s Ar-Rayyan booed their own anthem for the […]
Doha, Qatar (AFP): The World Cup kicked off in Qatar on Sunday as the month-long football showpiece finally got under way after a tortuous 12-year build-up dogged by off-field controversies. Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani was present in the impressive Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, 50 kilometres (31 miles) outside of Doha, to [&hel...
DOHA, Qatar (AA) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended Qatar against what he called “Western hypocrisy” amid criticism of the Gulf country’s treatment of migrant workers. The global tournament is set to open in Qatar on Sunday and will last through December 18. Doha has come under growing European criticism over an a...
