FIFA World Cup

Voices from the Arab press: The Red Sea, redrawing the war map

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.

SATELLITE VIEW shows vehicles at an entrance to Pickaxe Mountain tunnels, near Natanz nuclear facility, in Iran, June 21.
A picture taken on April 20, 2018 shows the House of European Football, the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, where the French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had a hearing on UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations.

UEFA boycotts World Cup over FIFA plan to sell tournament stakes to investors

Liverpool's Hungarian defender #06 Milos Kerkez controls the ball during the friendly football match between Liverpool and Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York, on July 29, 2026.

Antisemitism in UK soccer jumps 43% as total discrimination reports hit record high

Mohamed Salah and teammates of Egypt complain to referee Francois Letexier during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt on July 7.PremiumPremium

When Arabs lose in the World Cup, the Jew is summoned as the hidden hand - opinion


Three people die from suffocation during World Cup celebrations in Mexico

Earlier in the week, one person was killed and another seriously injured on Sunday in a shooting at a popular entertainment spot in San Jose, California, that has been hosting a World Cup "fan zone."

Mexican fans celebrate a World Cup victory in Mexico City, June 24, 2026; illustrative.

Roots, Ronaldo, and regional rivalries: How Israelis choose their World Cup favorites

Israelis, without a team of their own in the football tournament, are adopting other nations to root for during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Israeli kids watch a World Cup match between Portugal and Uzbekistan at an outdoor screening in Jaffa, June 23, 2026.

US security official celebrates Iran's exit from World Cup with 'happy dance'

The Iranian team barely missed out on reaching the knockout rounds of the tournament.

US Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) touches the shoulder of US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin as he testifies at a House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, June 25, 2026.

One killed, one wounded in shooting at site of California World Cup fan zone

There were no World Cup games being screened at the time of the shooting, with the only match of the day in the tournament finishing around 2 p.m. local time.

FOOTBALL FANS gather to watch USA and Paraguay at San Pedro Square for a FIFA World Cup watch party on June 12, 2026 in San Jose, California.

Time to go home: Iran's World Cup dream ends after Austria's last-gasp equalizer sends them out

Uncertainty over visas and Iran's conflict with the US meant the team had to commute from their tournament base in co-host Mexico to the United States for their three group games.

Iran's Shoja Khalilzadeh scores a goal past Egypt's Mostafa Shoubir that was later disallowed, June 26, 2026.

TSA reminds European World Cup fans: Ranch dressing is a liquid, cannot go in carry-on luggage

For those unaware, Ranch is a creamy condiment made from a blend of dairy and mayonnaise, mixed with herbs and spices. Its consistency is liquid, meaning it is not permitted in carry-on luggage.

Hidden Valley Ranch.

US seizes nearly 400 websites that were illegally streaming World Cup, DOJ says

Servers and domains linked to the unauthorized streaming of the tournament's matches were targeted in Peru and Bulgaria, with additional disruptions in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia.

Alex Baena #15 of Spain celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Uruguay and Spain at Guadalajara Stadium on June 26, 2026; Illustrative.

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, remember: Jewish players need serious rabbinical advice - opinion

We are by far the most irritating people on the planet. With such a reputation, the FIFA World Cup should be child’s play. So, why are we not even in the running?

CLOSE, PERSONAL friend: Famous Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff, inside Amsterdam’s Ajax Arena Stadium.

FIFA gives green light for rainbow flags at Egypt v Iran World Cup clash

Friday's group game falls on Seattle's Pride weekend, a scheduling quirk that emerged only after December's draw pitted the two Muslim-majority countries against each other.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 24: A general view of the game during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar at Seattle Stadium on June 24, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.

Cape Verde, the FIFA World Cup 2026 underdog with unexpected Moroccan Jewish roots

According to the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project, Sephardi Jews from Morocco and Gibraltar settled in Cabo Verde in the mid-19th century, after Portugal abolished the Inquisition in 1821.

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group H - Uruguay v Cape Verde - Fans gather in Praia - Praia, Cape Verde - June 21, 2026 Cape Verde fans pose for a photograph during the match screening