World cup soccer
Iran to boycott World Cup draw over US visa issues
"The Iranian delegation will not be present for the World Cup draw in relation to the latest status of issuing visas for the Iranian delegation", federation spokesman Amir Mehdi Alavi said.
‘We’ll reach a major tournament’: Coach confident despite Israel's exit from World Cup qualifiers
Blue-and-white closes campaign in style: Israel impresses in 4-1 victory in Moldova
Israel national soccer team aims to finish 2026 World Cup qualifiers on a strong note
Cristiano Ronaldo clarifies 'soon' means one or two years before retirement
"I feel very good in this moment. I score goals, I still feel quick and sharp. But of course, let's be honest. What I mean by soon is probably one or two years," he said.
Irish soccer's governing body overwhelmingly backs call for UEFA to ban Israel
If UEFA decided to ban Israel, it would put the organization on a collision course with the government of the US, co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup, which strongly opposes such an action.
FIFA chief welcomes presence of female fans at Iranian Cup match
FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the event an "encouraging development" since women were banned from attending a previous 2022 World Cup qualifier.
Doha clears UK activist Andy Hall of defamation over migrant rights case
A Doha court overturned the 2022 defamation conviction of British activist Andy Hall, clearing him of charges linked to his advocacy for migrant workers’ rights ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Blue-and-white bows out of World Cup race race
Mistakes proved costly in the qualifier in Italy, with a 3-0 defeat officially eliminating the Israelis from contention.
Clashes at pro-Palestinian march against Italy vs Israel FIFA World Cup qualifier
The march was attended by over 5,000 participants according to preliminary police estimates, and preceded the soccer match, which Italy ultimately won 3-0.
Israel set for pivotal World Cup qualifiers against Norway, Italy
With key road tests at Norway and Italy, Ben Shimon’s squad aims to keep World Cup dream alive.
Football cannot solve conflict but carries message of peace, says FIFA's Infantino
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
Israel's refusal to be annihilated shouldn't lead to becoming a boycotted sports pariah - editorial
Calls to ban Israeli teams from European competitions equate Israel with Russia, risking sport becoming a battlefield for politics instead of unity.
Israel, Trump admin working to block UEFA from banning Israel from European soccer
A majority of UEFA member states are currently in favor of suspending the Jewish state, according to sources cited by The Times.
FIFA 2026 world cup draws over 1.5 million ticket requests in 24 hours
Fans registered in the Visa Pre‑Sale Draw, a lottery‑style application that gave applicants a chance to buy tickets during the first phase of sales for the largest edition in World Cup history.