Football politics – War Watch

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I was jailed for speaking out about the treatment of workers at the Qatar World Cup. I am still being punished | Abdullah Ibhais
ByAbdullah Ibhais June 8, 2026

The 2022 football tournament cost me my freedom for three years. This year, I’ve lost my passport, safety and perhaps moreWhat I saw in a town called Al-Shahaniyah on the outskirts of Doha, the capital of Qatar, seven years ago broke every rule and hum…

Read More I was jailed for speaking out about the treatment of workers at the Qatar World Cup. I am still being punished | Abdullah Ibhais
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Fifa | Football | Football politics | Gaza | Gianni Infantino | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Sport | US-Israel war on Iran | World Cup | World Cup 2026

Will Iran play at the 2026 World Cup? Explaining the state of play
ByMatt Hughes March 13, 2026

US-Israel war with Iran has implications in the sports world, with a war of words involving Fifa leaving the team’s status unclearIran’s participation in this summer’s World Cup appears to change on an almost hourly basis. Donald Trump caused more conf…

Read More Will Iran play at the 2026 World Cup? Explaining the state of play
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Fifa | Football politics | Gaza | Global development | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia and sport | Workers' rights | World Cup 2034 | World news

Family of worker killed on Saudi World Cup site still waiting for compensation a year on
ByPete Pattisson and Imran Mukhtar in Mansehra February 11, 2026

Lengthy delays in compensation are ‘emblematic’ of what many relatives of migrant workers go through in the Gulf kingdom, say rights groupsWhen Mohammad Arshad fell to his death while constructing the first new stadium for the 2034 World Cup in Saudi A…

Read More Family of worker killed on Saudi World Cup site still waiting for compensation a year on
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Communities | Donald Trump | Football | Football politics | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Maccabi Tel Aviv | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Politics | Sport | Uefa | UK news

Wednesday briefing: Making sense of the Maccabi Tel Aviv saga, where law and disorder fumbled with fandom
ByArchie Bland October 22, 2025

In today’s newsletter: Inside a tortuous political saga where fandom and antisemitism once again became a political footballGood morning. In the end, the decision that capped the controversy over the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending their away ma…

Read More Wednesday briefing: Making sense of the Maccabi Tel Aviv saga, where law and disorder fumbled with fandom
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Fifa | Football | Football politics | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Sport | Uefa

Fifa banned Russia from international football. Now it must do the same for Israel
ByJules Boykoff September 25, 2025

As Israel inflicts untold misery on Palestinians, it is time for football’s governing bodies to stand by the principles they claim to upholdWhen Israel takes the pitch against Norway on 11 October for their 2026 World Cup qualifier, the most important …

Read More Fifa banned Russia from international football. Now it must do the same for Israel
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Fifa | Football | Football politics | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Maccabi Tel Aviv | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Sport | Uefa | World Cup | World Cup 2026 | World Cup 2026 qualifiers | World news

Israel’s future in Uefa could come to a head before October World Cup qualifiers
ByPaul MacInnes September 25, 2025

National team and club sides could face suspensionNext Uefa international break begins on 6 OctoberUefa could decide as early as next week whether to suspend Israel from its competitions, with the governing body facing growing pressure from inside and …

Read More Israel’s future in Uefa could come to a head before October World Cup qualifiers