World Cup – War Watch

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Iran to become first World Cup team to play in country with which it is at war
ByRobert Tait in Washington June 12, 2026

Belligerent backdrop to tournament tests Fifa’s ‘football unites the world’ sloganIran will present a major challenge to Fifa’s “football unites the world” slogan on Monday by becoming the first country in World Cup history to compete on the soil of a …

Read More Iran to become first World Cup team to play in country with which it is at war
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 | Qatar | World Cup | World news

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
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President Sheinbaum allows Iran team to stay in Mexico during World Cup after US refusal
ByReuters May 26, 2026

Fifa approached Mexico after US declined to host Iran squad despite it playing group games in the United StatesMexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said on Monday her government agreed to allow the Iranian national football team to stay in Mexico dur…

Read More President Sheinbaum allows Iran team to stay in Mexico during World Cup after US refusal
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
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Executions in Saudi Arabia hit highest number ever in 2025
ByAgence France-Presse in Dubai January 1, 2026

Analysts attribute increase to kingdom’s ‘war on drugs’ as authorities kill 356 people by death penaltySaudi authorities executed 356 people in 2025, setting a new record for the number of inmates put to death in the kingdom in a single year.Analysts h…

Read More Executions in Saudi Arabia hit highest number ever in 2025
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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