The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/fifa/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:09:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png FIFA | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/fifa/ 32 32 Iranian soccer team moves World Cup base camp from US to Mexico https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-soccer-team-moves-world-cup-base-camp-from-us-to-mexico/ Sat, 23 May 2026 22:00:51 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3829094 Iranian Football Federation president says relocation from Arizona to Tijuana resolves potential visa issues amid Middle East tensions; team will enter US for matches through Mexico

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]]> Palestinian soccer chief refuses to shake hands with Israel federation VP at FIFA event https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-soccer-chief-refuses-to-shake-hands-with-israel-federation-vp-at-fifa-event/ Fri, 01 May 2026 05:22:40 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3814254 Jibril Rajoub accuses FIFA president of failing to understand 'deep suffering' of Palestinian people after Infantino urged the two to 'give hope to the children'; Israel's rep had said, 'We are proud of their squads and our squads'

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]]> FIFA head says Iran will ‘for sure’ participate in soccer World Cup in US https://www.timesofisrael.com/fifa-head-says-iran-will-for-sure-participate-in-soccer-world-cup-in-us/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:09:26 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3803256 'Iran has to come, they represent their people,' Gianni Infantino says, while Trump has previously suggested Iranian players might not be safe on American soil

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]]> FIFA fines Israeli soccer for fans’ racism, but lets teams from settlements compete https://www.timesofisrael.com/fifa-fines-israeli-soccer-for-fans-racism-but-lets-teams-from-settlements-compete/ Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:06:45 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3782792 Governing body orders Israel Football Association to crack down on Beitar Jerusalem and others, but declines to weigh in on 'complex matter' of West Bank's legal status

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]]> Mexico’s president offers to host Iran’s 2026 World Cup matches instead of US https://www.timesofisrael.com/mexicos-president-offers-to-host-irans-2026-world-cup-matches-instead-of-us/ Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:48:40 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3780508 Iran's soccer federation says it's in talks to relocate matches due to war and security concerns; FIFA says no changes have been made to the match schedule

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]]> Iran soccer team’s 2026 World Cup place in US put in doubt by Middle East war https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-soccer-teams-2026-world-cup-place-in-us-put-in-doubt-by-middle-east-war/ Tue, 03 Mar 2026 04:43:02 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3767308 FIFA has Iraq next in line should the Islamic Republic withdraw, in which case it would be fined and forego at least $10.5 million from the global soccer federation

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]]> FIFA chief awards ally Trump the body’s inaugural peace prize after Nobel miss https://www.timesofisrael.com/fifa-chief-awards-ally-trump-the-bodys-inaugural-peace-prize-after-nobel-miss/ Fri, 05 Dec 2025 20:03:00 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3705682 At 2026 World Cup draw, Gianni Infantino gives president 'beautiful medal,' gold trophy and certificate hailing work to 'promote peace and unity around the world'

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]]> Iran to attend World Cup draw in US after boycott threat over visa issues https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-to-attend-world-cup-draw-in-us-after-boycott-threat-over-visa-issues/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:48:19 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3704721 Decision to participate comes days after team president informed FIFA it wouldn't go because the United States refused to grant visas to several members of the delegation

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]]> FIFA teams up with Switzerland to fund soccer fields for Palestinians in West Bank https://www.timesofisrael.com/fifa-teams-up-with-switzerland-to-fund-soccer-fields-for-palestinians-in-west-bank/ Thu, 27 Nov 2025 19:16:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3699265 Swiss government gives $149,000 to construction of community 'FIFA arenas,' following organization chief's pledge to to 'help rebuild all football facilities in Gaza and Palestine'

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]]> FIFA fines Italy, Norway soccer federations for incidents involving anti-Israel fan https://www.timesofisrael.com/fifa-fines-italy-norway-soccer-federations-for-incidents-involving-anti-israel-fan/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:44:16 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3683427 Both federations face charges relating to disturbance of national anthems, spectators invading field of play and 'order and security' at games, FIFA says

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]]> FIFA announces new peace prize to be awarded at December’s World Cup soccer draw in DC https://www.timesofisrael.com/fifa-announces-new-peace-prize-to-be-awarded-at-world-cup-soccer-draw-in-washington/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:11:27 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3682033 Award's announcement doesn't name its recipients, but comes as US President Donald Trump, who has a close relationship with FiFA's chief, was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize

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]]> Israel, UK leaders slam decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Aston Villa match https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-uk-leaders-slam-decision-to-bar-maccabi-tel-aviv-fans-from-aston-villa-match/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 20:50:59 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3667151 Anti-Israel local MP celebrates; Starmer: 'This is the wrong decision'; British police cite 2024 Maccabi game in Amsterdam, where Israelis were attacked by antisemitic mobs

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]]> Egypt says Israel and Hamas approved Palestinian team tapped to govern postwar Gaza https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-says-israel-and-hamas-approved-palestinian-team-tapped-to-oversee-post-war-gaza/ Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:33:49 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3665160 15 Palestinian technocrats will 'take care of daily life' in Gaza, declares Egyptian FM, as UN official says a number of countries have pledged billions needed for reconstruction

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]]> FIFA president urges protesters to keep calm at Israel’s soccer games, amid peace talks https://www.timesofisrael.com/fifa-president-urges-protesters-to-keep-calm-at-israels-soccer-games-amid-peace-talks/ Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:10:17 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3660910 Some 10,000 people expected to protest Israel-Italy match this coming Tuesday; Gianni Infantino hails hostage-truce deal, says 'everyone should support' the negotiations

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]]> FIFA’s Infantino takes no action against Israel, urges soccer to promote peace https://www.timesofisrael.com/fifas-infantino-takes-no-action-against-israel-urges-soccer-to-promote-peace/ Thu, 02 Oct 2025 17:29:06 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3654903 Amid push for Israeli national team to be kicked out of competitions, head of international soccer body says it 'cannot solve geopolitical problems'

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