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FIFA World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino shakes hands with Basim Sheikh Suliman (left), vice president of the Israeli Football Association, as Jibril Rajoub (right), president of the Palestine Football Association, leaves the stage at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Reuters/Jennifer Gauthier)
August 19, 2026, 4:52 pm
Israel pulls support for embattled FIFA chief after World Cup sell-off plan — report
Board of Israel’s soccer governing body said to have voted unanimously to retract earlier endorsement of Gianni Infantino’s reelection bid
By ToI Staff and AFP
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks with US President Donald Trump during the presentation ceremony of the 2026 World Cup football tournament final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026. (Mandel NGAN/AFP)
August 1, 2026, 3:13 pm
UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA’s Infantino after failed plan to privatize World Cup
Kushner-backed $20 billion plan unravels after soccer bodies from Europe, Asia and North America unite in opposition
By AP
FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives at the stadium before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images/AFP)
July 28, 2026, 8:44 pm
FIFA chief’s plan to have $20 billion Kushner-backed outfit run World Cup sparks outcry
European soccer body EUFA says sport’s top tournament ‘not FIFA’s to sell’ after Gianni Infantino reveals project to hand over operations to body he could reportedly lead
By Graham Dunbar
England’s Bukayo Saka shoots for goal during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, July 18, 2026. (AP/Rebecca Blackwell)
July 19, 2026, 3:52 am
Ten-goal thriller: England beats France 6-4 to win World Cup’s third-place playoff
Ostensibly marginal encounter between two teams that failed to make it to the final becomes the highest-scoring World Cup game since 1982
By ToI Staff and Reuters
Referee Raphael Claus of Brazil shows a red card to United States' Folarin Balogun, right, during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, California, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
July 6, 2026, 11:35 am
Trump intervenes to spare US soccer star a World Cup ban, sparking outcry
US president calls FIFA president and close friend Gianni Infantino to urge lifting of red card for Folarin Balogun; ban suspended for a year for first time since 1962, allowing striker to play against Belgium
By Ronald Blum and Michelle L. Price
Hossam Hassan, head coach of Egypt, holds a Palestinian flag after his team's victory through the penalty shootout during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match with Australia, July 3, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (Molly Darlington /Getty Images via AFP)
July 4, 2026, 5:20 pm
Egypt’s manager raises Palestinian flag after World Cup knockout win
Video shows Hossam Hassan holding flag to chants of ‘free free Palestine’; Wimbledon backs Turkish player, says watermelon racket dampener not disruptive to game
By ToI Staff and AP
Ayala Ohana, 12, seen in white shirt, carries the ball at the start of the France-Senegal FIFA World Cup match at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 16, 2026. (Screen captures/ Instagram/Hananel Ohana)
June 17, 2026, 2:05 pm
12-year-old girl with rare disease represents Israel at World Cup
Ayala Ohana, whose struggle with Gaucher has moved hundreds of thousands of followers online, was one of 104 children from around the world chosen to serve as ball carriers
By ToI Staff and Eliana Rosen
People carry a giant pre-revolutionary Iranian flag during a protest in reaction to FIFA's ban on the flag inside World Cup stadiums, June 7, 2026, in Inglewood, California (AP Photo/Benjamin Hanson)
June 15, 2026, 9:25 am
Torn Iranian Americans plan protests, watch parties for team’s World Cup opener
Many are upset over FIFA rule barring pre-revolution lion-and-sun flag from stadiums; one fan says tournament doesn’t represent the people of Iran: ‘This is Team Islamic Republic’
By Amy Taxin
President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub is seen after speaking during the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Don MacKinnon / AFP)
June 12, 2026, 3:19 pm
Palestinian soccer chief says US, Canada haven’t granted him visa to attend World Cup
Senior Palestinian Authority official Jibril Rajoub decries move as unfair, after attending soccer championship’s opening match in Mexico
By SAM METZ
A man wearing a shirt bearing Iran's national soccer team logo blows a plastic trumpet during a pro-government gathering in support of Iran's World Cup team at Islamic Revolution Square in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
June 7, 2026, 8:44 am
War and economic hardship dampen World Cup excitement in Iran
Iranians say it’s difficult to get excited about a soccer tournament in a year that has seen so much suffering, especially when it’s being hosted by a country they are at war with
By Majid Sourati and Ahmad Parhizi
Iran's forward Sardar Azmoun celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup semi-final football match between Iran and Qatar at al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on February 7, 2024 (Karim Jaafar / AFP)
March 20, 2026, 9:13 am
Iranian soccer star Azmoun kicked off national team for perceived disloyalty – reports
Striker, who plays in UAE, said to have angered authorities with Instagram photo of a meeting with Dubai’s ruler, is now unlikely to participate in World Cup
By Reuters
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during her daily press conference at the Women's Oncology Hospital in Mexico City on March 9, 2026. (Yuri CORTEZ / AFP)
March 17, 2026, 9:48 pm
Mexico’s president offers to host Iran’s 2026 World Cup matches instead of US
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
By AFP
Iran is illuminated on the screen during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP)
March 10, 2026, 9:55 pm
Iran suggests men’s soccer team will skip World Cup after several in women’s team defect
Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian Football Federation, claims members of women’s team in Australia were ‘taken hostage’ after they applied for asylum in Australia
By AFP
Iran's Mehdi Taremi shoots the ball during the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifier group A soccer match between Iran and North Korea, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
March 3, 2026, 6:43 am
Iran soccer team’s 2026 World Cup place in US put in doubt by Middle East war
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
By Graham Dunbar
Iranian players pose for a photo ahead of a friendly soccer match between Russia and Iran at Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia, October 10, 2025. (AP)
December 9, 2025, 2:12 pm
Iran objects to ‘Pride Match’ branding of World Cup soccer game against Egypt
Iranian Football Federation chief denounces as ‘irrational’ plan by host city Seattle to dedicate June 2026 match in support of the LGBTQ community; Egyptians also unhappy
By AFP
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