‘Relish this moment, forget about the war’: Yemenis on World Cup
2 years ago

‘Relish this moment, forget about the war’: Yemenis on World Cup

Al Jazeera  

For some in the Yemeni capital, the football event provides a welcome break from discussions about the continuing conflict. “Indeed, the World Cup matches are in Doha, but it has disrupted the murky atmosphere here.” Mahdi said his favourite team is usually Brazil, who he expected to progress to the final rounds. “I am addicted to watching football games, especially the World Cup tournament,” Abdulla told Al Jazeera. “ when I browse social media platforms such as Facebook, I see almost all posts discussing the World Cup in Qatar,” he said. “Hosting this event in Qatar is a considerable glory, and the second glory will happen if an Arab country wins the World Cup,” Madhi said.

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History of this topic

After years of war, Yemen’s national football team look ahead in hope
1 year, 2 months ago

After years of war, Yemen’s national football team look ahead in hope

Al Jazeera  

A ceasefire and the first domestic season in years gives Yemen hope as they embark on 2026 World Cup qualifiers. “Progression to the group stage would mean another opportunity to play very demanding, high-quality international matches and would offer very important experience for the players,” Yemen’s coach, Miroslav Soukup, told Al Jazeera. “Sri Lanka have fundamentally strengthened the national team …

Diplomatic victory for Qatar after FIFA World Cup 2022 success
2 years ago

Diplomatic victory for Qatar after FIFA World Cup 2022 success

The Hindu  

Qatar fought a “culture war”, corruption claims and accusations over rights abuses in hosting the FIFA World Cup but experts say the Gulf state has reinforced its image everywhere except parts of Europe. “Qatar has been able to use the World Cup effectively to establish its brand, especially in the Global South,” said Krieg. The World Cup “gave Qatar a …

Special report: Qatar, the World Cup and the war on truth
2 years ago

Special report: Qatar, the World Cup and the war on truth

New York Times  

For a brief few moments it looked like the World Cup was being rigged in real time, amplifying an explosive conspiracy theory seen by millions around the world. We will outline: The London “research centre” which doesn’t exist How ‘Qatar’s rivals’ allegedly pushed to switch this World Cup to the UK The mysterious case of ‘Denmark Uncensored’ Curious conferences, fake …

Arabs unite in celebration as Morocco advances in World Cup
2 years ago

Arabs unite in celebration as Morocco advances in World Cup

Associated Press  

DOHA, Qatar — First Qatar was out, exiting the World Cup with the worst record of a host country. Now, at the first World Cup ever to be held in the Middle East, Morocco is the Arab world’s last hope. Morocco’s success sparked angry street riots in Belgium after a match earlier this week, but on Thursday triggered an outpouring …

US columnist: Qatar World Cup highlights Western double standards
2 years ago

US columnist: Qatar World Cup highlights Western double standards

China Daily  

People stand in a square ahead of the FIFA 2022 World cup soccer tournament at Katara Cultural Village in Doha, Qatar November 15, 2022. Criticisms surrounding Qatar's capacity and worthiness to hold the FIFA World Cup since the tiny Persian Gulf country won the bid has revealed the depths of Western prejudice, performative moral outrage and, perhaps most significantly, gross …

No wins, few fans… Qatar prove it’s time for every side to earn World Cup place
2 years ago

No wins, few fans… Qatar prove it’s time for every side to earn World Cup place

New York Times  

Yesterday marked the midway point of the Qatar World Cup — 32 matches played, 32 remaining. With 10 minutes remaining of Qatar’s World Cup dream today, the stands were around 30 per cent full. Today’s empty seats came on a day when Hassan Al-Thawadi, secretary general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of this World Cup, announced that …

Arab teams turn Qatar World Cup into a ‘home’ tournament
2 years ago

Arab teams turn Qatar World Cup into a ‘home’ tournament

Al Jazeera  

With their unexpectedly good results and shared excitement, Arab fans unite to celebrate their teams’ heroics on the pitch. Doha, Qatar – Like thousands of other Saudi fans, Muhammad al-Dabbagh travelled by car last week to Qatar to watch live the first-ever World Cup to be held in the Middle East. “Had it not been in Qatar,” he said, “it …

Second successive loss puts hosts Qatar out of World Cup
2 years ago

Second successive loss puts hosts Qatar out of World Cup

Hindustan Times  

After successive defeats, Qatar’s World Cup campaign ended earlier than what the hosts would have wanted after Netherlands-Ecuador ended 1-1 taking both to four points. Senegal players celebrate after scoring a goal against Qatar at the FIFA World Cup 2022 Not since South Africa has the home country’s team taken the fastest way to exiting a competition that took years …

Israeli-Palestinian conflict catches up with Qatar World Cup
2 years, 1 month ago

Israeli-Palestinian conflict catches up with Qatar World Cup

Associated Press  

DOHA, Qatar — It was uncharted territory for the Israeli journalist. People were cursing and threatening us.” Palestinian fans from across the Arab world — including descendants of those who fled or were forced from their homes in the 1948 war over Israel’s creation — traipsed through the streets of Doha this week draped in Palestinian flags. A group of …

Yemenis divided over support for Saudi Arabia after World Cup win
2 years, 1 month ago

Yemenis divided over support for Saudi Arabia after World Cup win

Al Jazeera  

Several leaders of the Houthi rebels initially congratulated the Saudi team, before retracting their comments. The Houthis have been actively fighting a war against Saudi Arabia since 2015, with the latter conducting thousands of air attacks in support of the Houthis’ enemy, the Yemeni government. Al-Mortada later explained that his tweet was a message of brotherhood to the people of …

Fans across the Middle East celebrate historic World Cup moment
2 years, 1 month ago

Fans across the Middle East celebrate historic World Cup moment

Al Jazeera  

From cafes in Erbil to pubs in Istanbul and stadiums in Gaza City, fans gathered as the World Cup kicked off in Qatar. “I did not expect that one day an Arab country would host the World Cup,” he told Al Jazeera. “I love, and we are very happy that the World Cup is being held in an Arab country,” …

Qatar’s World Cup denounced for ‘washing’ country’s image
2 years, 1 month ago

Qatar’s World Cup denounced for ‘washing’ country’s image

Associated Press  

Qatar’s decision to launch itself into hosting the 2022 World Cup was a head-scratcher from the start. “The Qatar World Cup kickstarted discussion about sportswashing and human rights in football and it has been very steep learning curve for us all,” Norway soccer federation president Lise Klaveness said at a recent Council of Europe event. Germany’s interior minister also expressed …

Qatar emir slams ‘ferocious’ campaign against World Cup host
2 years, 1 month ago

Qatar emir slams ‘ferocious’ campaign against World Cup host

Al Jazeera  

Sheikh Tamim points to an ‘unprecedented campaign no host country has ever faced’ in the lead-up to the tournament. Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani says his country has faced an “unprecedented campaign” of criticism in the lead-up to this year’s football World Cup. “Since we won the honour of hosting the World Cup, Qatar has been subjected …

Qatar’s World Cup, from the inside out
2 years, 2 months ago

Qatar’s World Cup, from the inside out

Al Jazeera  

The World Cup is about to head to the Middle East for the first time. Malika Bilal: Back in 2010, when it was announced that Qatar would host the 2022 World Cup… Malika Bilal: The country’s residents were thrilled. Malika Bilal: So in addition to being the first in the Middle East, it’s also the first winter World Cup. Tony …

How the Qatar World Cup will highlight Israel’s blockade of Gaza
2 years, 3 months ago

How the Qatar World Cup will highlight Israel’s blockade of Gaza

Al Jazeera  

Gaza City – Palestinian footballer Fadi Jaber was overjoyed when Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Jaber believes FIFA has not made enough effort to support the Palestinian footballers from Gaza to facilitate their careers and travel to Qatar for the World Cup. ‘Global disregard’ Alaa Attia, a 32-year-old footballer, told Al Jazeera that there is …

How football is helping Yemenis cope with the prolonged war
2 years, 6 months ago

How football is helping Yemenis cope with the prolonged war

Al Jazeera  

Unofficial tournaments and street football are where many Yemenis are finding solace amid the continuing conflict. “Yemenis have arranged their own events on makeshift football pitches, which brought back excitement among the crowds and helped them deal with their plights as well as lead to discovering new talents who were then picked up by the club side as well as …

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