Soccer

Jerusalem Jane: When a soccer league honors ‘martyrs,’ the world should stop turning a blind eye

Soccer is rarely something that we connect with terrorists, hatred, or incitement, unless it comes to the Palestinians. 

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Semi Final - England v Argentina - Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US - July 15, 2026 Argentina's Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul celebrate after the match.
The fixture is shown on the screen ahead of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Aston Villa FC and Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC at Villa Park on November 06, 2025 in Birmingham, England.

Ex UK police chief, three others investigated over handling of Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Aston Villa

NIV YEHOSHUA (in red) and Hapoel Beersheba came oh-so-close to reaching the Champions League, before falling to Rahman Dashdamirov (5) and Sabah FK 6-4 on aggregate after extra time in Azerbaijan late Tuesday night.

Hapoel Beersheba suffers agonizing Champions League exit after Sabah FK overtime loss

Bnei Sakhnin midfielder Modestas Vorobjovas (in yellow) and Maccabi Netanya’s Aziz Ouattara (8) vie for the ball during their teams’ season-opening goalless draw.

Israeli Premier League season opens with goals, drama and off-field concerns


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Gali

Iranian-Americans call on FIFA to expel Iran from World Cup

Another protester said the players were being used like tools to help the Iranian government look good on the world stage and that the players deserved little pity.

A general view of FIFA World Cup 2026 signage at Kansas City Stadium on June 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Iran threatens to stop World Cup games if faced with unauthorized flags or slogans

Iran’s sports minister has warned FIFA that the team could halt matches if unauthorized flags are displayed or political chants heard in stadiums, raising tensions ahead of the tournament.

Members of Iran's national soccer team attend a farewell ceremony ahead of their departure to the 2026 World Cup in Tehran, Iran, May 13, 2026.

Iran seizes exiled soccer star Ali Karimi's villa, assets over alleged Israel ties

Karimi, who is currently living in exile in the United States, became a major voice of anti-regime protests in 2022. This is not the first time his assets have been seized by the regime.

Iran's Ali Karimi speaks during a pre-match news conference during the 2007 AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament in Kuala Lumpur July 14, 2007.

Former soccer player Haim Sirotkin sentenced to one year in prison for running over protesters

The court convicted him of reckless and negligent conduct involving a vehicle, finding that while he did not intend to hit the protesters, he knowingly accelerated his car and disregarded risks.

 Haim Sirotkin, driver who is suspected of running over protesters last night during a demonstration calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip and against the current Israeli government, arrives for a court hearing at the Magistrate's Court in Tel Aviv on April 7, 2024.

World Cup referee from Somalia denied entry to US

Omar Artan was the only Somalian referee on FIFA's World Cup list, with the nation on the US list of "fully suspended" countries for entry.

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 match between Equatorial Guinea and Guinea at Alassane Ouattara Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Danish soccer player Eriksen collapses for second time in career, is conscious, DR reports

Danish soccer player Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch in a match against Ukraine on Sunday, but was conscious, public broadcaster DR reported.

Danish soccer player Christian Eriksen, pictured May 21, 2026.

World Cup 2026: Why millions of Iranians refuse to cheer for the regime’s team - opinion

When a state actively wages war against the core pillars of a country’s heritage, any institution operating under its direct banner loses its national legitimacy. 

Official FIFA World Cup 2026 host city poster collection. Toronto, Canada.

Members of Iranian soccer staff wait to receive US visas ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

Ten days before their opening match, five Iranian soccer players have recieved US visas, whilst journalists from Africa and Iran were denied the visas needed to cover the World Cup in the US

A MAN gestures as people gather at a farewell ceremony for Iran’s national soccer team ahead of their departure to the 2026 World Cup, in Tehran, in May 2026.

Iraq World Cup star Aymen Hussein detained at Chicago airport, team photographer barred

Hussein was finally allowed in, but the team's photographer was barred from entering the US, said the official, who works for the Iraqi Olympic Committee and has close contacts with the team.

 Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Final - Iraq v Bolivia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026 Iraq's Aymen Hussein arrives before the match.