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World Cup

The beautiful game, the ugly politics: How the world's cruelest regimes used the World Cup to sell their rule

From Mussolini's bribery campaign and Argentina's junta-driven quest for glory to Kim Il Sung's four-word command and Saddam Hussein's torture of defeated players, dictators have long used the World Cup as a powerful tool to strengthen their grip on power

Zeev Avrahami, Berlin | 05.31.26

High prices, empty hotels: US fears World Cup sticker shock will deter fans

Hospitality industry expected record occupancy, raised prices and banked on billions in tourism, but soaring ticket prices, less attractive teams and Trump-era politics have left rooms empty as fans seek cheaper motels and Airbnbs outside cities

Tzippy Shmilovitz, New York | 05.26.26

Reason for concern? Lionel Messi injured less than 3 weeks before World Cup

Argentina captain leaves 6-4 MLS thriller holding his left leg, though Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos says he was only exhausted

ynet | 05.25.26

This is the most technologically advanced World Cup ever, and AI is playing a major role

All players will enter a special scanner so they can be easily identified; AI will signal linesmen about offside within milliseconds; Replays will be broadcast from angles we've never seen before and referees will have cameras on their ears

Tzippy Shmilovitz in New York | 05.25.26

Ebola crisis in Congo raises fears ahead of 2026 World Cup

Less than a month before the 2026 World Cup, Congo’s Ebola outbreak is raising global concern; The team canceled its Kinshasa camp, the US imposed entry restrictions and FIFA is monitoring fears that the crisis could disrupt the summer tournament

ynet | 05.23.26

מראדונה כובש את שער "יד האלוהים" המפורסם

The night of No. 10: Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal returns to the spotlight in new Cannes documentary

Five and a half years after his death, Diego Maradona is back in the Cannes spotlight with The Match, a documentary revisiting Argentina’s charged 1986 World Cup clash with England; another film examines Eric Cantona’s turbulent rise under Alex Ferguson

Amir Kaminer, Cannes | 05.19.26

Karma? Spain star Lamine Yamal expected to miss start of World Cup due to injury

Barcelona winger reportedly unlikely to play Spain’s opener against Cape Verde and is doubtful for Saudi Arabia clash as he recovers from a hamstring injury

ynet | 05.18.26

World's biggest sporting event: The 2026 World Cup has become a $41 billion growth engine

The international soccer tournament opening next month in the US, Canada and Mexico will be the largest sporting event in history; With 48 teams representing 62% of global GDP, it is expected to spark a digital revolution and break internet consumption records

Gad Lior | 05.18.26

'Cooperating with the enemy': Iran drops star striker from World Cup squad after photo with Dubai ruler

Sardar Azmoun reportedly left off Iran’s World Cup squad after posting a photo with UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed, drawing accusations of 'betrayal' from Iranian media

ynet | 05.17.26

Mural by Hooman Khalili featuring children murdered by the Iranian regime and Hezbollah. the mural was unveiled in Texas, May 14, 2026

Texas mural honors Druze and Iranian children killed by Iran and its proxies

Iranian-American artist Hooman Khalili unveiled the soccer-themed mural near Houston, linking Druze children killed by Hezbollah in Majdal Shams with Iranian children killed in regime crackdowns

The Media Line | 05.15.26

Iran's national team will ruin the World Cup for all of us

Opinion: Excited for the World Cup? Iran is going to ruin the world's most fun tournament with geopolitical discussions, implicit threats and international-level cringing; who cares who sings the anthem or seeks political asylum - we came to watch soccer

Guy Leiba‎‏ | 05.10.26

Hackers look to score at World Cup as Iran cyber threat grows

Experts warn fans may face fake tickets, scam travel packages and malicious streaming apps, as Iran-linked hackers look to exploit the tournament

ynet Global | 05.04.26

Iran will play World Cup matches in the US, FIFA boss says

Iranian Football Federation officials, including Mehdi Taj, turned back at Toronto airport after Canada denied entry to a delegation member over links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, officials said

Reuters | 04.30.26

Iran's World Cup team to dedicate play to schoolgirls killed during war

Team will appear in the tournament under the name Minab 168 to commemorate the attack on a girls' school in the south of the country at the beginning of the war; Iranian reports say 168 people were killed in the incident, which has become a regime propaganda symbol

Lior Ben Ari | 04.29.26

World Cup 2026 is the most expensive sporting event in history—and the data proves it

Secondary market prices average $1,603 per ticket, with the Final commanding $16,094 on average; data reveals the full scale of unprecedented fan demand

ynet Global | 04.28.26

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