Trouble brews in the run up to every global, mega sporting event — such as buses not running on time, or venues seemingly not ready for action. But it melts away when the games begin. But what lasts?
The pandas correctly predicted that Argentina would beat Croatia in the first semifinal match last, and they also rightly chose France over Morocco. Now, they predict Argentina will win the final.
Vinod Kumar of India and Anish Adhikari of Nepal are among the many migrant workers who helped build the stadiums. Adhikari says he was misled about working conditions. Kumar died on the job.
Ever since FIFA awarded the world's biggest sporting event to Qatar in 2010, the soccer tournament has been clouded by bribery, migrant deaths and questions about the country's human rights record.
In an extraordinary opening news conference before the World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the host country's decision to ban beer at stadiums and Qatar's human rights record.
The World Cup starts with host country Qatar playing against Ecuador on Sunday. Here's everything you need to know about how to catch the tournament's 64 matches.
Just two days before the World Cup is set to kick off, FIFA announced that only non-alcoholic beer will be sold at the 64 matches in Qatar. The tournament is sponsored by Budweiser.
Blatter, who has long said he voted for the United States, made the admission in his first major interview since being acquitted in July of financial misconduct at FIFA.
Up to 1,600 fans of qualifying teams will be put up for at least two weeks to join the opening ceremony and promote positive social media content about the soccer tournament and the host nation.
The seizure of data from the former leader of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan is part of a probe that has ensnared a former ambassador who pleaded guilty to charges of illegal foreign lobbying.
Students and faculty with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music flew last week from Doha to Lisbon, where they will start their new lives and reconstitute their celebrated academy in exile.
"We want to prove to everyone forever that we respect humanity," Taliban spokesman Muhammad Naeem Wardak told NPR in Doha, Qatar. He also said women "must have the right to education and to work."
Saudi Arabia is putting on the Formula One Grand Prix this weekend. And China is hosting the Winter Olympics. Both countries face major accusations of rights abuses — and sportswashing.
