FIFA

FIFA to meet Iran officials in Istanbul over World Cup participation in the US

FIFA will meet Iranian officials in Istanbul to reassure Iran’s national team over World Cup participation, ensuring safe entry amid US and Canada restrictions.

|ByREUTERS
FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Semi Final - New Caledonia v Jamaica - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico, A fan holds up the flag of Iran in the stands before the match. - March 26, 2026.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Preview, Doha, Qatar - November 18, 2022 The FIFA World Cup logo is pictured on the Corniche Promenade ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

White House denies reports of visa issues for Iraq’s World Cup team

The White House has refuted rumors that Iraq's national team players were denied US visas, confirming they are on track for the World Cup with all players cleared to travel.

|ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
DRAW ASSISTANT Tom Brady, Draw assistant Shaquille O’Neal, Co-Conductor Samantha Johnson, FIFA Legend Rio Ferdinand, Draw assistant Aaron Judge and Draw assistant Wayne Gretzky stand on stage as Iran is illuminated on the screen during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw.

Iranian FA says will meet FIFA to seek World Cup assurances in next few days

Canada, which is co-hosting the June 11 to July 19 World Cup with the US and Mexico, said it refused entry to Taj last week because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

|ByREUTERS
US President Donald Trump (L) speaks after receiving the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino (R) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, District of Columbia, USA Dec 5, 2025.

‘Not FIFA’s job’: Norway soccer chief calls to scrap FIFA Peace Prize after Trump award

In December 2025, FIFA awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, with the stated goal of “reward[ing] individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace."

|ByLEO FEIERBERG BETTER

Israel continues historic run at FIFA Under-20, advances to semi-finals

The team dedicated the historic victory to the IDF soldiers murdered in the terrorist attack along the Egyptian border earlier.

JUNE 3, 2023ByJOSH HALICKMAN
FIFA U20 World Cup Argentina 2023 - Quarter Final - Israel v Brazil - Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina - June 3, 2023 Israel's Anan Khalaili celebrates scoring their first goal

Israel reaches FIFA Under 20 World Cup quarterfinals with 0:1 victory

Israel successfully claimed victory just minutes before the end of the match, scoring a goal at the 97th-minute mark.

MAY 31, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ANAN KHALAILI (left) is the latest sporting hero for Israel. The 18-year-old Sakhnin native scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to send the blue-and-white to a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the last-16 of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina

FIFA Under-20 World Cup: Israel beats Japan 2-1 in historic match

Israel will face off against Uzbekistan in the round of 16 on Tuesday night.

MAY 28, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
May 24, 2023 Israel players pose for a team group photo before the match

Palestinian flag causes tension at Israel’s first U-20 World Cup game

On Sunday, Israel lost 2-1 in the first match of the first round of the U-20 World Cup, which features the world’s best soccer talent under 20 years old.

MAY 23, 2023ByJUAN MELAMED/JTA
A demonstrator holding an umbrella with colors of Palestinian flag stands by an Israeli flag during a protest.

U20 National Team kicks off World Cup

After tournament moved to Argentina, blue-and-white grouped with Japan, Colombia and Senegal

MAY 18, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MEMBERS OF the Israel Under-20 National Team take part in an event with the Buenos Aires Jewish community this week prior to the start of the FIFA U20 World Cup.

Soccer body FIFA supports two Israeli sports programs

FIFA renewed its support for a Peres Center for Peace and Innovation program, while for the first time awarding a grant to NPO "The Equalizer."

APRIL 24, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Children in the Peres Center's sports projects.

A corny gesture: Argentina farmer grows cornfield shaped like Lionel Messi's face

An agricultural engineer's algorithm calculated exactly where the seeds should be sown. The result: half a million square meters of Lionel Messi.

APRIL 18, 2023ByWALLA! TOURISM
The face of Argentine football star Lionel Messi is depicted in a corn field sown with a special algorithm to plant seeds in a certain pattern to create a huge visual image when the corn plants grow, in Los Condores, on the outskirts of Cordoba, Argentina January 15, 2023.

Indonesia's anti-Israel prejudice is a diplomatic own goal - editorial

The image that Indonesia projected was not one of a modern, forward-looking nation, but rather, that of a backward state still blinded by anti-Israel prejudice.

APRIL 3, 2023ByJPOST EDITORIAL
People carry placards during a protest against Israel outside the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 21, 2021.

Senior Chinese official investigated for 'serious violations' of law

The investigation of a senior official for suspected serious violations of the law followed a recent anti-corruption investigation of Chinese soccer.

APRIL 1, 2023ByREUTERS
An athlete holds the official ball for the 2008 Beijing Olympics football match during its launching ceremony in Beijing January 26, 2008.

After refusal to host Israel, Indonesia stripped of under-20 soccer World Cup

Indonesia's football federation said it had canceled the draw after the governor of the island of Bali refused to host Israel's team.

MARCH 29, 2023ByREUTERS
People carry placards during a protest against Israel outside the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 21, 2021.