Jun 11 World Cup celebrations clash with social tensions in Mexico By Megan Janetsky, María Verza, Associated Press Mexico kicks off festivities Thursday with a star-studded event, even as some critics say the government has spent too much time and money catering to international visitors at residents' expense. Continue reading
Jun 11 Mexico City installed a chandelier in its metro for the World Cup. Cue the mocking memes By Megan Janetsky, Associated Press The cosmetic makeover that authorities have attempted to give the capital as visitors arrive from around the globe also has become a symbol of criticisms that the government is prioritizing its superficial appearance for World Cup fans over fixing critical… Continue reading
Jun 11 With kickoff hours away, Hong Kong customs officials seize $20 million in World Cup fake goods By Kanis Leung, Associated Press All were destined for overseas markets, with nearly 80% set to be shipped to the Americas, where the World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Continue reading
Jun 11 Haiti has to change its World Cup jersey after being deemed too political By Colleen Barry, Associated Press The jersey, by Colombian sportswear manufacturer Saeta, originally included a depiction of the final battle of the Haitian War of Independence in 1803 on its front. Continue reading
Jun 10 FIFA's Infantino defends World Cup ticket prices, says fans 'should chill' about ref denied US entry By Carlos Rodriguez, Associated Press FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices on Wednesday, saying “if we do something wrong, then probably everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong."… Continue reading
Jun 09 World Cup by the numbers: 1,248 players, 48 teams and 3 countries make this the largest ever By Josh Dubow, Associated Press This marks the second time that the tournament will be played in multiple countries with Japan and South Korea sharing the 2002 edition. Continue reading
Jun 09 The 2026 World Cup has arrived. Here's what to know about the 16 stadiums hosting matches By Associated Press Many of the stadiums have been renamed by FIFA for the duration of the tournament because the companies that paid for the naming rights are not FIFA sponsors. Continue reading
May 23 Iran's soccer federation says its World Cup base camp has been moved to Mexico from the United States By David Brandt, Associated Press The president of the governing body of Iranian soccer said Saturday the nation's World Cup training base has been moved to Mexico from the United States after getting approval from FIFA. Continue reading
Mar 12 Trump discourages Iranian soccer team from attending the World Cup, citing safety concerns By Seung Min Kim, Graham Dunbar, Associated Press Iranian leaders said earlier this week that it’s “not possible” for the country to participate in the World Cup. Continue reading
Mar 04 With 100 days to go, World Cup faces challenges with Iran war and Mexico cartel violence By Graham Dunbar, Associated Press How the Iran war will affect the world's most watched sporting event is the latest issue facing organizers already grappling with cartel violence in one of Mexico's host cities, scaled-back plans for fan festivals in the U.S. and criticism from… Continue reading