Dearborn crowd celebrates Morocco’s soccer semifinal match despite loss

December 16th, 20220 DEARBORN — A very excited crowd banged drums and waved mostly Moroccan flags during Wednesday's World Cup semifinal watch party, hosted by Mayor Abdullah Hammoud at the Michael A. Guido Theater. The Morocco fans — nearly everyone in attendance — were unwaveringly optimistic, cheering each time the Morocco team dribbled the ball...

On “hate” and love at the World Cup: Palestine is more than an Arab cause

December 10th, 20220 We were mistaken to think that Palestine represents the central issue for all Arabs. Such language suggests that Palestine is an external subject, to be compared to other collective struggles that consume most Arabs, everywhere. The ongoing celebration of Palestine and the Palestinian flag at the Qatar World Cup 2022 by millions of...

Qatar World Cup organizer says country has faced “unfair” criticism

September 9th, 20220 DOHA - Qatar has faced a lot of unfair criticism over its hosting of soccer's World Cup that was not based on facts, but it has responded to any fair criticism, Qatar 2022 Chief Executive Nasser Al Khater said on Thursday. He told a news conference, the first held by organizers in months, that 70 days prior to the tournament's...

Russia hands over World Cup hosting duties to Qatar

July 15th, 20180 MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday handed over the mantle of World Cup host to the emir of Qatar, whose country will stage the 2022 edition of the tournament. The ceremony marked a handover from the world’s largest country by landmass to one of the smallest. Qatar has a population of 2.3 million people and an area...

Egypt hopeful on Salah as fans remain in suspense

June 14th, 20180 CAIRO/YEKATERINBURG ― Egypt coach Hector Cuper said Mohamed Salah had a “great chance” of playing against Uruguay but no decision would be taken until Thursday’s training session as the Pharoahs flew into Yekaterinburg for the start of their World Cup campaign. “I am optimistic that he will be with us, I think he has a great...

Egypt’s Salah out for up to four weeks

May 30th, 20180 Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Salah’s shoulder injury will keep him out of action for three to four weeks, Liverpool’s club physio has said, meaning he could miss the World Cup group stage. The 25-year-old is desperate to play for Egypt in only their third World Cup and their first for 28 years but faces a race against time to be...

War-torn Syria on verge of World Cup fairytale

September 3rd, 20170 HONG KONG - Against all odds, Syria’s footballers have overcome more than six years of civil war and internal political rifts to raise hopes of qualifying for their first ever World Cup. Forced to play their home games away due to security concerns, Ayman Hakeem’s Syria have embarrassed a succession of better-resourced opponents...