Int'l calendar already turning to 2026 World Cup qualification

Less than nine full months since Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar last year, the long qualification process to determine the 48 countries that will grace the fields across the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026 gets underway. Three host nations are receiving automatic places in the final tournament. Consequently, 208 nations […]

Historically, the Islamic Republic feared the success of Iranian soccer players at major tournaments, like the World Cup. For decades, the regime maintained ignoble feelings that Iran's success could inspire the masses to pour into the streets in civil unrest. This threatened the security of a watertight Shiite government. As a result, Team Melli never […]

Al-Rayyan (Qatar) (AFP) – Australia coach Graham Arnold warned his team they must improve to beat Peru and make it to a fifth straight World Cup after Ajdin Hrustic fired a late winner in a nerve-wracking 2-1 play-off victory over United Arab Emirates in Doha. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder's deflected volley in the 84th minute […]

Al-Rayyan (Qatar) (AFP) – Ajdin Hrustic fired a late winner to see Australia to a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and into a last showdown for a place in this year's World Cup in Qatar. Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hrustic's deflected volley in the 84th minute decided the feverish Asian zone clash […]

Doha (AFP) – Ajdin Hrustic fired a late winner to see Australia to a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and into a last showdown for a place in this year's World Cup in Qatar. Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hrustic's deflected volley in the 84th minute decided a feverish clash in the Ahmad […]