March 31 – While FIFA president Gianni Infantino was banging the drum for world peace, respect, and the power of football to help unify in times of conflict, news from Iran broke of women being pepper sprayed by Iranian authorities as they turned up for Iran’s final World Cup qualifier.
March 31 – You know the tournament is getting closer when it is time to launch the official ball. FIFA sponsor Adidas has unveiled the new ball for Qatar 2022, named Al Rihla.
March 30 – Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia all booked their places at the World Cup finals Tuesday on a frantic night of final African play-off action.
March 30 – Iraqi dreams of progressing to the Qatar 2022 play-offs were shattered in the final round of Asian World Cup qualifying as they could only manage a 1-1 draw with Syria.
March 30 – Portugal and Poland booked their places at the World Cup finals on Tuesday night as the dreams of highly fancied Sweden and rank outsiders North Macedonia ended on what should have been the final European playoff games.
March 30 – The world players union FIFPRO and the Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI) have penned a joint open letter cautioning that human rights issues surrounding the World Cup in Qatar are far from resolved but acknowledging that considerable progress has been made by the authorities.
March 28 – Canada stormed past Jamaica at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, to qualify for their first World Cup finals since 1986.
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
March 28 – New Zealand edged towards a ticket for the international World Cup playoff following a laboured 1-0 victory against Tahiti to set up the OFC qualification final against Solomon Islands.
March 28 – QatarEnergy has become a partner of the 2022 World Cup, joining Crytpo.com and BYJU’s who were unveiled as Qatar 2022 sponsors last week.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 25 – From European champions to World Cup elimination in just nine months.
March 25 – The public face of the Qatar World Cup has hit back at Dutch coach Louis van Gaal for criticising the decision to hold the event in the Gulf state, countering that van Gaal has failed to understand the Arab world’s passion for football.
March 25 – Costa Rica catapulted themselves back into contention for a place at the Qatar 2022 World Cup with a 1-0 win over group leaders Canada, the first time the Canadians have been beaten in the final round of qualifying.
March 25 – Iraq stunned the United Arab Emirates with a 1-0 win to move them to within a point of the UAE and the Qatar 2022 play-off spots with a game to go.
March 24 – Japan and Saudi Arabia have ensured their passage to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar following the Samurai Blue’s dramatic last-gasp 2-0 win against the Socceroos in Sydney.
March 23 – Excitement and anticipation is mounting ahead of next week’s World Cup draw in Qatar which will be conspicuous by the three slots that will still be open because of Russia’s war with Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic.