November 25 – The Canadian Premier League (CPL) delivered good and bad news this week. The good news was a new major partnership, making Maple Lodge Farms the Official Food Protein Partner of the league and Canada Soccer’s National Teams.
By Samindra Kunti in Lusail
November 25 – A stylish Brazil breezed past Serbia to clinch a 2-0 group G win and confirm their status as tournament favourites in Qatar.
November 24 – FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Ecuador over homophobic chanting by their fans in their World Cup opener against hosts Qatar.
November 24 – FIFA’s last-minute decision to ban alcoholic beer sales at World Cup stadiums could cost them $47 million, with tournament sponsors Budweiser reportedly seeking a massive deduction in its $75 million sponsorship deal after the humiliation of having had their beer concession rights withdrawn by Qatari World Cup organisers.
November 24 – In a defiant protest, Germany’s player covered their mouths against FIFA’s clampdown on free speech and the ban of the ‘OneLove’ armband’.
November 23 – Germany’s football association (DFB) is examining whether FIFA’s threat to impose sanctions against players who wanted to wear the ‘OneLove’ armband at the World Cup is legal.
November 24 – In another major upset, Japan stunned four-time world champions Germany with a second-half comeback to win 2-1 .
November 23 – Qatar’s efforts to apply modern techniques and digitise all tickets to make World Cup organisation run more smoothly have taken another hit after handwritten paper tickets had to be handed out to fans for the second day running.
November 23 – Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United “with immediate effect”, days after he gave an explosive unauthorised interview attacking manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners.
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
November 23 – Saudis will enjoy a day off on Wednesday as the Kingdom declared a public holiday to mark the Green Falcons’ historic 2-1 win against Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
November 23 – On the eve of Belgium’s opening game with Canada in the World Cup, Belgian veteran player Jan Vertonghen has said that he is afraid to talk about the OneLove armband.
By David Owen
November 23 – So, what do you know: 55 minutes into that extraordinary hour-long tormented, angry pre-World Cup vent by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, some hard, or hard-ish, financial information.
November 23 – France’s Stephanie Frappart made history by becoming became the first female official in a men’s World Cup finals when she was selected as the fourth official in Mexico’s 0-0 draw with Poland on Tuesday.
By Samindra Kunti in Lusail
November 22 – Saudi Arabia stunned Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 with goals from Saleh Al-Shehr and Salem Al Dawsari in a five-minute second-half blitz to inspire one of the all-time great World Cup upsets.
November 22 – European teams have reacted with disappointment and dismay after being forced by FIFA to abandon plans to wear ‘OneLove’ armbands at the World Cup in support of LGBTQ rights.