According to the Qatari official responsible for World Cup delivery, 400 and 500 migrant workers have died on World Cup-related projects. As a result, the death toll was acknowledged by Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Inheritance, but said the exact figure was still being discussed. Thawadi told the TV show Piers Morgan Uncensored that “around...
As the global football carnival began in Qatar on Sunday, the UK press, after the small Arab nation since it got the hosting rights for FIFA World Cup 2022, sure they highlighted all the flaws in the opening ceremony.Qatar World Cup defeat proves there are some things in a sport you can’t pay for, reads the headline of The Independent, saying the opening match where the host made a poor...
The Stats Perform, and Opta artificial intelligence prediction model predicted that England would win their first match by a one-to-ten margin, placing them fourth out of all the teams. Wales has only one in 200 chance of winning, and Brazil is still the favorite. Which team is expected to make the most progress? In Stats Perform’s and Opta’s prediction model, England will make it to...
Alan Shearer admitted the United Kingdom’s issues to deal with before it can take a principled stand against other nations and added his voice to the chorus of dissenting opponents to Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup. The one-time England striker was invited to share his view on the growing points about Qatar’s handling tournament organization and suggested they have continued...
Group A – New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland Co-hosts New Zealand will be delighted. With the Olympic champions (Canada), the 2019 World Cup runners up (the Netherlands) and the 2011 World Cup winners (Japan) in Pot 2 there was a chance their Pot 1 placement, as a home nation, could mean little. Instead, out came Norway, thumped 8-0 by England in the group stage of the Euros...
The Football Association of Ireland has apologised after a video emerged on social media of Ireland’s women singing a song with a pro-IRA chorus after qualifying for the World Cup on Tuesday. The clip showed the team celebrating in their Hampden Park dressing room after their 1-0 victory against Scotland, singing “Ooh ah, up the ’RA” – words associated with support for the Irish Republican Army...
Nine years ago the then new chairman of the Football Association, Greg Dyke, spoke of his aims for England’s men’s football team. “I want to set the whole of English football two targets,” he said. “The first is for the England team to at least reach the semi-finals of the Euro Championship in 2020 and the second is for us to win the World Cup in 2022.” So far better than expected, then – but one...
Iran’s government is more involved than most in football – clubs are owned directly or indirectly by the state – but it keeps a closer eye than usual on the beloved national team at times of public unrest. After the famous World Cup playoff win over Australia in 1997 the players were told to take their time coming home lest their presence push nationwide celebrations into something else. The 2009...
On the plane It is inconceivable that Jordan Pickford will not be England’s No 1 despite missing the latest camp with a thigh injury. Gareth Southgate is loyal to his senior players and often prefers to go with the tried and trusted. The manager has repeatedly backed Harry Maguire, even after the centre-back blundered during Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with Germany, and is past the point of...
Qatar has called up hundreds of civilians, including diplomats summoned back from overseas, for mandatory military service operating security checkpoints at World Cup stadiums, according to a source and documents seen by Reuters. The deployment of conscripts, some of whom would normally defer national service because their work is considered vital, highlights the logistical challenge faced by the...