Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Italy's Roberto Baggio shoots over the goal of Brazil's Claudio Taffarel in the 1994 World Cup final

Irish origins of World Cup penalty drama

The penalty has played a major part in the history of the World Cup - and a small village in Armagh is responsible for it all.

World Cup 2022 • 20 Nov 22

The World Cup runs from 20 November to 18 December

Qatar World Cup ambassador makes anti-gay comments

A Qatar World Cup ambassador has told German television broadcaster ZDF that homosexuality was "damage in the mind", as the Gulf state prepares to host the global tournament in less than two weeks.

Soccer • 08 Nov 22

Qatar has proved a controversial choice as World Cup host venue

Calls for FIFA to compensate Qatar migrant workers

FIFA has been asked to respond to calls for a compensation scheme for World Cup migrant workers in Qatar by the end of the month.

Soccer • 14 Oct 22

The 32-team tournament will begin in just over a month

Drunken fans at World Cup will be sent to sober zone

The World Cup in Qatar will have areas for drunk fans to sober up, its chief executive has revealed.

Soccer • 14 Oct 22

Pickford: England can win the World Cup

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford believes England can win the World Cup later this year and feels the Nations League can provide the perfect preparation for Qatar.

Soccer • 01 Jun 22

Harry Kane: "It's important to understand that first of all, as players we didn't choose where this World Cup was going to be."

Kane: England won't 'shy away' from Qatar issues

England captain Harry Kane said his team will use their platform to raise awareness of human rights issues at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Soccer • 23 Mar 22

"It's a dream come true for everyone to play in a World Cup. To do it for Wales would be an incredible achievement"

'It's been a long time' - Bale eyes World Cup showdown

Gareth Bale has declared himself fit for Wales' World Cup play-off and says it would be an "incredible achievement" to end the country's 64-year wait to be at the tournament in Qatar.

Soccer • 23 Mar 22

England manager Gareth Southgate after his side's 10-0 thrashing of San Marino

Southgate: We'll not close eyes on Qatar controversies

Gareth Southgate has promised England will not close their eyes to the controversies surrounding Qatar's hosting of the World Cup when they play there next year.

Soccer • 16 Nov 21

All fans were required to test negative before attending matches at the Club World Cup in Qatar earlier this year.

Unvaccinated players & fans could be allowed in Qatar

Players and fans who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 could still be allowed to attend the Qatar World Cup next year.

Soccer • 06 Oct 21

It was a frustrating second half for Ireland in Debrecen

Winless streak continues as Ireland held by Qatar

Stephen Kenny's winless run continued in Hungary as Ireland were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar in tonight's international friendly encounter.

Soccer • 31 Mar 21

Will Troy Parrott see more game-time against Qatar?

Preview: Ireland need win to restore Kenny confidence

The only real positive to be drawn from Ireland's shock defeat at home to Luxembourg is that there is a game three days later to consign the performance to the history books.

Soccer • 30 Mar 21

Stephen Kenny needs to turn the team around after a shock defeat to Luxembourg

Kenny accepts criticism as bad result derails project

Before Ireland were shocked at home by Luxembourg, Stephen Kenny had presided over nine games in charge of the national team since his first match in September.

Soccer • 29 Mar 21

Stephen Kenny highlighted the issues in Qatar ahead of next year's World Cup

Human rights issues in Qatar unacceptable - Kenny

The human rights violations that are happening in Qatar in the building of World Cup stadiums cannot be swept under the carpet, according to Ireland manager Stephen Kenny.

Soccer • 29 Mar 21

Amnesty has called on FIFA to take 'urgent and concrete action'

FIFA urged to ensure Qatar implements labour reforms

Amnesty International has written to FIFA calling on the world governing body to use its leverage to ensure Qatar fulfils its promises regarding the rights of migrant workers.

Soccer • 22 Mar 21

Qatar 2022 organisers promise 'affordable' World Cup

Qatar has pledged to put on an "affordable" World Cup in two-and-a-half years' time with a post-pandemic global recession looming.

Soccer • 20 May 20

Qatar were awarded the hosting rights in 2010

Bribery claims unlikely to stop Qatar hosting World Cup

Allegations of bribery are highly unlikely to lead to Qatar being stripped of its right to host the 2022 World Cup, according to an anti-corruption expert.

Soccer • 08 Apr 20

Russia hosted the World Cup two years ago

Russia denies bribes paid for World Cup votes

Prosecutors have tabled fresh allegations of bribes being paid to FIFA executive committee members to vote for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup.

Soccer • 08 Apr 20

Qatar officials deny holding talks over sharing matches at the 2022 World Cup

Qatar deny holding talks about sharing World Cup

Qatar has not held talks with any other countries to share football matches at the 2022 World Cup, a senior tournament organiser in Doha said.

Soccer • 05 Dec 18

Disgraced former FIFA President Sepp Blatter announces Qatar as World Cup 2022 hosts

Four years to kick-off in most controversial World Cup

The 2022 World Cup kicks off in four years' time, with the host country remaining shrouded in controversy.

Soccer • 20 Nov 18

Sepp Blatter reveals Qatar will be the World Cup venue

Qatar World Cup bid team accused of 'sabotage plot'

The Qatar 2022 World Cup bid team broke FIFA rules by running a secret campaign to sabotage their rivals for the tournament.

Soccer • 29 Jul 18

Qatar completes first air-conditioned World Cup stadium

The first venue at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been completed, including the installation of cooling technology that was at the heart of the Arabian country's bid for the tournament.

Soccer • 17 May 17

Jerome Champagne: '"I think it is very important to send a signal to the Arab world today, that you are part of us, the football civilisation, especially now.'

Champagne wants Qatar World Cup to start in spring

FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne said that as head of soccer's governing body he would seek to move the 2022 Qatar World Cup from November-December to late European spring - a step that would please European associations by averting disruption of their season.

Soccer • 27 Jan 16

UEFA's preferred dates for the World Cup final are designed to have little impact on the European international qualifiers

UEFA backing 23 December World Cup final

UEFA says it wants the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar to be held two days before Christmas because it would have less impact on its own international matches.

Soccer • 26 Feb 15

The FIFA ethics committee has cleared Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup

Garcia to appeal FIFA World Cup findings

The decision to clear Qatar and Russia to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has been thrown into chaos after FIFA's chief ethics investigator Michael Garcia announced he will appeal against the ruling on his investigation into bidding for the tournaments.

Soccer • 13 Nov 14

FIFA operates 'like a mafia family'

Former Football Association chairman David Triesman has claimed that FIFA acts like a "mafia family" just a day before the start of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

World Cup • 11 Jun 14

Qatar 2022