Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Captain Enner Valencia scored both of the South Americans' goals

Valencia eases Ecuador to opening-game win over Qatar

Enner Valencia's two first-half goals led Ecuador to a 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar in the opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

World Cup 2022 • 21 Nov 22

The Qatar Irish football team with co-managers Niall Keogh and Ronan Kelly

WC in a smaller place than Dublin - the Irish in Qatar

Ahead of the World Cup kick-off, we hear from some Irish football fans living in Qatar.

World Cup 2022 • 20 Nov 22

Stephen Kenny believes he has to go to Qatar to do his job to the best of his ability

Kenny defends decision to travel to Qatar for World Cup

Stephen Kenny has defended his decision to travel to Qatar for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Soccer • 11 Nov 22

Team USA touching down in Qatar on Thursday, well ahead of their European counterparts

World Cup reduced to a supersized international break

Of the many issues surrounding the Qatar World Cup, the lack of an appropriate lead-in, for players and supporters, is one of the most vexing, writes Mikey Stafford.

Soccer • 12 Nov 22

Sepp Blatter was FIFA president when the 2022 finals were controversially awarded to Qatar in 2010

Blatter admits 'mistake' in awarding Qatar World Cup

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted it was "a mistake" to award the 2022 World Cup finals to Qatar.

Soccer • 08 Nov 22

"I've met with lots of the workers out there and they are united in certainly one thing, that's that they want the tournament to happen."

Qatar workers united behind World Cup, claims Southgate

England manager Gareth Southgate believes workers in Qatar are "united" in their desire for the World Cup to go ahead.

Soccer • 01 Nov 22

The countdown to the Qatar World Cup is on

Australia players release statement criticising Qatar

Australia has become the first World Cup finals side to release a collective statement from players criticising host Qatar's human rights record.

Soccer • 27 Oct 22

Amnesty wrote to FIFA president Gianni Infantino (pictured) earlier this year

FIFA 'need to show leadership' on worker compensation

Amnesty International's head of economic and social justice Stephen Cockburn speaks to RTÉ Sport's Raf Diallo about their push for a compensation fund for migrant workers and the need for FIFA to "show leadership" on the issue.

World Cup 2022 • 22 Oct 22

Fan villages purpose-built for the World Cup, that consist largely of tents or mobile homes, pictured last month

€300 billion bill possible for Qatar as World Cup looms

The bill being paid by Qatar for the most expensive World Cup ever held is set to rise to fantasy levels in the one month left to the 20 November kick-off.

Soccer • 19 Oct 22

Qatar World Cup and FIFA officials spoke to the media with one month until the start of the competition

FIFA continue attempts to fend off Qatar criticism

FIFA are continuing to attempt to overcome long-standing doubts about Qatar's rights record ahead of the World Cup as the global body said it is negotiating measures to help migrant workers who died or were injured.

Soccer • 18 Oct 22

Security checks ahead of this month's Lusail Super Cup, where crowd management was reportedly quite chaotic

Qatar conscripts civilians for World Cup security roles

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.

Soccer • 27 Sep 22

FA given assurances over LGBTQ fans at World Cup

Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham says he has been assured that LGBTQ+ England fans will not face arrest for holding hands or kissing in public at the World Cup in Qatar.

Soccer • 21 Sep 22

David Beckham took up the Qatari ambassadorial role in 2021. It is reported the former England footballer will receive £150m for the position.

Beckham silence in step with Qatari World Cup omerta

With less than two months to the start of the World Cup in Qatar, human rights issues remain a key issue in the Arabic state. Though few in football circles have demonstrated leadership in acknowledging offences.

Soccer • 25 Sep 22

Seven of Qatar's eight World Cup venues opened within the last three years

Calls for FIFA to pay World Cup workers compensation

Calls for FIFA to contribute to a compensation scheme for migrant workers in World Cup host country Qatar have received strong public backing in an international poll.

Soccer • 15 Sep 22

The World Cup in Qatar looks set to start a day earlier than planned

World Cup poised to begin one day earlier than planned

The World Cup in Qatar will kick off a day earlier than scheduled if FIFA agree to a plan to hold the opening ceremony and the host nation's first match on Sunday, 20 November.

Soccer • 10 Aug 22

World Cup 2022 draw - recap

It's the World Cup, but not as we know it. The draw for this winter's World Cup in Qatar took place today and threw up some very intriguing groups. Here' how it all happened.

Soccer • 01 Apr 22

This year's winter World Cup takes place in Qatar

England, Brazil and Belgium among World Cup top seeds

England have been confirmed in the top pot of seeds for Friday's World Cup draw in Doha.

Soccer • 31 Mar 22

Nasser Al Khater: 'He [Southgate] needs to come here, speak to workers, understand what workers get out of being here'

World Cup chief keen to allay 'concerns' with Southgate

Qatar 2022 chief executive Nasser Al Khater has urged England boss Gareth Southgate to "pick his words carefully" after voicing concerns over the country's suitability as World Cup hosts.

Soccer • 30 Mar 22

Human rights concerns have overshadowed Qatar's hosting of the World Cup next year

LGBT fans welcome at World Cup insists Qatar 2022 chief

The chief executive of Qatar 2022 has attempted to assure football fans from the LGBT community they will be welcomed at next year's World Cup in the country.

Soccer • 30 Nov 21

Bayern members are putting pressure on the club not to renew the Qatar Airways sponsorship deal.

Chaos at Bayern AGM as members rebel over Qatari deal

Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness said he was "shocked" after the Bundesliga leaders' Annual General Meeting descended into chaos as supporters rebelled against a Qatari sponsorship deal.

Soccer • 26 Nov 21

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere

Norway PM criticises Qatar after journalists' detention

Two Norwegian reporters were arrested by police in Qatar this week and held in detention for some 30 hours, their employer said on Wednesday, drawing criticism of the Gulf nation from Norway's prime minister.

Soccer • 24 Nov 21

Callum Robinson is back in action with West Brom this weekend

West Brom boss plans vaccine talk with Robinson

West Brom manager Valerien Ismael plans to speak with striker Callum Robinson over his decision to get a vaccine for Covid-19.

Soccer • 14 Oct 21

Hourihane: 'Over the last couple of months, there's been a real feelgood factor in the camp, playing in a certain way and people can see that'

Hourihane says feel-good factor translating onto pitch

Conor Hourihane has urged the Republic of Ireland to use a hugely encouraging week as a watershed moment as they target a World Cup qualifier victory over Portugal next month.

Soccer • 13 Oct 21

Stephen Kenny enjoyed his third win as Ireland manager last night

Ray Houghton: Something has clicked for Ireland

Ray Houghton believes that the Republic of Ireland have finally found their feet under Stephen Kenny after two dominant performances in the space of four days.

Soccer • 13 Oct 21

Stephen Kenny applauds the fans at the end of the game in Dublin

Kenny keeping feet on ground and eyeing Nations success

Stephen Kenny was delighted with his side's 4-0 victory over Qatar, however, the Ireland manager said that his team would keep their feet on the ground ahead of next month's tough test against Portugal.

Soccer • 13 Oct 21