World Cup – Asia Times

Qatar players celebrate a goal against South Korea in a World Cup qualifying match in Doha, on June 13, 2017. Photo: Reuters/ Ibraheem Al Omari

Breaking Europe’s hold on soccer

by John P Ruehl September 16, 2023September 16, 2023

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar brought together nations from around the world, and 1.5 billion people tuned in to watch the final. But while soccer is a source of local pride, passion, and personal and community identity globally, its official governing institution is headquartered in Europe. Founded in Paris in 1904 and now […]

Japan, Northeast Asia

Referees ‘spooked’ over high tackle rule

by Alastair Himmer October 1, 2019February 18, 2020

Japan, Northeast Asia

The big question is who will win the World Cup?

by Richard Carter September 18, 2019February 18, 2020

Fans watch a World Cup qualifying match, in Doha, between Qatar and South Korea, in June. Photo: Reuters / Ibraheem Al Omari

Middle East, Qatar

Qatar, FIFA looking other way on migrant abuse

by Sunil Kukreja September 10, 2019February 18, 2020

China

Foreign legion can get China to the World Cup

by Jimmy Yee August 23, 2019February 18, 2020

China

China turns to World Cup foreign legion

by Jimmy Yee August 20, 2019February 18, 2020

Uncategorized

Hoop dreams of a stateless player

by Tim Noonan May 9, 2019February 18, 2020

China

Chinese Super League clubs suffer from owners travails

by John Duerden January 27, 2019February 18, 2020

The past year saw the emergence of several declared rivals to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim ben Hamad Al Thani s rule but the 38-year-old remains in power and was confident enough to launch his first cabinet reshuffle in November. Photo: AFP/Mehdi Taamallah/NurPhoto

Afghanistan, Bahrain, China, Iran, Israel, Middle East, South Asia, World

Blockade beat, World Cup ahead

by Jonathan Gorvett December 30, 2018February 18, 2020

Vladimir Putin's approval ratings have fallen over unpopular changes to the old-age pension. Photo: Flickr.

Russian pension reform sparks protests as Putin’s ratings fall

by Giovanni Pigni August 7, 2018February 18, 2020

Friends cheer on their team while watching the World Cup. Photo: iStock

AT Finance, China, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Russia, World

Turned on by the World Cup, viewers switch off porn sites

by Ben Kwok July 23, 2018February 18, 2020

Old Trafford stadium, home of Manchester United, is rolling out the red carpet for the Wild Boars. Photo: iStock.

AT Finance, Myanmar, Thailand, World

Manchester United invite Thai cave-rescue boys to England. But will they be able to go?

by Bertil Lintner July 16, 2018February 18, 2020

Two men watch a 2018 Russia World Cup football match on a TV screen outside a restaurant in Beijing. Photo: AFP/Greg Baker

AT Finance, Cambodia, China, Philippines, Vietnam, World

PRC busts $1.5b World Cup Bitcoin gambling pyramid scheme

by Richard Cook July 13, 2018February 18, 2020

Female supporter in national colors of Spain. Photo: iStock

China, Russia, Shanghai, Taiwan, World

World Cup highlights transformative power of sport

by Gary Sands July 12, 2018

South Korea's goalkeeper dives to make one of many great saves against Germany in Wednesday night's World Cup match. Photo: AFP

European Union, Germany, Mexico, Northeast Asia, Russia, South Asia, South Korea, World

South Koreans celebrate after historic World Cup victory

by John Duerden June 28, 2018February 18, 2020

Children attend a football training session in the suburbs of Guangzhou, Guangdong province. File photo from Nov 2016 by AFP/ Johannes Eisele

Beijing, China, European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Northeast Asia, Shanghai, World

China cannot spend its way to soccer greatness

by Mary Gallagher June 24, 2018February 18, 2020

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In, during a press conference on the outcome of their meeting in the Kremlin on June 22, 2018. Photo: Alexei Druzhinin / Sputnik via AFP

AT Finance, Beijing, China, European Union, Germany, Japan, Mexico, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Russia, South Asia, South Korea, World

Moon in Russia: Gas pipeline no longer a pipe dream

by Andrew Salmon June 23, 2018February 18, 2020

A train carrying about 100,000 crayfish departed for Moscow from China's Wuhan earlier this month. Photo: handout

Beijing, China, European Union, Guangzhou, Russia, World, Wuhan

China’s crayfish, like its team, are missing at World Cup

by Asia Times staff June 20, 2018February 18, 2020

Chinese football fans Photo: Baidu

Beijing, Chengdu, China, Chongqing, Russia, World

Thousands of Chinese World Cup fans are sold fake tickets

by Ben Kwok June 20, 2018February 18, 2020

Koreans watch their opening World Cup match in Seoul, Monday evening. Photo: Andrew Salmon/Asia Times

AT Finance, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Russia, South Asia, South Korea, Turkey, World

Two Koreas kick around ideas for closer sports cooperation

by Andrew Salmon June 19, 2018February 18, 2020

Saudi women, wearing their World Cup abayas, or dresses, with the colors of the flags of countries taking part in the World Cup 2010, walk through a shopping mall in Jeddah on June 18. Photo: AFP/Amer Hilabi

Bahrain, Iran, Middle East, Russia, World

Ban on women watching matches becomes a political football

by John Duerden June 18, 2018February 18, 2020

5530296 14.06.2018 June 14, 2018. Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong-nam, left, during a meeting. Alexei Druzhinin / Sputnik

AT Finance, Beijing, China, Japan, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Russia, Singapore, South Asia, South Korea, World

Russia inserts itself into North Korea game

by M.K. Bhadrakumar June 16, 2018February 18, 2020

Photo by iStock

Australia, European Union, Italy, Japan, Northeast Asia, Oceania, South Asia, South Korea, World

In Russia, Team Korea must minimize internal clashes

by John Duerden June 16, 2018February 18, 2020

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Russian President Vladimir Putin watch the ceremony prior to the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 14, 2018. Photo: AFP/ Sputnik/ Alexey Druzhinin

China, Egypt, European Union, France, Germany, Middle East, Russia, Shanghai, Syria, United Kingdom, World

From Russia with love, as Putin kicks off soft power Games

by Pepe Escobar June 15, 2018February 18, 2020

Chinese football fans are excited about the 2018 World Cup. Photo: Weibo/Wikimedia Commons/Krassotkin, Agência Brasil

China, Hong Kong, Japan, Northeast Asia, Russia, South Korea, World

Why China is looking forward to the World Cup in Russia

by Ben Kwok June 13, 2018February 18, 2020

Alireza Jahanbakhsh, in the white shirt, during Iran's friendly international against World Cup hosts Russia. Photo: AFP

Egypt, European Union, Iran, Middle East, Russia, World

Saudi Arabia’s clash with Iran would be an explosive affair

by John Duerden June 3, 2018February 18, 2020

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino visit the Fisht Stadium, which will host matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Sochi. Photo: Reuters/Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin

Afghanistan, European Union, France, Germany, Middle East, Russia, South Asia, Syria, World

Russia’s World Cup blues are only to be expected

by M.K. Bhadrakumar May 31, 2018February 18, 2020

Tottenham and Japanese international Son Heung-Min sees his cross blocked by Manchester United's Antonio Valencia during the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Photo: AFP

Australia, China, European Union, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Oceania, Russia, South Asia, South Korea, World

Big names must fire for big three when World Cup kicks off

by John Duerden May 27, 2018February 18, 2020

Watching LeTV. Photo: LeEco

China, Hong Kong, World

LeTV in HK shown a red card over popular sports broadcasts

by Ben Kwok March 14, 2018February 18, 2020

Charlotte Kalla after receiving the gold medal in the Women’s Skiathlon. Photo: Reuters / Kai Pfaffenbach

Northeast Asia, South Korea, World

Winter Olympics through the looking glass

by Asia Times staff February 10, 2018February 18, 2020