Spending billions of dollars and attracting some of soccer’s biggest stars doesn’t guarantee success at the World Cup.

Qatar’s energy minister says an explosion killed at least 13 people and injured 66 at a key gas export terminal.

Canada's historic first World Cup victory is overshadowed by a gruesome injury to midfielder Ismaël Koné.

Jonathan David scored three goals and Canada won its first World Cup match while all but securing a spot in the knockout round with a 6-0 victory over Qatar.

FIFA’s on-field officials for the World Cup will insist on keeping matches moving by taking rule changes designed to limit time-wasting seriously, the sport’s governing body said Sunday with the start of the 48-team tournament now less than two weeks away.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry says Afghans who helped the U.S. war effort and are stuck in Qatar can safely return home.

The Trump administration is in discussions to potentially send more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted America’s war effort and relatives of U.S. service members stuck in Qatar to a third country.

The Iran war is tightening global tech supply chains by cutting off helium from Qatar, a key source of the gas used in advanced industries like chipmaking.

Iran has broadened its strikes on major energy facilities in the Middle East, eliciting strong warnings from Gulf Arab states that called it a dangerous escalation that threatened to draw them into direct combat with Tehran.

UEFA said Sunday that the game between Argentina and Spain known as Finalissima that was supposed to be held in Qatar has been canceled after the widening Middle East war.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewis Hamilton are among the sports stars whose schedules are in doubt because of the spreading war in the Middle East.

Iran’s place at the men’s soccer World Cup in three months has been put in doubt amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by tournament co-host the United States.

The Qatar soccer federation has postponed all tournaments and matches until further notice amid global tensions following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Matvei Safonov made four straight penalty saves in a shootout to help Paris Saint-Germain beat Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup final and win a sixth trophy of 2025.

Isack Hadjar will team up with his childhood hero Max Verstappen at Red Bull next year after an impressive rookie season.

One week after losing all their points from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, McLaren threw away a bunch more in an increasingly tense Formula 1 title race by botching a strategy call at the Qatar GP.

Pakistani security forces have killed 20 Pakistani Taliban insurgents in raids on hideouts in the northwest region bordering Afghanistan.

Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have ended without agreement.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Israel, the U.S. and the other mediators of the Gaza ceasefire deal are sharing information to disrupt any threats and that allowed them to identify a possible impending attack last weekend.

Track and field’s Athletics Integrity Unit says women’s marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepng’etich has been banned for three years after admitting a doping violation.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has proposed that Qatar could mediate to end the U.S. military presence in international waters near Venezuela.

President Donald Trump likes to project dominance and confidence on the world stage, but lately he's been expressing more frustration and disappointment.

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to let Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas address its annual meeting by video.

Qatar hosted a summit of Arab and Islamic nations in hopes of presenting a united response to Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders last week in Doha.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Israel as it intensifies attacks on northern Gaza.

Israeli drones have dropped grenades near U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

Rwanda-backed rebels have killed at least 80 people in eastern Congo, according to Congolese authorities.

Oman plans to levy a personal income tax as part of a broader push to move the sultanate’s economy away from reliance on hydrocarbons.

The Trump administration’s travel ban on people from Afghanistan is sending ripples of concern across the Afghan community and their supporters.

President Donald Trump's trip to the Mideast comes as sons Donald Jr. and Eric work the same part of the world for the family’s moneymaking opportunities.

When President Donald Trump returned to the White House, among the numerous immigration-related executive orders he signed was one suspending the country’s refugee program.

A joint statement from Congo's government and a coalition of insurgents in the country’s east including the M23 rebels says the two sides have agreed to work toward a truce following peace talks in Qatar.

A portrait of a young Palestinian boy who lost both arms as a result of an Israeli attack in Gaza has been named World Press Photo of the year.

The United States has given an initial approval for the energy-rich Mideast nation of Qatar to buy eight armed MQ-9B Predator drones for its military, an estimated purchase worth nearly $2 billion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire negotiations in Qatar in a sign of progress in talks on the war in Gaza.

Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior has finally got his hands on a big global player award.

Saudi Arabia scored a major win in its campaign to attract major sports events to the kingdom when it was formally appointed as the 2034 World Cup host on Wednesday.

Max Verstappen won big in Las Vegas with his fourth world title but the fight for Formula 1’s biggest cash prize is hotting up this week in Qatar.

Qatar says it has suspended its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel.

In two months' time FIFA is set to confirm Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 World Cup.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has ended his latest visit to the Middle East without securing a cease-fire in Gaza.

The White House says talks aimed at halting the Israel-Hamas war have resumed in Doha and are expected to run into Friday.

Saudi Arabia has detailed a massive stadium building project to host the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer.

The Taliban’s morality police are contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans.

Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the face of this year’s Copa America.

Hamas says it has given Qatari and Egyptian mediators its reply to the U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza, seeking some “amendments” on the deal.

Kuwait’s ruling emir has named the small nation’s new crown prince, nearly six months after he took the throne.

Twelve people have been injured when a Qatar Airways plane flying from Doha to Dublin hit turbulence.

Hamas says the latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks has ended in Cairo.

The White House says U.S. President Joe Biden has again spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A fan at the Saudi Super Cup final lashed an Al-Ittihad player with a whip during a confrontation moments after the match Thursday night.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to shut down Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel, calling it a “terror channel” that spreads incitement, after parliament passed a law clearing the way for the closure.

A star South Korean soccer player who was detained and investigated in China for nearly a year over bribery allegations has been released and returned home.

Saudi Arabia has launched its formal bid campaign to host the 2034 World Cup, in a race that basically became a formality last October when the oil-rich kingdom was the only candidate to enter the contest.

Only four pandas remain in the United States.

Takeaways from a history-making 2024 World Swimming Championships as the Paris Olympic Games near.

More than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the five-month Israel-Hamas war.

American swimmer Hunter Armstrong helped himself to two more medals on the closing day of the World Aquatics Championships in Qatar.

Key mediator Qatar says talks on a potential cease-fire deal in Gaza “have not been progressing as expected” in the past few days.

Marrit Steenbergen and Tes Schouten made it a golden night for the Netherlands at the World Aquatics Championships.

The United States held off Hungary 8-7 to capture the women’s water polo title for the fifth time in the last six championships and eighth time overall.

It was a night for teenagers to shine at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

With some of America’s biggest stars deciding to stay home, Claire Curzan and Hunter Armstrong have claimed the spotlight at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Akram Afif scored a hat trick of penalties to secure back-to-back Asian Cup titles for Qatar in a 3-1 win against Jordan.

Chang Yani has topped teammate Chen Yiwen in the 3-meter springboard, giving the powerhouse Chinese team its eighth diving gold medal of the World Aquatics Championships.

China has added to its gold medal haul with two more victories at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

With its sights on the Paris Olympics, China is turning in another dominant diving performance on the world stage.

Reigning Olympic champion Quan Hongchan has given herself a huge boost of momentum heading into the Paris Games.

With China sitting out the first two diving events, other nations got a chance to shine on Day 1 of the World Aquatics Championships.

Officials say that two U.S.-flagged ships carrying cargo for the Defense and State departments have come under attack off Yemen.

Qatar says it's appalled by leaked remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he criticized the country’s mediation efforts with Hamas.

The British navy says two of its warships have collided in a harbor in Bahrain, causing damage but no injuries.

Chants of “free, free Palestine” rang out again during the Palestinian soccer team’s game against United Arab Emirates at the Asian Cup.

A moment of silence was observed and then shouts of “free Palestine” rang out ahead of the Asian Cup game between Iran and the Palestinian soccer team.

Sotheby’s is set to auction off six shirts worn by Lionel Messi during Argentina’s winning run at last year’s soccer World Cup in Qatar.

The gas-rich nation of Qatar has become a key intermediary over the fate of more than 200 hostages held by Hamas militants after their unprecedented attack on Israel over two weeks ago.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker is stepping down after 27 years at the helm of the company.

A top Chinese envoy says that China and Russia share the same position on the Palestinian issue and plan to try to work together to cool the situation and help establish a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.

Formula One’s governing body is reviewing a penalty given to seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton for crossing the track after climbing out of his car following a first-lap collision at last Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix.

Formula One drivers will have to change tires at least every 18 laps in the Qatar Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen has secured the Formula One title for the third year in a row in a season of near-total domination for the Red Bull driver.

Americans held for years in Iranian custody walked arm-in-arm off a plane into freedom.

Iran has identified the five prisoners it hopes to see freed in the United States in exchange for five Iranian-Americans now held in Tehran and billions in assets once held by South Korea.

The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money in South Korea without fear of U.S. sanctions.

The anti-discrimination “One Love” captain’s armband denied to teams at the men’s World Cup in Qatar will be worn at the Women’s World Cup next month in an amended version now approved by soccer authorities.

Budweiser will still be the official World Cup beer through the 2026 tournament in the United States.

The PGA Tour's merger with rival LIV Golf has reignited a debate over sportswashing and drawn critics ranging from current professional golfers to the families of Sept. 11 victims.

The Arab League has agreed to reinstate Syria, ending a 12-year suspension.

The satellite news network Al Jazeera says that a correspondent for one of its channels held in Egypt since 2019 has been released after nearly four years in pre-trial detention.

Dani Alves has testified in court and told the judge investigating a sexual assault accusation against him that he had consensual sex with the alleged victim.

After meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss Syria’s political fate, a group of regional leaders promised to continue talks to reach a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

Qatar says it has sent 4,000 cabins built to house fans at last year’s World Cup to earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria.

The World Cup group stage format for 2026 was changed to 12 groups of four teams from 16 groups of three teams by FIFA’s Council on Tuesday, increasing the total to 104 matches from 64 in the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

The expanded World Cup in North America has gotten even more supersized.

A Swedish think tank says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that led to a substantial flow of military aid to Kyiv made Ukraine the world’s third largest importer of arms in 2022.

Real Madrid defender David Alaba has been racially abused on social media after voting for Lionel Messi and Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić has accused FIFA of disrespect in fallout from the soccer body’s annual awards ceremony.

Testimony from a former ESPN executive is underscoring the high stakes and corruption that has enveloped the world of soccer.

A Spanish court has denied Dani Alves’ appeal to be freed on bail while the investigation of a sexual assault accusation against the Brazilian soccer player continues.

The sale of Manchester United is set to test European rules designed to protect soccer’s integrity from the risks of owners controlling multiple clubs.

Qatar plans to send 10,000 cabins and caravans from last year’s World Cup to provide shelter for survivors of the Turkish earthquakes.