Haitians have rejoiced over their first World Cup berth in 50 years, calling the celebrations a rare outburst of joy given the security crisis in much of the country, where gangs have taken advantage of a power vacuum. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/25/soccer/haiti-world-cup-berth/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #haiti #2026fifaworldcup

Four-time World Cup winner Italy will face Northern Ireland in the semifinals of the European playoffs for the 2026 tournament, while Ukraine will face star-studded Sweden. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/21/soccer/italy-northern-ireland-world-cup/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #italy #northernireland #2026fifaworldcup

Veteran coach Dick Advocaat says tiny Curacao's qualification for the World Cup is the "craziest thing" he had ever achieved in his long-standing career. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/21/soccer/curacao-world-cup-qualification/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #dickadvocaat #curacao #2026fifaworldcup

Keisuke Honda, one of Japan's biggest soccer stars in the first two decades of the millennium, says his country has the potential to win the World Cup next year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/18/soccer/world-cup-honda/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #keisukehonda #2026fifaworldcup #samuraiblue

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled special fast-track visas for people with tickets to the 2026 World Cup — but his administration warned it was no guarantee of entry to the United States. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/18/soccer/trump-world-cup-visas/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #donaldtrump #2026fifaworldcup #gianniinfantino

Germany and the Netherlands went on goal sprees as they wrapped up World Cup qualification with resounding wins in their last European group matches on Monday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/18/soccer/germany-netherlands-world-cup/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #netherlands #germany #2026fifaworldcup

Norway qualified for its first World Cup since 1998 after Erling Haaland struck again in a 4-1 thumping of Italy on Sunday which sealed a spot in next summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/17/soccer/norway-reaches-world-cup/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #erlinghaaland #norway #2026fifaworldcup #italy

France reached the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Ukraine on Thursday as the country marked the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Paris attacks. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/14/soccer/france-punch-world-cup-ticket/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #2026fifaworldcup #france #portugal #cristianoronaldo #didierdeschamps #norway #paris

FIFA has created a new annual award called the FIFA Peace Prize to be awarded for the first time during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, world soccer's governing body said Wednesday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/07/soccer/fifa-new-peace-prize/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #fifa #2026fifaworldcup #donaldtrump #gianniinfantino

The team may not be blessed with star names, but Cape Verde's captain is certain that his team can make a mark at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/21/soccer/cape-verde-captain-world-cup/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #2026fifaworldcup #capeverde #ryanmendes

A carnival-like atmosphere erupted in the streets of Cape Verde's capital, Praia, on Monday after the tiny archipelago nation qualified for the World Cup for the first time. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/14/soccer/cape-verde-world-cup/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #capeverde #2026fifaworldcup

France’s perfect record in its World Cup qualifying campaign ended as it was held to a 2-2 draw away to Iceland in an entertaining Group D clash. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/14/soccer/france-world-cup-iceland/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #france #iceland #ukraine #2026fifaworldcup

World Cup qualifying in Asia reaches its climax over the next week with Patrick Kluivert's Indonesia among six countries vying for two remaining spots from the region. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/06/soccer/asian-world-cup-qualifying-indonesia/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #patrickkluivert #indonesia #2026fifaworldcup

The 2026 World Cup could be North America's last without urgent climate adaptation measures, according to a new study highlighting extreme weather threats. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/10/soccer/world-cup-extreme-heat-report/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #2026fifaworldcup #climatechange #emissions #heatwaves #heat

Alex Zendejas and Folarin Balogun scored to give the United States a 2-0 victory over Japan on Tuesday in an international soccer friendly. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/10/soccer/samurai-blue-loss-us/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #us #2026fifaworldcup #samuraiblue

Japan and Mexico drew 0-0 on Saturday in a friendly at Oakland Coliseum as both countries prepare for the 2026 World Cup. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/07/soccer/japan-mexico-friendly/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #samuraiblue #mexico #2026fifaworldcup

Dynamic pricing will be in operation during the first phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup, with fans paying different prices according to market demand. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/04/soccer/fifa-dynamic-pricing/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #fifa #2026fifaworldcup #us #canada #mexico

Soaring temperatures at this year's Club World Cup have raised concerns over afternoon kickoff times at the 2026 World Cup, as the expanded tournament poses logistical challenges for organizers. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/06/27/soccer/world-cup-heat-fears/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #2026fifaworldcup #climatechange #heatwaves #unitedstates#clubworldcup