Belgium team in cheerful spirits as they train for semi-final

World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina suspended after Brazilian health officials say three Argentine players broke quarantine rules

At a compound set to host attendees of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a few hundred Afghan refugees await their fate, hoping they will be accepted in Europe or America. Some like Ahmad Wali Sarhadi, who hasn’t spoken to his wife and five children since he left them behind in Kandahar, have no idea what lies ahead.

England manager Gareth Southgate says some traditions are worth protecting as FIFA propose to hold the World Cup every two years, though concedes the game needs to evolve and be 'forward-thinking'.

Argentina football fans share their excitement over watching their national team and star Lionel Messi play against Bolivia in the World Cup qualifiers. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to overtake Pele as the top international goalscorer in South American football history on Thursday as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Bolivia in their 2022 World Cup qualifier.

Libya’s national team slid in the ranks in the group stage for the World Cup qualifiers after suffering a 3-0 defeat against Egypt on Monday. Fans packed squares in the country’s east and west, heartbroken as a defeat on the home front was sealed by a third goal from Ramadan Sobhi in the second half. Egypt scored twice near halftime in Benghazi through Ahmed Fotouh and Mostafa Mohamed, the team’s second straight win over Libya at the start of new coach Carlos Queiroz’s tenure.

Officials from 10 different countries, including China and Pakistan, are attending the meeting with representatives from the Taliban. The talks come after Putin warned that IS fighters were converging in Afghanistan.

The intensive care unit in Moscow's Hospital Number 52 feels the pressure as Russia records daily surges in both cases and deaths caused by the coronavirus infection. On Friday Moscow reported 8166 new cases and 79 deaths which brought the capital's COVID-19 deaths rate to 30573. Moscow will reintroduce COVID-19 lockdown measures from Oct. 28 with supermarkets and pharmacies the only shops allowed to stay open.

Labourers on World Cup projects being given more protection, needs to extend to all workers says human rights group.

FIFA held an official ceremony on Sunday (November 21) to mark one year to go until the opening match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the tournament, played for the first time in a northern hemisphere winter, rapidly taking shape. The opening match will take place on Nov. 21 in the 60,000 capacity Al Bayt Stadium. Kickoff will no doubt come as some relief to organizers as the football takes centre stage, shifting the limelight away from the numerous off-pitch issues, such as labour rights for migrant workers, that have surrounded the event.

Can NATO strike the right balance of force and diplomatic fortitude to make the Kremlin back off? Aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, Teri Schultz tees up a key meeting of foreign ministers in Riga.

The situation along the border is growing increasingly unstable as fears of a Russian invasion mount. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Russia's foreign minister in an attempt to defuse the tension. Washington wants to limit Moscow's room for maneuver.

Architects from Spain have completed a novel design for the upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Named the 974 Stadium, the 40,000-seater facility it's designed to be relatively easy to disassemble and rebuild, and was constructed using almost 1,000 shipping containers.⁣