The Italian and Spanish leagues have lagged behind others in western Europe, until very recently. Italy's top flight is now professionalized while Spain are breaking records. But a referees' strike is a black cloud.

Thousands of Angolans have taken to the streets of the country's capital to protest against alleged electoral fraud. The demonstrations were called by the main opposition party, UNITA.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.⁣

The Indonesian government has called on police to find the "perpetrators" of the tragedy that left 125 dead. Another fact-finding team will look into the causes of the events.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said "locked doors and steep stairs" were the main problem during a stampede at the Kanjuruhan Stadium that killed at least 131 people on the weekend.

Unpaid wages, under-reporting of migrant worker deaths and an eye-watering carbon footprint are just some of the concerns being expressed by human rights groups and environmentalists as Qatar prepares to host one of the planet's biggest sporting events. Just weeks before the opening match, we bring you a special edition on the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

DR Congo and Rwanda have struck a deal to end months of fighting between Congolese troops and rebels in eastern DRC. The agreement was reached with the mediation of the East African community, but it hinges on the withdrawal of M23 rebels from occupied areas.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has become a focal point for geopolitics. Iran's team refused to sing their national anthem before their first match, in a gesture of support for protesters. Some Iranian visitors also took the opportunity to support the anti-government protests back home with signs and chants outside the stadium in Doha.

The billionaire daughter of Angola's ex-president is now the subject of an international arrest warrant for alleged corruption. In an interview with DW, Isabel dos Santos denied she was trying to escape the law.

A 'hunt' for Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, and the Indian state that's crazy for football

Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard has retired from international football at the age of 31. Hazard made his Belgium debut in 2008 at the age of 17, and went on to win 126 caps, scoring 33 goals. Credit: @ujuochulo for The Guardian

We've seen a very different kind of fan during this World Cup in Qatar, be it for reasons of cost, travel or even politics. These changes are substantial and it's made for some dramatic changes to the ambiance and atmosphere. One of the most visible effects is perhaps what we saw after Morocco's victory over Spain: a show of immense unity in the Arab World.