World football's governing body was hoping to expand the competition to include 48 countries. However, that would have needed another Gulf country to host games along with Qatar, amid deteriorating ties in the region.

Qatar inaugurated its first purpose-built stadium for the 2022 World Cup, staging a domestic cup final in the $575 million, 40,000-capacity Al-Wakrah venue, which is also Spanish midfielder Xavi's last final before he retires.

Neymar and Kylian Mbappe joined their Paris St. Germain teammates for a training session in Qatar.

The Gulf nation of Qatar's new energy minister said that his country will leave OPEC effective January of 2019. He said that he had informed OPEC of his decision ahead of his announcement.

Doha Bank Chief Executive Officer Raghavan Seetharaman discusses the impact of Qatar’s spat with its neighbors on banks, fundraising, and expansion strategy.

The first phone call between officials from Qatar and Saudi Arabia since the start of a three-month political impasse opened more disagreements between the nations.

Demands made of Qatar by four other Arab states were designed to be rejected, Doha's foreign minister said on Saturday, explaining that their ultimatum was aimed not at tackling terrorism but at curtailing his country's sovereignty.

FIFA says no suggestions either Russia or Qatar did anything to warrant losing the right to stage World Cup tournament.

President Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday dismissed calls for Turkey to close a military base in Qatar and said a wider list of demands issued by four Arab states was an unlawful intervention against the Gulf emirate's sovereignty.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir denies a 'blockade of Qatar,' saying during an appearance with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, that Saudi's closure of its airspace to flights from Qatar is the kingdom's 'sovereign right.'

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says the country is concerned over Arab nations cutting ties with the Gulf state.

The United States urges Saudi Arabia and its regional allies to ease their blockade imposed on Qatar, which US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says was harming the regional struggle against extremism.