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FIFA World Cup

Vox’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup. The beautiful game, explained for both casual and die-hard soccer fans.

The Spanish sexual misconduct scandal roiling soccer, explainedThe Spanish sexual misconduct scandal roiling soccer, explained
Sports

Spanish soccer president Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed a player after the World Cup. For weeks, he refused to resign.

By Li Zhou
The World Cup is missing its climate goals. It should still keep taking shots.The World Cup is missing its climate goals. It should still keep taking shots.
Science

Why we shouldn’t give up on reducing the climate impact of sports.

By Umair Irfan
How FIFA corruputed the World CupHow FIFA corruputed the World Cup
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And how Russia and Qatar took advantage of it.

By Sam Ellis
How migration has shaped the World CupHow migration has shaped the World Cup
World Politics

The number of foreign-born players at the World Cup is increasing. Here’s why.

By Youyou Zhou
Qatar’s anti-LGBTQ policies, explainedQatar’s anti-LGBTQ policies, explained
World Politics

The FIFA World Cup has highlighted Qatar’s laws and attitudes towards homosexuality.

By Ellen Ioanes
How Qatar built stadiums with forced laborHow Qatar built stadiums with forced labor
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And hurt thousands of migrant workers.

By Christina Thornell
How the World Cup’s AI instant replay worksHow the World Cup’s AI instant replay works
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Video

A new hyper-accurate technology and referees’ eternal quest for objectivity.

By Edward Vega
Where to aim a penalty kickWhere to aim a penalty kick
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Video

When you see hundreds of kicks, it’s possible to make some conclusions.

By Phil Edwards
Qatar’s migrant labor system is bigger than the World CupQatar’s migrant labor system is bigger than the World Cup
World Politics

Migrant workers are the backbone of Qatar’s economy, but many are incredibly vulnerable.

By Ellen Ioanes
What else Qatar has built with its absurd wealth besides the 2022 World CupWhat else Qatar has built with its absurd wealth besides the 2022 World Cup
World Politics

The World Cup has exhibited Qatar’s soft power. Look closely to see its constraints.

By Jonathan Guyer
Despite its brutal tactics, Iran’s regime fails to contain mass protestsDespite its brutal tactics, Iran’s regime fails to contain mass protests
World Politics

The women and youth-led movement has proven hard to put down.

By Ellen Ioanes
The many, many controversies surrounding the 2022 World Cup, explainedThe many, many controversies surrounding the 2022 World Cup, explained
World Politics

Since FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar in 2010, the tournament has been ensnared in a tangled web of scandals.

By Ian Ward
2018 World Cup in Russia2018 World Cup in Russia
World Politics

How to watch, whom to watch for, and the biggest news from the highly anticipated tournament.

By Vox Staff
Why soccer teams that go first in shootouts usually winWhy soccer teams that go first in shootouts usually win
Explainers

The agony and ecstasy of a soccer penalty kick, explained with behavioral economics.

By Umair Irfan
Why soccer players take divesWhy soccer players take dives
Science

Lots of athletes fake falls and injuries. But soccer stars have honed the art.

By Umair Irfan
9 questions about the World Cup you were too embarrassed to ask
Explainers

How does the World Cup work? Who will win? And what’s the official song?

By Alex Ward
How to really watch the World CupHow to really watch the World Cup
The Big Idea

A trip inside the memory palace of the beautiful game.

By Laurent Dubois