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2026 FIFA World Cup

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Jun 11, 2026, 10:48 AM

Zionist’s Guide to the World Cup–Groups K/L Previews

Group K It is likely that Portugal goes around with a chip on its shoulder vis-a-vis its larger, more populous Iberian Peninsula neighbor. For instance, when Spain expelled its Jews in 1492, it was regarded as a significant event in...

Jun 10, 2026, 9:35 PM

Who Should Israelis Root for in the World Cup?

Illustrative: AI image created by the author.

Israel is not in the World Cup this year, which gives Israeli fans a rare and strangely liberating opportunity: they can watch without heartbreak arriving in the 87th minute. No calculators. No goal-difference anxiety. No “mathematically still alive” delusions. No...

Jun 10, 2026, 2:34 PM

Zionist’s Guide to the World Cup Group–H/I/J Previews

Group H In past editions of the Zionist's Guide to the World Cup (ZGWC), Spain was consistently rated poorly. This assessment was based almost entirely on those inconveniences of 500+ years ago commonly known as the Expulsion from Spain and...

Jun 9, 2026, 2:35 PM

Zionist’s Guide to the World Cup Group–E/F/G Previews

The much-reviled Group of Death will be revealed somewhere below. Group E Dear Reader(s), it is a testament to the shock of October 7th and the evident anti-Semitic bloodlust in Europe–as well as much of the rest of the world–that Germany...

Jun 8, 2026, 6:33 PM

Zionist’s Guide to the World Cup–Group B/C/D Previews

(Dear Reader(s): If you read far enough in this lengthy post, you will find a bonus Bob Dylan quote.) Group B Every World Cup features a first-round group known histrionically as “The Group of Death.” The title is applied to...

Jun 7, 2026, 1:56 PM

Zionist’s Guide to the World Cup: Group A preview

A dancer performs along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City, Saturday, June 6, 2026 ahead of the FIFA World Cup. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Mexico and South Africa can count us out – there's only one Group A team we're pulling for — and it's not just because it comes from the land of the Golem

Jun 6, 2026, 2:22 PM

Israeli World Cup Loyalties Are Moving from Europe to South America

Illustrative. AI image created by the author.

How Have Spain’s and France’s Policies Toward Israel Affected Israeli Support for Their National Teams? And Which Country Will Capture Israeli Hearts During the Next Month? A new study by Sapio reveals a striking shift in Israeli football loyalties ahead...

Jun 5, 2026, 6:38 PM

World Cup 2026: More distraction than romance

Why Winning the World Cup Seldom Sparks a Baby Boom Author: Jose (Yossi) Chvaicer, June 2026 ABSTRACT For decades, commentators have repeated a seductive claim: when a nation wins the FIFA World Cup, a baby boom follows nine months later. This study...

May 30, 2026, 5:14 PM

Treasure Trove: About Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 1956 Soccer Match in Toronto

From the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com). Photograph by David Matlow.

This June and July, Toronto will host six games in the FIFA World Cup. These are important, but Toronto is no stranger to important soccer matches. Seventy years ago, Maccabi Tel Aviv played the Ontario All Stars at Maple...

May 25, 2026, 11:36 AM

Seattle’s World Cup ‘Pride Match’: A Collision of Activism, Culture, and Sport

(via YouTube, September 2018)

When the City of Seattle decided to brand one of its 2026 FIFA World Cup matches as a “Pride Match,” city organizers likely believed they were sending a message about inclusion, diversity, and the values the city wants to...

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