The Biden administration on Nov. 29 approved a potential sale of anti-drone systems and other arms to Qatar worth an estimated $1 billion, in a transaction that was revealed during the World Cup soccer match in Doha between the United States and Iran. The notice of the potential sale is required by law. The State Department said…

AL KHOR, Qatar—The Netherlands finished off the worst showing by any World Cup host nation by beating Qatar 2–0 on Tuesday. The Dutch advanced to the round of 16 while the Qataris, who were already eliminated, became the first host to lose all three of its group matches at soccer’s biggest event. Cody Gakpo put…

DOHA, Qatar—Qatar is to supply liquefied natural gas to Germany under a 15-year deal signed Tuesday as the European economic powerhouse scrambles to replace Russian gas supplies that have been cut during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Officials gave no dollar value for the deal, which would begin in 2026. Under the agreement, Qatar would…

Commentary The FIFA World Cup is finally underway in Qatar. Ever since this quadrennial feast of football was allocated there in 2010, the World Cup, often regarded as the most important and prestigious tournament in the world, has been overshadowed by persistent attacks on the human rights record of the host nation. For example, Amnesty…

DOHA—Host nation Qatar is perilously close to crashing out of the World Cup after they slumped to a 3–1 defeat by Senegal at the Al Thumama Stadium on Friday, despite Mohammed Muntari netting a first-ever World Cup finals goal for the Qataris. A win or a draw for Netherlands against Ecuador, who beat Qatar in…

AL KHOR, Qatar—Qatar opened the World Cup on Sunday with a lavish half-hour ceremony. “People of all races, nationalities, beliefs, and orientations will gather here in Qatar and around screens across the continents to share in the exciting moments,” Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani told the crowd in a tent-shaped stadium. “How lovely…

AL KHOR, Qatar—Enner Valencia’s two first-half goals led Ecuador to a dominant 2–0 victory over Qatar on Sunday as the home nation froze on their big night with an error-strewn display that left them as the first World Cup hosts to lose their opening game. Valencia, who had already had a third-minute header ruled out…

DOHA, Qatar—The first World Cup in the Middle East began Sunday night with a flashy opening ceremony and a match between Qatar and Ecuador without any beer for sale in the stadium. The beer ban imposed two days before the start of the tournament was the latest controversial snag for a global event already under…

DOHA, Qatar—Qatar banned the sale of beer at World Cup stadiums on Friday, a sudden U-turn on the deal the country made to secure the soccer tournament with only two days to go before the opening game. The move was the latest sign of the tension of staging the event, which is not just a…

Chevron Phillips Chemical and QatarEnergy announced on Wednesday a final decision to invest $8.5 billion to build the world’s largest polymers facility in Orange, Texas, near the Gulf Coast. “We are excited to announce taking the FID [final investment decision] on our largest petrochemical investment ever, highlighting QatarEnergy’s integrated position as a major player in…