Culture - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

culture cover image

Culture

Members of the Iranian national soccer team including midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh (R) arrive at Tijuana International Airport on June 7, 2026, in Tijuana, Mexico.

Culture

World Cup opens amid visa disputes for Iran, Iraq and Somalia

Iran says a number of team staff were denied entry into the US, with Trump administration officials touting efforts to prevent affiliates of designated terrorist groups from entering.

Morocco's midfielder Azzedine Ounahi celebrates scoring with teammates during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E African qualification football match between Morocco and Niger at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat on September 5, 2025. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)

Culture

10 MENA teams at 2026 World Cup: Morocco eyes title, Iran faces visa hurdles

Jordan is competing in its first World Cup, while Iraq is making only its second appearance, as teams from the region seek to advance against European and Latin American powerhouses.

Latest News

Culture

UK bans US political pundits Hasan Piker, Cenk Uygur: What we know

Cenk Uygur, founder and CEO of TYT, attends The Young Turks (TYT) 20th Anniversary Celebration at YouTube Space LA, May 25, 2022, Los Angeles.

Culture

Tyre, Lebanon’s ‘Queen of the Seas,’ devastated by Israeli bombing: What to know

Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment on the village of Qlaile as pictured from nearby Tyre in southern Lebanon on April 7, 2026. The Israeli military said on April 7 that it had completed the deployment of ground troops along a "defence line" in southern Lebanon, where it is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah. The military has not given any geographical details on the furthest point to which its soldiers have advanced into Lebanese territory. (Photo by Kawnat Haju/AFP via Getty Images)

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Nazlan Ertan

In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture

Danny Makki

In London, reporting on Syrian politics and culture

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Rebecca Anne Proctor

In Dubai, reporting on culture

Gal Gadot

Culture

'Snow White' banned in Lebanon, Kuwait over Israeli star Gal Gadot

Lebanon's government banned Disney's latest film for its inclusion of Israeli actress Gal Gadot while countries like the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan plan to show the movie.