John Duerden has lived in Asia for over 20 years and is currently based in London. An author of four books, he covers Asian sports for The Guardian, Associated Press, ESPN, World Soccer, and other outlets
In-Depth: The Arab world sent a record eight teams to the World Cup, but their mixed fortunes reveal the long road ahead to building lasting football power
A record eight Arab nations will take part in the expanded 2026 World Cup. From Morocco's proven pedigree to Jordan's debut, expectations are higher than ever
