Topic: FIFA World Cup 2014

German footballers Lukas Podolski (l.), Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira and Per Mertesacker. Photo: picture-alliance/augenklick/firo Sportphoto

Soccer as a force for integration

Success through diversity

Mesut Özil and his team colleagues not only represent multicultural Germany: they also serve as popular role models within German society. This shows that football should be afforded greater recognition as a force for integration, says Shohreh KarimianMore

Dossier: FIFA World Cup 2014Mesut Özil: A football hero in a national identity farce Football in Germany: Football can contribute to integration
Members of the Algerian national soccer team (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

FIFA World Cup 2014: Algeria

"My money's on Algeria and Russia"

The Algerian national squad are aiming to realise a dream at the World Cup in Brazil: to finally make it through to the second round. Algerian sports commentator Hafiz Deraji believes this is eminently possible and that Algeria and Russia will survive the group stage. He spoke to Adil ChroatMore

The French Football Star Samir Nasri: Anything but Pussy-FootedThe Integrative Power of Football: Those Who Score, Get to Pray to AllahFranck Bilal Ribéry: ''Always Believe in God''Football War between Algeria and Egypt: Game of Hate
Vahid Hashemian of Iran (centre) challenges Fernando Meira (left) and Miguel of Portugal during the first round match between Portugal and Iran at the 2006 World Cup (photo: ULMER/Florian Eisele)

FIFA World Cup 2014: Iran

Lack of experience is the greatest obstacle

Vahid Hashemian played for the Iranian national squad during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. In an interview with Farid Ashrafian, he recalls the 2006 championship, compares current players with those of his own generation and considers the prospects for Iran in 2014More

Integration through Football: World Cup Passion Unifies Germans and TurksMuslim and Arab Women at the Olympics: Gold Medal or Headscarf? Interview with Jafar Panahi: Offside Rules The Documentary "Football Under Cover": Soccer under the Veil
Samir Nasri (photo: Reuters)

The French Football Star Samir Nasri

Anything but Pussy-Footed

The French national football team has regained its strength. And one of the players who had a large part to play in that achievement is Samir Nasri – whose family's roots lie in Algeria. Nasri's hot temper has often caused trouble – both on and off the pitch. By André TucicMore

Karim Benzema: The Boy Next DoorFranck Bilal Ribéry: "Always Believe in God"Qantara Dossier: Football, Islam, and Integration
Franck Ribéry during prayer. Photo by larsbaron bongarts getty images.jpg

The Integrative Power of Football

Those Who Score, Get to Pray to Allah

It appears as if Islam is always perceived only as a threat. Yet, when soccer players pray to Allah, it is a popularly acclaimed declaration of faith. Nonetheless, the football pitch still has a long way to go to becoming a multicultural paradise, says Claus LeggewieMore

Franck Bilal Ribéry: "Always Believe in God" Karim Benzema: The Boy Next Door Dossier: World Cup 2014
Karim Benzema Foto getty images

Karim Benzema

The Boy Next Door

There's no place like home – if you ask Karim Benzema, French football's diamond in the rough. He still lives at home with his parents and eight siblings and is loyal to his home team, Olympique Lyon. A portrait by André TucicMore

No Arabs, No Goals – Soccer in Israel as a MetaphorDossier: World Cup 2014FIFA World Cup 2014: Iran - Lack of experience is the greatest obstacle
Franck Ribéry (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Franck Bilal Ribéry

''Always Believe in God''

Franck Ribéry has never been in better shape, and - winning the Champions League plus the award for Best Player in Europe - 2013 has been the best year of his career. Yet things have not always been so rosy for Ribéry, a devout Muslim and former construction worker; not everything in his career has come easy. A portrait by André TucicMore

FIFA World Cup 2014: "My money's on Algeria and Russia"Dossier: World Cup 2014

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Most Recent Photo Essay

It all began in Dresden on 20 October 2014. Organised by a hitherto unknown movement calling itself "Pegida" (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West), a small group of people took to the streets to demonstrate against what they saw as the Islamisation of the West. The banner reads "non violent and united against religious wars on German soil! PEGIDA". Although small, the march attracted a lot of attention in Germany and around the world.

Germans take to the streets: marching for and against Pegida

In the autumn of 1989, Dresden was one of the East German cities that became known worldwide for the peaceful "Monday demonstrations" against the government of the GDR that precipitated the fall of the Berlin Wall a few months later. One of the slogans chanted by the protesters at the time was "Wir sind das Volk" (We are the people). Twenty-five years on, a very different movement began organising weekly Monday demonstrations and chanting "Wir sind das Volk". In this photo gallery, we chart some of the reactions to Pegida and the developments relating to this anti-immigration and anti-Islam movement.