By Duncan Mackay
January 24 – Bonita Mersiades (pictured), a key member of Australia’s campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, has quit unexpectedly on the eve of a planned trip to Angola to lobby on behalf of the bid.
January 23 – Former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler (pictured) has hit out at the critics of Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, claiming that they do not understand how huge the event is.
By Duncan Mackay
January 20 – Players in the Hyundai A-League, including former England and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler (pictured), and clubs will show their support for Australia’s bid for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 this weekend in the first of two “Come Play!” days this year.
By Duncan Mackay
January 16 – The row between the football codes in Australia have taken another twist after it emerged that Hawker Britton, a lobbying group who gave donations to Kevin Rudd’s election campaign, were hired to work for the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
January 15 – World Cup rivals Australia and Indonesia have signed an agreement to commit to closer football ties, a series of exchange programmes and more internationals between the two countries, it has been announced.
By Duncan Mackay
January 13 – Australia will attend the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Congress in Luanda to promote its bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, even though they are upset about being unable to give a presentation after rivals Qatar stepped in to sponsor the event.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 8 – Kate Ellis (pictured), Australia’s Sports Minister, insists the country’s bid to stage the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 will not be adversely affected either by kickoff schedules or by an escalating row with other sports.
By Duncan Mackay
December 28 – Former Liverpool and Leeds United striker Harry Kewell (pictured) has claimed that a World Cup in Australia would be even more successful than when the country hosted the Sydney Olympics.
By Duncan Mackay
December 26 – Australian Republicans plan to use Prince William’s visit to the country next month to protest about his support for England’s campaign to host the 2018 World Cup ahead of their own bid.
December 26 – A stadium in Melbourne that has been at the centre of a row between Australia’s bid to host the World Cup and rival football codes is to be opened next year with a week-long festival of sport featuring matches in football, rugby league and rugby union.
By Duncan Mackay
December 24 – The Australian Government has set-up a special taskforce to try to resolve the bitter row between the rival football codes that is threatening to undermine the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
December 23 – A players’ survey published today has criticised the standard of some A-League pitches, including venues proposed for World Cup matches if Australia wins the right to host either of the 2018 or 2022 events.
December 19 – Australia’s rival football codes are scared of the country staging the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 because it could sideline them, one of the ambassadors for England’s bid has claimed.
By Duncan Mackay
December 18 – Hollywood actor Anthony LaPaglia (pictured right), a former goalkeeper with Adelaide City, has urged the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) not to act like “twits” and scupper Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
By Duncan Mackay
December 14 – Jeff Kennett (pictured), one of Australia’s most prominent politicians and now the President of leading Australian Football League (AFL) club Hawthorn, has warned that the organisers behind the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup are prepared to chase their dream at the expense of everyone else.