January 10 – Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has joined the chorus of disapproval over FIFA’s decision to select Manaus in the heart of the Amazon rain forest as one of the World Cup stadiums.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 6 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has revealed the full extent of Brazil’s lack of World Cup preparations with an unprecedented blast at this year’s hosts. As FIFA’s December 31 deadline for the 12 World Cup stadiums to be ready came and went with half of them still behind schedule, Blatter criticised the organisers by declaring no host had ever been as far behind at this stage in his 38 years with football’s world governing body.
By David Owen
December 16 – FIFA has announced the appointment of Glasgow-based Aggreko as a branded licensee for the 2014 World Cup, in a move expected to save about $20 million in running costs for the 12 host-cities that will stage the tournament in Brazil next year.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 16 – Brazil’s preparations for next year’s World Cup have been rocked by yet another fatality at a stadium being used for the tournament after a young construction worker fell to his death, heightening safety fears six months ahead of the big kickoff. The latest death came at the Manaus Arena in the Amazonian jungle region where England will meet Italy.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 10 – FIFA and World Cup organisers have been quick to re-assure an anxious public that the shocking scenes of violence at a Brazilian championship game at the weekend, screened across the world, were far removed from what can be expected next summer.
By Paul Nicholson
December 6 – “There is a bit of mystery about pot X,” said FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke at the 2014 World Cup draw in Costa do Sauipe in Brazil. There was no mystery once the draw was made and the teams were allocated – the World Cup is without doubt underway.
By Paul Nicholson
December 4 – Adidas officially launched the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil ball, the Brazuca, at Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro last night. Normally launched alongside the World Cup draw, which takes place at a beach resort near Salvador this Friday, adidas chose to stay in Rio for its global launch and a spectacular 3-D light show.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 28 – Brazil’s World Cup preparations, dogged by the probability that many of its 12 stadia will not be completed before FIFA’s end-of-year deadline, have been further rocked by the deaths of two workers at the Sao Paulo venue due to host the symbolic opening game next year.
November 27 – On the field, Brazil’s famous yellow jersey is one of the most iconic pieces of apparel in world football. Off it, the recent unveiling of the kit Brazil will wear when it hosts the World Cup next summer has sparked the latest battle in the war for shirt supremacy between fierce rivals Nike and Adidas.
November 21 – Uruguay became the 32nd and final country to reach next year’s World Cup finals on Wednesday at the predictable expense of Jordan. But the underdogs returned home with their heads held high.
By Olly Howick
November 21 – The World Cup play-off billed as ‘Ronaldo v Ibrahimović’ didn’t disappoint with all six goals coming from the two players. Ronaldo came out the clear winner with four of the goals and a trip to Brazil for the finals. He was also a big winner in the social media battle off the pitch.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 20 – European representation at next year’s World Cup is now complete after France incredibly came back from the brink to become the first country ever to overcome a two-goal first-leg playoff deficit.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 14 – Uruguay and Mexico have all but booked their places in next year’s World Cup with thumping victories over rank outsiders Jordan and New Zealand respectively.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo has never been afraid to speak his mind whether as a player or in his new role as a prominent member of the organising committee for next year’s World Cup. The former striker, who scored both goals in the 2002 final and starred in European club football with PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Internazionale, Real Madrid and Milan, was in London this week to promote Brazil 2014.
November 6 – The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), the Qatar-based organisation that is increasingly becoming an important player when it comes to tackling the integrity of sport – in particular match-fixing and discrimination – has signed a partnership with UNICEF in Brazil.