By Duncan Mackay at Soccerex in Rio de Janeiro
November 28 – Brazil will put on a “great World Cup”, the country’s new Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo promised as the annual Soccerex convention opened here today.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 28 – Former Brazilian international Ronaldo has denied reports that he has been asked to replace controversial FIFA powerbroker Ricardo Teixeira as head of the country’s 2014 World Cup Organising Committee.
By David Gold
November 17 – On his return from a trip to Brazil to see how preparations are going for the 2014 World Cup, the FIFA general secretary, Jerome Valcke, has said that he is “finally confident” that Brazil will pass a World Cup law that has been the subject of political wrangling.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – Sepp Blatter, already under fire over his comments about racism in football, has also taken Brazil to task over personality clashes between the Government and 2014 World Cup organisers.
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
November 13 – The operations director for the 2014 World Cup insists the country will be ready on time despite constant concerns expressed by both Sepp Blatter and his FIFA number two, Jerome Valcke.
By David Gold
November 13 – Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup were boosted at the weekend as 3,000 special police officers backed by 24 armoured vehicles and seven helicopters occupied Rocinha, the largest slum in Rio de Janeiro, where the final of the competition will be held.
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
November 12 – Brazil’s turbulent 2014 World Cup preparations came under the spotlight again today when FIFA’s head of security warned that traditional gun-carrying methods of imposing security at games would have to end – and fast.
By David Gold
November 10 – 22 teams across Africa get their 2014 World Cup campaigns underway this weekend as they seek to be one of five sides from the continent to qualify for the competition being held in Brazil.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has warned Brazil once again that they are lagging behind schedule and that there is “not a day to lose” in organising the World Cup.
By David Gold
November 4 – A police force has been permanently posted to a favela near the Maracanã stadium (pictured) in Rio de Janeiro, which will host the final of the 2014 World Cup and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games.
By David Gold
November 3 – FIFA’s exclusive hospitality programme rights holder MATCH Hospitality has appointed Jet Set Sports as the exclusive sales agent for Norway, Sweden, Russia and Australia for hospitality packages at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup, both being held in Brazil.
By David Gold
November 1 – Mauritius have pulled out of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil due to a lack of funds, meaning that Liberia progress to the next stage of the African qualifiers in their place.
By David Gold
October 28 – The iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which will host the final of the 2014 World Cup, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games, has had the final piece of its famous roof removed.
By Tom Degun in Guadalajara
October 27 – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has moved quickly to replace Sports Minister Orlando Silva after he yesterday resigned from his post amid corruption allegations by appointing Aldo Rebelo to the role less than 24 hours later.
By Tom Degun
October 27 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) laboratory in Rio de Janeiro is facing an investigation after it falsely reported that Brazilian beach volleyball player Pedro Solberg tested positive for doping.