By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 29 – The first major test of Brazil’s ability to organise the 2014 World Cup takes place tomorrow with a star-studded preliminary draw inside a giant makeshift auditorium at Rio de Janeiro’s swish Marina da Gloria.
By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 29 – Sao Paulo officials today insisted the city will definitely be ready to stage the opening match of the 2014 World Cup, with a final decision to be made by FIFA’s Executive Committee in October.
By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 28 – Vastly more Brazilians are looking forward to the FIFA World Cup in 2014 than the Rio Olympic Games two years later.
By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 27 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter admitted today that preparations for the 2014 World Cup could be more advanced but said the country deserved to host the tournament and would end up proving critics wrong.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Brazil’s Ricardo Teixeira, one of football’s most prominent powerbrokers, has launched a savage attack on the English Football Association, saying he will “make their lives hell” as long as he remains a member of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee.
By David Gold
July 25 – A riot in a São Paulo derby between Guarani and Ponte Preta has raised fresh doubts on Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 21 – Brazil’s Sports Minister Orlando Silva has attempted to dismiss fears surrounding the country’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup by insisting that all 12 stadia will be completed by the end of 2013.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 15 – One of the most embarrassing episodes hindering progress for the 2014 World Cup has moved a step closer to being resolved after Sao Paulo’s chances of hosting the opening game were given a major boost following the approval of a funding package for a new 65,000-seater stadium for local club Corinthians.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 14 – Brazil’s 2014 World Cup preparations may be the subject of constant criticism but the five-time world champions are setting up a galaxy of stars for the preliminary draw on July 30.
By David Gold in London
June 30 – Brazil is facing a race against time to ensure the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro is ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup, whilst doubts over the construction of stadia in Natal and São Paulo persist, according to a report released today by UK Trade & Industry.
By David Gold
June 25 – Brazilian legend Romario has criticised Brazil’s World Cup preparations and said that costs are spiralling out of control.
By David Gold
June 15 – As Belize prepares to kick off the first qualifier for the 2014 World Cup when they take on Montserrat, they have been told by FIFA that they face sanctions if their Government interferes with the country’s football federation.
By David Gold
June 14 – Cities hosting World Cup games in Brazil in 2014 will be the first to enjoy the benefits of 4G wireless technology as super fast mobile internet access comes to the country.
By David Gold
June 7 – Edusport Travel has been appointed as the exclusive South African agent of MATCH hospitality, the rights holder of the FIFA hospitality programme, to sell the packages for the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup, taking place in Brazil.
By David Gold
June 1 – FIFA has expressed fresh concerns over Brazil’s progress in developing its infrastructure sufficiently in time for the 2014 World Cup.