FIFA give Maracanã once over as Confederation and World Cup deadlines loom
By David Gold
September 8 – A delegation of FIFA and Brazil 2014 members have visited the renovation works on the iconic Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
World Cup
Platini continues to push for a 2022 winter World Cup in Qatar
By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – UEFA President Michel Platini has reiterated his call for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be played in winter to avoid the searing heat of the desert summer where temperatures can reach 50 degrees.
Russian Premier lambasts “disgraceful” St Petersburg stadium construction
By David Gold
September 4 – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has launched a blistering attack on the construction efforts for a new stadium in St Petersburg for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
World Cup 2014 official ball to be dubbed Brazuca, following Brazilian poll
By Andrew Warshaw
September 3 – The official match ball for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals will be named Brazuca, a term used by Brazilians to describe national pride in the country’s way of life and which symbolises emotion and pride.
Reports that Rio will host Brazil 2014 quarterfinal match denied
By David Gold
September 1 – FIFA and Brazil 2014 have denied reports that Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã could stage a quarterfinal of the World Cup.
G4S withdraws from bidding for Brazil 2014 and Rio 2016 security contracts after London 2012 shambles
By Duncan Mackay at the Main Press Centre on the Olympic Park in London
August 30 – G4S has ruled out bidding for the security contracts at the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics following the fiasco at London 2012, which it confirmed will cost the company £50 million ($78 million/€64 million).
FIFA’s Valcke back in Brazil for World Cup venue tour
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Six months being after told he would not be welcome any longer because of a highly publicised rift, FIFA secretary-general Jérôme Valcke is once again back in Brazil on another visit to 2014 World Cup venues having seemingly patched up his differences with the tournament organisers.
Brazil will meet expectations for Olympics and World Cup, insists Sports Minister
By David Gold
August 24 – Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo has insisted that there is “no secret” to staging a major sports event and that the country is prepared for the challenges ahead.
Railways respond to reports that 2018 World Cup high speed rail plans have been axed
By David Gold
August 23 – Russian Railways have responded to reports that the Government could shelve plans to finance high-speed rail links for the 2018 FIFA World Cup by questioning how else large numbers of people will be transported during the tournament.
Brazil 2014 volunteer programme open for applications
By David Gold
August 23 – Brazil 2014 has announced that it has opened the recruitment process for the FIFA World Cup volunteer programme.
Barcelona’s Alves named as Brazil 2014 World Cup ambassador
By David Gold
August 23 – Barcelona’s Dani Alves has revealed he will be a FIFA World Cup ambassador for his home state of Bahia.
World Cup star Beckenbauer to help Kaliningrad bid for Russia 2018 host city status
By David Gold
August 18 – Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup with Germany as both a player and manager, is to help Kaliningrad’s bid to host matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Pelé set to be the global face of Brazil 2014 and Rio 2016
By Duncan Mackay
August 16 – Pelé’s profile, already skyhigh thanks to his position as the world’s best-ever footballer, is set to rocket even higher after he signed a deal that will see him become the face of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Adidas calls on fans to name Brazil 2014 World Cup ball
By David Gold
August 15 – Adidas is asking football fans across the world to vote for the name of the ball that will be used during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
World Cup 2010 match may have been fixed, claims FIFA’s former security head
By Andrew Warshaw
August 8 – FIFA’s former head of security has dramatically claimed that Greece’s 2010 World Cup game against Nigeria might have been fixed and is under investigation.