Southeast Asia considering joint bid for 2030 World Cup
January 17 – Foreign Ministers from Southeast Asia have discussed for the first time the possibility of a joint bid from the region to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030.
World Cup
Putin demands Russia builds high-speed rail network for 2018 World Cup
January 16 – Russian cities hosting 2018 World Cup matches should be linked by an €4 billion (£3 billion/$5 billion) integrated high-speed rail network, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said.
Papers question Qatar spending spree to secure 2022 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – Qatar’s landslide 2022 World Cup bid victory has burst into yet more controversy with two newspapers – one on either side of the Atlantic – questioning how they did it.
Talk of winter switch for Qatar World Cup “premature” says Bin Hammam
By Andrew Warshaw
January 14 – The head of Asian football has come out fighting by insisting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not be switched from summer to winter or be shared with other Gulf nations.
Platini hopes Qatar World Cup will be hosted by “entire Gulf region”
From Andrew Warshaw in Nyon
January 12 – The controversial decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has taken yet another unexpected twist with UEFA President Michel Platini suggesting it could be expanded to include other Gulf nations.
England 2018 chief of staff rewarded with new high-profile role with Rupert Murdoch
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
January 11 – Simon Greenberg, chief of staff during England’s disastrous bid to host the 2018 World Cup, has taken up a new role as the first director of corporate affairs at Rupert Murdoch’s News International.
Qatar serves up perfect conditions for football…in winter
By Andrew Warshaw at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha
January 7 – If a jaw-dropping opening ceremony and a dazzling firework display (pictured) high into the night sky are a barometer of a country’s ability to host a World Cup, then Qatar should have no worries about staging theirs in little under 12 years from now.
Blatter opens door to winter World Cup in 2022
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
January 7 – The prospect of a winter World Cup in 2022 moved a giant step closer today when FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) gave the concept his personal backing.
World Cup payments to clubs confirmed
By David Owen
January 7 – FIFA has announced details of how a $40 million (£25.9 million) pot it earmarked for clubs whose players took part in last year’s World Cup in South Africa is being distributed.
Blatter wants professional referees at Brazil 2014
By Andrew Warshaw
January 5 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter wants professional referees to be an established part of the game by the time of the next World Cup in Brazil.
Players’ union adds voice to campaign for winter World Cup 2022
By Andrew Warshaw
December 21 – The union representing professional players worldwide, FIFPro, today added its voice to the growing campaign for the Qatar 2022 World Cup to be held during the winter.
FIFA urged not to rush decision on winter switch for 2022 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
January 4 – The head of Asian football insists Qatar can still stage the 2022 World Cup in the heat of mid-summer and has urged FIFA not to make a decision about switching it to the winter until 2018 at the earliest.
Rio opens emergency response centre to help keep 2014 World Cup safe
January 3 – Rio de Janeiro has hired IBM and other major international firms to help bolster its emergency response operations in the build-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics.
Support growing for winter World Cup in Qatar
By Andrew Warshaw
December 17 – Several of the most powerful officials in world football have now indicated that the 2022 World Cup could be switched to the winter months to avoid the searing summer heat in Qatar.
Violent clashes involving Spartak Moscow fans leaves one dead
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
December 11 – Sergei Fursenko, the President of the Russian Football Union (RFU), has claimed that nationalist organisations were behind violent clashes involving Spartak Moscow fans that today claimed the life of one fan and left another 29 injured.