By Andrew Warshaw in London
August 21 – England 2018 bid officials have chosen Manchester, Sunderland, Newcastle and London as candidate cities to host the FIFA inspection team when the eagerly awaited visit gets under way on Monday (August 23).
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By Andrew Warshaw
August 20 – Paul the Octopus, who became internationally famous for correctly predicting results during the World Cup, has become the latest global figure to back England’s bid to host the 2018 tournament – though this time as an ambassador, as reported first on insideworldfootball last month.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – FIFA’s 2018 World Cup inspection team completed its fact-finding tour of Russia today after repeated assurances the country would be ready to host football’s flagship tournament in eight years’ time.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 19 – David Beckham today launched a campaign urging English football fans to show their support for the country’s bid for the 2018 World Cup by getting involved in events aimed at impressing a FIFA inspection team when it visits next week.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 18 – Kazan and Sochi were the latest stops visited today by the FIFA inspection team as they continued to assess Russia’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
By David Owen
August 17 – Russia is ready to introduce a visa-free regime for fans attending World Cup football matches, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has told a FIFA inspection team, as the country wheeled out the big guns in support of its ambition to host the 2018 World Cup.
August 17 – Plymouth Argyle have unveiled plans for a £150 million ($235 million) redevelopment of Home Park, which they hope will be part of the 2018 World Cup if England’s bid to stage the tournament is successful.
August 17 – The England 2018 World Cup Bid has announced the signing of Thomas Lyte as an Official Supporter.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 16 – Russia will do everything possible to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, the country’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko vowed as FIFA’s inspection team arrived in St Petersburg to begin its four-day visit.
By David Owen
August 16 - David Cameron (pictured right), the British Prime Minister, is to miss next week’s visit by FIFA inspectors assessing England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 13 – Dutch and Belgian bid officials believe their so-called “World Coaches legacy programme” will be the key factor that could persuade FIFA to grant them the 2018 World Cup.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 13 – Nottingham’s proposed controversial new stadium to host World Cup matches if England’s bid to host 2018 is successful is set to be moved from its original location, it has been reported.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 12 – Russia’s 2018 World Cup bid team has delivered the broadest hint yet that the FIFA inspection team about to visit the country will be able to include Moscow in their itinerary.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 11 – Russian officials insisted today that next week’s FIFA inspection visit for their 2018 World Cup candidature would most likely still go ahead despite the drought crisis that has plunged Moscow into a choking heat cloud.
August 11 – A battle is set to be launched over the allocation of World Cup spots between Asia and Oceania, Japan Football Association President Junji Ogura has predicted.