By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 10 – Roman Abramovich has flown to South Africa to make his first formal appearance in Russia’s campaign to host the 2018 World Cup, lobbying against England even though he is the owner of Premier League champions Chelsea.
By David Owen in Johannesburg
June 10 – Australia tonight announced that it was pulling out of the race to host the 2018 World Cup to concentrate on its efforts to stage the 2022 competition.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 8 – Asia will support Europe’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, even though one of its members is campaigning to host the tournament that year, President Mohamed Bin Hammam announced today.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 8 – Australia is emerging as the leading contender to host the 2022 World Cup, the bid’s head Frank Lowy (pictured) has claimed.
June 8 – Actress Charlize Theron is supporting Brad Pitt’s bid to see the US host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 8 – Russia has offered to help Trinidad and Tobago “in any way possible” in what seems to be an effort to persuade FIFA vice-president Jack Warner to vote for their World Cup bid ahead of England.
By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
June 7 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter insists there will be no repeat at the World Cup of Sunday’s stampede at a warmup game between Nigeria and North Korea that left 16 people injured.
By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
June 7 – The race for the 2018 World Cup has intensified after FIFA today re-affirmed the decision to endorse joint bids.
.jpg)
June 7 – SIS LIVE, Europe’s largest outside broadcast and uplink supplier, is to become an official supporter of the England 2018 World Cup bid, they have announced.
June 6 – France’s troubled build-up to the World Cup has suffered another blow after the country’s Sports Minister Rama Yade criticised the squad for staying at a luxury hotel.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 6 – England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup has rallied strongly quickly following the controversial resignation of chairman Lord Triesman, Barry Bright, the vice-chairman of the Football Association claimed today.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 5 – Prince William is set to travel to South Africa later this month to help promote England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 5 – The Russian 2018 World Cup bid team are taking Arsenal star Andrei Arshavin to South Africa next week in a bid to woo members of the FIFA Executive Committee.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 4 – Australia hope that a post-World Cup mini-tournament next month featuring Blackburn Rovers, Glasgow Rangers, AEK Athens and Sydney FC will boost the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 tournament.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 2 – The United States has added more star power to its bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups, putting actor Brad Pitt (pictured) on the Committee trying to bring back football’s top event to the country for the first time since 1994.