By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 13 – Russia have tried to put a positive spin on their lack of modern football stadiums and facilities by claiming that awarding them the 2018 World Cup would help the development of the sport in the world’s biggest country, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov claimed today.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 13 – Qatar will claim in their bid book to be handed to FIFA President Sepp Blatter in Zurich tomorrow that awarding them the 2022 World Cup would help build bridges between the East and West.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 13 – As the nine countries bidding for the 2108 and 2022 World Cups prepare to hand over their carefully prepared bid books to FIFA here tomorrow, the man who has worked on no fewer than three bids has identified a major change of strategy.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 12 – England’s World Cup bid is copying an idea from London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Parlaympics when it hands its bid book into FIFA President Sepp Blatter in Zurich on Friday (May 14).
May 11 – FIFA took the decision to inject $100 million (£67 million) into the budget of this year’s World Cup in South Africa without being asked for it, officials there claimed today.
May 11 – Wallace and Gromit, created by Bristol-based Aardman Animations, are recreating Diego Maradona’s “hand of God” goal in an advert designed to back England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
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By Andrew Warshaw at Wembley Stadium
May 10 – England’s 2018 World Cup campaign will undergo a major charm offensive by inviting FIFA President Sepp Blatter to the country after this summer’s tournament in South Africa.
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May 10 – Russia’s bid book to stage the 2018 World Cup will consist of a massive three volumes with a total of 1,100 pages.
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By Andrew Warshaw
May 10 – Australian World Cup officials left for FIFA headquarters today confident that they have solved a long-running dispute should the country win the right to stage the 2018 or 2022 event.
By Andrew Warshaw in London
May 9 – Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore (pictured) insists his organisation is fully behind England’s 2018 World Cup bid as the next crucial stage in the process approaches.
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May 7 – Mexico has thrown its support behind the United States bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup and urged the rest of the region to back it.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 6 – Billionaire Alisher Usmanov (pictured), the second biggest shareholder at Premier League Arsenal, is to financially help Russia’s bid to host the 2018 of 2022 World Cup, it was announced today.
May 6 – Manchester United are to play a high-profile exhibition match to inaugurate Kansas City’s 77,000-capacity New Arrowhead Stadium, which could be a host venue if the United States is chosen to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, it has been announced.
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May 6 – Holland and Belgium’s bid book for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup that will be presented to FIFA in Zurich next week has today been handed over to the Prime Ministers of the two country’s at a special ceremony in Antwerp.
May 6 – Cisco has signed-up as the official information technology network hardware partner for Australia’s bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, it has been announced.