Japan appoints three new World Cup bid ambassadors
By David Owen
February 25 - The Japan 2018-2-22 World Cup bid has added three more players to its team of ambassadors.
World Cup
Warner: South Africa World Cup will break even
By David Owen
February 24 – Jack Warner (pictured) has entered the debate about the wisdom of staging the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, telling insideworldfootball in an exclusive interview that it was “inconceivable” that South Africa could put on as financially successful a tournament as Germany.
Exclusive: Munich 2018 to be promoted by Bundesliga
By Duncan Mackay in Vancouver
February 23 – The Bundesliga, the world’s most popular football league, is to back Munich’s bid to host the 2018 Olympics and Paralympics, it was announced at a special ceremony here tonight.
Qatar: No let-up in the style stakes
By Andrew Warshaw
February 23 – Qatar may not be everyone’s cup of tea as far as hosting the World Cup in 2022 but they have shown once again that if prizes were awarded for stylish presentations as distinct from footballing pedigree, they would be handed the tournament on a plate.
Anson spells out state of play
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By Andrew Warshaw at Wembley
February 23 – David Dein’s (pictured) first role as international president of England’s 2018 World Cup bid will be a face-to-face meeting with Jack Warner, the veteran FIFA powerbroker who famously denounced the bid as too lightweight in October last year.
Qatar unveil Guardiola as 2022 World Cup ambassador
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By Andrew Warshaw in Barcelona
February 18 – Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola today became the latest big name to be unveiled as ambassador for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid.
Dein given key role by England 2018
By Andrew Warshaw
February 18 – Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein (pictured) has been appointed international President of England’s 2018 World Cup bid campaign team, it has been announced.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter denounce critics of South Africa hosting the World Cup
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By Andrew Warshaw
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has once again gone on the attack to denounce critics of South Africa hosting the World Cup.
Indonesia 2022 World Cup bid on life-support machine
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By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 – Indonesia’s flagging campaign to stage the 2022 World Cup was hanging by a thread today after it emerged that the Government was still stalling over contributing vital support.
Gullit to lead Holland and Belgium World Cup bid
By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 - Holland and Belgium’s joint bid to stage the 2018 World Cup was given fresh heavyweight impetus today when Ruud Gullit (pictured) was named as bid President.
England 2018 sign BT in £1 million deal
February 5 – England 2018 today announced BT as an official communications partner in a deal worth £1 million.
Fursenko targets 2018 World Cup after being elected RFU President
By Duncan Mackay
February 3 – Former Zenit Saint Petersburg President Sergei Fursenko (pictured) was elected as the new president of the Russian Football Union (RFU) at a special conference today and immediately set his sights on ehlping the country win its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
FIFA signs up first Chinese World Cup sponsor
February 3 – Yingli Green Energy, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of solar panels, was unveiled as the first Chinese company to sponsor the FIFA World Cup today.
South African rugby season to continue during World Cup
February 2 – South Africa will play France in a Test match on June 12 in Cape Town, Springbok officials confirmed on Tuesday, dispelling doubts that the country would have to abandon its rugby union season because it clashes with the World Cup.
FIFA try to reassure South African media over press freedom for World Cup
By Duncan Mackay
February 1 – FIFA today issued a press release which seeks to reassure South Africa’s media that the purpose of accreditation terms is “not, and has never been, to restrict press freedom”.