By Duncan Mackay
January 20 – Players in the Hyundai A-League, including former England and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler (pictured), and clubs will show their support for Australia’s bid for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 this weekend in the first of two “Come Play!” days this year.
January 19 – A row has broken out in South Africa after Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira (pictured) refused a request from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for a week’s extension to the season because he fears it would jeopardise his team’s preparations for the World Cup.
January 18 – South Africans will be able to buy World Cup tickets over the counter, Danny Jordaan (pictured) promised today, following complaints that the existing sales system is too complicated for local fans.
By Duncan Mackay
January 18 – Prince William (pictured) has again been attacked for supporting England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup ahead of Australia’s, even though he is one day set to become the country’s head of state.
January 17 – Durban is planning to hold a special 100 Days Celebration for the World Cup at its spectacular Moses Mabhida Stadium on March 2.
January 16 – Tickets for Miami, a controversial choice to host matches if the United States bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, will sell out in 24 hours, a leading official there has predicted.
By Duncan Mackay
January 16 – The row between the football codes in Australia have taken another twist after it emerged that Hawker Britton, a lobbying group who gave donations to Kevin Rudd’s election campaign, were hired to work for the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
By Duncan Mackay
January 15 – Russia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup today announced it had signed up its second sponsor of the week when law firm Yust were unveiled.
By Duncan Mackay
January 15 – Chicago withdrew its bid to stage World Cup matches if the United States campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup is successful because the city refused to underwrite a guarantee of $10 million (£6 million) following its doomed attempt to host the 2016 Olympics, it has emerged today.
January 15 – World Cup rivals Australia and Indonesia have signed an agreement to commit to closer football ties, a series of exchange programmes and more internationals between the two countries, it has been announced.
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By David Owen
January 12 – The hard-fought contest to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is turning into a goldmine for world football confederations.
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By David Owen
January 12 – The hard-fought contest to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is turning into a goldmine for world football confederations. Read more …
By Duncan Mackay
January 13 – Indonesia’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup is facing another set-back after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warned the Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) that they could face disciplinary action following several incidents, including a one-man pitch invasion, during the 2011 Asian Cup pre-qualifying in Jakarta last week.
By Duncan Mackay
January 13 – Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup has received its most high-profile endorsement so far after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (pictured) said that he believes that they could host the tournament.
By Duncan Mackay
January 13 – Australia will attend the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Congress in Luanda to promote its bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, even though they are upset about being unable to give a presentation after rivals Qatar stepped in to sponsor the event.