£2.5 million boost to England 2018 World Cup bid campaign
By Duncan Mackay
December 19 – England’s 2018 World Cup bid received a massive boost tonight as Gordon Brown’s Government confirmed it is backing the campaign with a £2.5 million loan.
World Cup
Australian rival codes are scared of World Cup claims England bid ambassador
December 19 – Australia’s rival football codes are scared of the country staging the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 because it could sideline them, one of the ambassadors for England’s bid has claimed.
Opposition to England 2018 World Cup stadium led by top Tory
By Duncan Mackay
December 19 – A major doubt has been cast over Bristol City’s planned new £92 million 44,000 stadium at Ashton Vale only two days after it was chosen to be part of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Sheffield United and Everton angry over World Cup axe
December 18 - Sheffield United and Everton, overlooked to be part of England’s 2018 World Cup bid, have complained about being snubbed.
Hollywood star tells Australia’s World Cup critics not to act like “twits”
By Duncan Mackay
December 18 – Hollywood actor Anthony LaPaglia (pictured right), a former goalkeeper with Adelaide City, has urged the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) not to act like “twits” and scupper Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Hull Premier League future in doubt over World Cup snub
December 17 – Hull City’s future as a Premier League club could be threatened by the decision not to include the KC Stadium in England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, the club’s chairman has claimed.
Maracana Stadium to be given £175 million makeover for World Cup
By Duncan Mackay
December 17 – Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, which is due to stage the 2014 World Cup final, is to get a $300 million (£175 million) face-lift, the city’s Secretary of Sports and Tourism announced today.
England’s stadiums cannot be beaten claims Anson
By Andrew Warshaw
December 17 – England 2018 bid chief Andy Anson insists the stadiums selected to host the World Cup in nine years’ time will not suffer the same fate as the ill-fated 2006 campaign.
AFC Wimbledon angry at Milton Keynes inclusion in World Cup bid
By Duncan Mackay
December 17 – Milton Keynes’ inclusion as part of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup has been condemned by officials at AFC Wimbledon, who claim that it has re-opened the scars caused by the MK Dons controversial take-over of Wimbledon’s place in the Football League.
Qatar under-20 team from 1981 appointed World Cup ambassadors
By Duncan Mackay
December 17 – Qatar’s under-20 team that reached the final of the FIFA World Youth Championships in 1981, beating Brazil and England along the way, have been appointed as bid ambassadors for the country’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup, it was announced today.
Liverpool and Milton Keynes celebrate being part of World Cup bid
By Andrew Warshaw in London
December 16 – Any doubts about whether Liverpool would miss out on staging World Cup matches in 2018 were swept away today when Anfield was named as one of 17 stadiums in 12 venues across the country that will form a critical part of England’s bid to host the tournament in nine years’ time.
England choose host cities for 2018 World Cup bid
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By Duncan Mackay in London
December 16 – England 2018 today announced the cities that will be part of its campaign the to bring back the tournament to this country for the first time since 1966.
Exclusive: Nigerian FIFA member wants friendly with England
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By Duncan Mackay
December 15 – Dr. Amos Adamu (pictured), a member of the FIFA Executive Committee, has asked the leader of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup to arrange a friendly with Nigeria before the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Green Point Stadium in Cape Town officially finished
By Duncan Mackay
December 15 – South Africa’s Green Point Stadium, which has been chosen to host a 2010 World Cup semi-final and where England will play Algeria on June 18, has been declared complete and the keys handed over to the Mayor of Cape Town.
USA World Cup Bid Committee meets for first time
December 15 – Former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and comedian Drew Carey (pictured) today attended the first Board meeting of the US Bid Committee trying to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.