November 4 – A painting of David Beckham’s (pictured) footprint has sold $500,000 (£300,000) at an auction in Doha in the run-up to the England-Brazil friendly fixture there later this month.
October 15 – Russia has a good chance of being chosen to host the 2018 World Cup, FIFA President Sepp Blatter claimed after a meeting in Moscow today with the country’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
October 30 – Fabio Capello (pictured) has brushed off criticism from Sir Alex Ferguson regarding England’s upcoming friendly with Brazil in Qatar, claiming his international players will enjoy a lighter burden of work than most.
September 29 – Mexico has withdrawn its bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, claiming that they could not afford it during the current economic crisis.
September 28 – Johan Cruyff (pictured) has delayed a decision on whether to become an ambassador for Belgium and the Holland joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup because he is unsure of how much support it has.
September 21 – Plans for 12 new stadiums and strong corporate backing should make the joint Belgium-Holland bid to co-host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup finals compelling, organisers said as they formally launched their bid at a ceremony attended by Johan Cruyff (pictured) and Ruud Gullit.
September 10 – Bristol’s 2018 team has appointed former England and Tottenham Hotspur player Gary Mabbutt (pictured) as an ambassador for the city’s bid to host matches if England’s campaign to stage the World Cup is successful, they announced today.
July 20 – Indonesia’s chances of hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cup have suffered a major setback after last year’s bomb attack in the capital Jakarta, the leader of the bid admitted today.
July 17 – Indonesia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup has suffered a major setback after Premiership champions Manchester United cancelled a match there because of a massive bomb in the capital Jakarta.
May 8 – Officials in Indonesia have insisted today that their challenge to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup should be taken seriously.
April 3 – Hill & Knowlton has been appointed as the official communications agency for the joint candidature of Belgium and Holland for the World Cup 2018 and 2022, it was announced today.
March 20 – England deserves to host the 2018 World Cup, Mohamed Bin Hammam, the president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has said.
MARCH 4 – FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION chairman Lord Triesman (pictured) today announced he will not sit as a Labour peer in the House of Lords until England’s 2018 World Cup bid campaign is ove
MARCH 4 – FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION chairman Lord Triesman (pictured) today announced he will not sit as a Labour peer in the House of Lords until England’s 2018 World Cup bid campaign is ove
February 14 – A joint proposal from Belgium and the Netherlands to host the 2018 World Cup should not be ruled out against England and Russia, the leader of the bid said today.