Ceferin backs Spain-Portugal joint bid to host 2030 World Cup
September 6 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has backed Spain and Portugal to land the 2030 World Cup hosting rights.
World Cup
FIFA starts Qatar 2022 volunteer training at Lusail Stadium
September 5 – With the World Cup rapidly drawing near, volunteers have kicked off their training following a festive get-together at Lusail Stadium, the venue for the World Cup final.
Adidas gears up for 2022 finals with Argentina, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Spain kit launches
September 2 – Adidas has unveiled the kits for the five national teams it sponsors – Argentina, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Spain – that will be worn at the World Cup later this year in Qatar.
FIFA summons Castillo to appeal hearing that will decide Ecuador’s Qatar 2022 participation
By Andrew Warshaw
September 1 – Chile’s protracted appeal over whether Ecuador should be kicked out of the World Cup finals for fielding an ineligible player has taken a significant twist with FIFA now agreeing to hear the case in mid-September.
Morocco go local with Walid Regragui recruited to lead Qatar 2022 campaign
September 1 – Former Moroccan international Walid Regragui has been appointed head coach of the national side just three months before the World Cup.
World Cup 2022 betting markets boot up
September 1 – With three months to go the betting markets are becoming increasingly busy with bookmakers and punters looking for early positions, Brazil still top the list of most bookies’ favourites but other markets are opening up for Golden Boot, Ball and surprise packages.
Qatar issues 260,000 Hayya cards; 1.7m expected for World Cup
August 30 – Qatari authorities have issued 260,000 Hayya cards to date, ahead of the global finals in the Gulf country in November and December.
Betting markets opening up on contenders to win World Cup 2022
August 30 – The 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first to be moved to a winter time slot and the last to be competed by 32 teams, is still the Greatest Show on Earth and while it might not be the highest standard football competition on earth (the UEFA Euros are considerably more competitive), on pretty much every other metric it delivers.
Saudi Arabia extends 2022 World Cup welcome for fans with Hayya card, easing hotel pressures
August 25 – Not just Qatar, but Saudi Arabia will seek to welcome the world this November and December. In a bid to capitalise on the influx of football fans in the Gulf during the World Cup, Saudi Arabia will issue a special 60-day visa for holders of a Hayya card, a fan-id required to enter Qatar.
Qatar deports 60 migrant workers for protesting against unpaid wages
August 24 – With just months to go until the kick-off of the World Cup, hosts Qatar have deported 60 migrant workers after they protested against unpaid wages, some of whom said they had not been paid for seven months.
Chile fear FIFA delays will stop any potential CAS appeal over Ecuador’s 2022 participation
By Paul Nicholson
August 23 – The Chilean FA have expressed increasing concern over FIFA’s delay in ruling on their appeal over whether Ecuador should be expelled from the 2022 World Cup for fielding an ineligible player.
Qatar 2022: Forget the football, it’s all about the happy music, a whole album full
August 23 – A Qatar 2022 news item and with all the concerns around accommodation, at a quick glance and it could almost read Airbnb. It isn’t, in fact it is Arhbo, the new single from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Official Soundtrack.
Qatar 2022 ticket sales top 2.45 million
August 17 – FIFA is reporting ticket sales of 2.45 million for the Qatar 2022 World Cup that kicks off November 17.
DFB’s Neuendorf pledges to confront Qatar 2022 organisers over LGBT concerns
August 17 – German FA boss Bern Neuendorf has promised to raise the concerns of the LGBT community and their travelling supporters to organisers of the World Cup in Qatar, where same-sex relations remain a criminal offence.
FIFA agrees to cancel disrupted Brazil/Argentina 2022 qualifier, but fines both nations
August 17 – The suspended World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina has finally been cancelled officially after Brazil argued the risks were too great ahead of the finals in Qatar.