December 11 – Liverpool are backing calls by human rights groups for thorough investigations into the deaths of migrant workers in Qatar – before the club flies out next week for the Club World Cup.
December 11 – FIFA were the target of spying and hacking by the United Arab Emirates as US intelligence agents helped the Emirate to build a secret surveillance unit, a Reuters report has revealed.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 31 – The murky business of World Cup bidding has been thrust back into the spotlight by leaked emails which claim to offer a blueprint of how Russia could bribe FIFA’s most senior officials to vote for them to stage the 2018 tournament.
October 25 – English football has started planning for the mid-season 2022 World Cup with the prospect of its top two divisions playing right up until nine days before the start of the tournament in Qatar.
October 25 – The host nation for the 2030 World Cup will be chosen in 2024, giving the winner just six years to prepare, following a decision by the FIFA Council.
October 17 – In a key move that provides a significant political and psychological boost for Qatar’s World Cup organisers, the Gulf state has pledged to fully eliminate the antiquated and controversial kafala sponsorship system that ties foreign workers to their employer.
September 19 – New research conducted by Amnesty International suggests migrant workers in Qatar continue to be mistreated despite promises to improve their rights ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
By Samindra Kunti
September 11 – Zimbabwe’s Khama Billiat broke Somalian hearts with a late strike on Tuesday to end East Africans dreams of progressing to the group phase of World Cup qualifying for the first time. At the end of the emotions, Guinea-Bissau created history, progressing for the first time with a 2-1 aggregate win over Sao Tome e Principe.
September 4 – African nations kick off their long road to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar today with the continent’s 28 lowest-ranked sides playing for a place in the second round group phase qualifying that begins next March.
September 4 – Qatar 2022 World Cup organisers have launched the event’s Official Emblem in an unveiling that was timed for 20:22 local time in Doha and projected simultaneously on some of Qatar’s most iconic buildings, as well as in a number of major cities around the world.
September 2 – Qatar will release the emblem for the 2022 World Cup at 8.22pm local time in Doha through an international digital campaign as the next World Cup host nation steps up its preparations.
August 2 – Brazil are the second nation to reconfirm they will be a candidate to host the expanded 2023 Women’s World Cup, following Australia’s announcement yesterday. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) had expressed an interest in staging the 24-team tournament, and have indicated the new 32-team format would not be a hurdle for them.
July 30 – Twenty eight African teams learned who their first opposition would be on the road to Qatar after the draw for the preliminary round of Africa’s qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup was held on Monday.
June 28 – The 2034 World Cup might still be in the distant future with the bidding process for the 2030 iteration yet to be properly administered, but Australia and Indonesia are mulling over a joint bid for the tournament.
June 18 – Former UEFA president and French football legend Michel Platini has been detained for questioning on suspicion of corruption over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, according to reports.