By Andrew Warshaw
September 26 – Russia’s Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko, who became embroiled in the recent Olympic doping scandal, has been re-elected president of the Russian Football Union (RFU), crushing his only rival for the position to remain the country’s most powerful sporting official.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 16 – The United Nations’ top sports expert believes the controversial treatment of migrant workers in Qatar may never have been highlighted globally had the 2022 World Cup not been handed to the Gulf state but still questions whether the tournament should be staged there.
September 12 – The seemingly never-ending saga surrounding of the build of the Krestovsky football stadium, also known as the Zenit Arena, in St Petersburg, may at last be coming to a conclusion with Russia having given guarantees to FIFA that the stadium will be completed by the end of this year.
August 12 – Russia’s search for a winning national coach to prepare the team for the 2018 World Cup has ended with the appointment for former international goalkeeper Stanislav Cherchesov (pictured).
July 25 – Russian sports minister Vitaly Mukto, barred from attending the Rio Olympics because of the country’s doping scandal, says he sees no reasons why the 2018 World Cup, which he is in charge of organising, should be switched.
July 21 – The 2018 World Cup in Russia has come under yet more scrutiny after sports minister Vitaly Mutko, the tournament’s ultimate supremo, was barred by the International Olympic Committee from attending the forthcoming Rio Games after the damning revelations of a state-run doping system.
July 20 – Russian President Vladimir Putin has mandated officials in St. Petersburg to speed up construction of the city’s new stadium that has been earmarked as a key 2018 World Cup venue.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 19 – Russia’s staging of the 2018 World Cup looks certain to come under increasing scrutiny despite a typically hands-off FIFA response to how the damning doping scandal that has rocked the sporting world might affect its flagship event.
By David Owen
July 14 – Match Hospitality has circulated details of luxury packages for attending the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, with the highest prices for advertised products leaving little change from $3 million.
By Paul Nicholson in Paris
July 8 – With 705 days to go to the opening of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, organisers have said that stadia will be completed on time and that Russia will be ready to host “the best World Cup ever”.
By Samindra Kunti
July 7 – Qatar has been visiting and inspecting venues and facilities at Euro 2016 as it seeks to build its expertise in time for the 2022 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 7 – Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko (pictured) insists his country has learned from the bitter experience of hooliganism at Euro 2016 and that the 2018 World Cup will be safe for all supporters to attend.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 2 – Making sure he avoided any slip-ups after a tempestuous and controversial last few weeks, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, on a trip to 2018 World Cup hosts Russia, said the country was on track to stage the tournament despite economic problems caused by sanctions and the shrinking oil price.
May 31 – French authorities say they are considering launching their own investigation into Qatar being awarded the right to host the 2022 World Cup.
May 13 – The head of Russia’s 2018 World Cup organising committee Alexey Sorokin says he has been assured by new FIFA president Gianni Infantino the tournament will go ahead as planned despite allegations of corruption and the still be to be concluded Swiss probe into the bid process for both 2018 and 2022.