Qatar investigates death of steelworker at Al Bayt stadium
May 2 – Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organisers have come under renewed scrutiny after announcing than an Indian steelworker employed on a World Cup site has died.
World Cup
Russia 2018 names venues for the Fan Fest sites across 11 cities
April 28 – The locations of the Official FIFA Fan Fest venues in the 11 cities hosting Russia 2018 World Cup matches have been announced by the Local Organising Committee. In total the sites will have a combined capacity of 267,000.
Infantino positive on Qatar 2022 preparations and urges progress on worker welfare
By Andrew Warshaw
April 22 – Gianni Infantino wasted no time, on his first trip to Qatar since becoming FIFA president, in stressing the need for the 2022 World Cup hosts to maintain efforts to improve workers’ welfare.
Infantino worries about his bet as Moscow prepares to communicate
April 22 – New FIFA president Gianni Infantino joked that his only remaining question over the Russia 2018 World Cup on his recent visit was on his “bet with Minister Mutko if I will speak better Russian or he better English in 2018.” Mutko may not have mastered the English-language but the Russians are increasingly showing they have a grip of World Cup communication.
Infantino targets Russia 2018 for debut of World Cup video refs
By Andrew Warshaw
April 20 – New FIFA president Gianni Infantino says video replays could be introduced in time for the 2018 World Cup.
Brazil 2014 legacy: Arena Corinthians build dragged into money-laundering investigations
By Samindra Kunti
March 24 – Brazil’s Lavo Jato scandal is further escalating. This time bribes may have been offered in relation to the construction of Arena Corinthians, a 2014 FIFA World Cup venue.
Labour group says Qatar reforms have progressed but ‘challenges’ still need work
March 24 – The International Labour Organisation (ILO), one of the oldest established United Nations agencies with 186 member states, says Qatar is making progress toward ending forced labour and improving conditions for migrant workers but that the real test will be whether it actually enforces new legislation by an ILO-imposed December deadline.
Qatar 2022: Bedouin tents to offer fans that authentic World Cup experience
March 22 – Organisers of the 2022 Qatar World Cup are considering the option of housing fans under the stars in Bedouin-style super-tents.
South African trio banned for fixing 2010 World Cup warm-ups
By Andrew Warshaw
March 15 – Two weeks after the South African authorities accused FIFA of not acting decisively enough following a lengthy match-fixing investigation, three officials have been banned over their role in rigging a string of international friendlies in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup which the country hosted.
Glasgow steps up to host the 2016 Homeless World Cup in Europe’s other showcase
February 22 – While Europe’s football elite will be strutting their way round France in five-star accommodation and with plenty of cash to flash, another group of footballers will be taking far more significant and humble personal journey to Glasgow. The Scottish city will host the 2016 Homeless World Cup from July 10-16, the 14th edition of the event and the second time it has been hosted in Scotland.
Russians cap prices for 2018 World Cup hotels
February 17 – Football fans looking for cheap accommodation at the Russia 2018 World Cup are unlikely to find it in Moscow or St Petersburg, but could find value in Kaliningrad and Rostov.
Qatar set to commit further $22bn in 2016 on World Cup 2022 infrastructure
By Samindra Kunti
February 9 – Qatar will award $22 billion worth of new contracts in 2016 as the Emirate maintains its spending spree in advance of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Mutko says Blatter and Platini will be both be welcome at Russia 2018
February 9 – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini will both be invited to the 2018 World Cup in Russia but in what capacity they would be permitted to attend is still not clear.
Russia unveils Confed Cup 2017 branding with 500 days to go before kick off
By Paul Nicholson
February 4 – With all the noise around FIFA presidential elections and reform you could be forgiven for forgetting that the Confederations Cup, the warm-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is just 500 days away. That is unless you were in the GUM department store by Red Square in Moscow yesterday.
FIFA holds back $92m of World Cup ‘legacy’ cash from Brazil
By Samindra Kunti
December 21 – FIFA is suspending further transfers from a World Cup legacy fund to Brazil pending further talks with the Brazilian federation, the CBF. Brazil has only received $8.7 million from the fund 17 months after the most profitable World Cup in history.