England to host 2018 World Cup, sort of…
By David Owen
October 27 – England wanted to stage a football World Cup in 2018 – and now it is to get its wish.
World Tournaments
Cardiff, Stockholm, and Wembley on stand-by as Brussels given Euro 2020 deadline
By Andrew Warshaw
September 21 – Belgium’s football leaders have been given an end-of-November deadline to convince UEFA they can deliver a stadium to host part of Euro 2020.
France 2019 targets a billion viewers as UEFA qualifying begins
By Samindra Kunti
September 21 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France to attract a billion viewers as local organisers unveiled the logo, slogan (‘Dare to Shine’) and additional scheduling details. Across Europe, qualifying got underway for the tournament with England trouncing Russia 6-0.
Germany crash out of Euro 2017. Austria, Denmark, England and Holland make up last four
By Samindra Kunti
July 31 – The Women’s Euro 2017 Championship in Holland burst into life this weekend with the quarter-finals. Denmark knocked out defending champions Germany in a major upset while England, Austria and the hosts progressed to the last four as well. UEFA recording record TV audiences during the group stages.
Lionesses roar in the rain. Dutch have the courage. France and Germany slow to start
July 24 – With two rounds of group games completed in the Women’s Euro 2017 in Holland, the hosts and England are the only two teams with a 100% record.
Biggest ever Women’s Euros open with win for Dutch hosts
By Samindra Kunti
July 17 – Hosts Holland opened the biggest edition of the Women’s Euros to date with a 1-0 over Norway. The 2017 Women’s Euro has been expanded to 16 teams with an increased prize pot of €8 million (£7 million).
Kashima to stage Olympic football in 2020
By David Owen
July 11 – The city of Kashima was endorsed as a Tokyo 2020 football venue at Monday’s meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board.
France unveil venues for 2019 Women’s World Cup, Lyon to host opening match and final
By Samindra Kunti
June 15 – The French Football Federation (FFF) has announced the nine cities that will host the matches of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup after due consultation with FIFA. Lyon will host both the opening match and the final.
Mane’s miss sends Cameroon through with Egypt, Ghana and Burkina Faso
By Samindra Kunti
January 31 – Liverpool’s Sadio Mane missed the decisive spot kick as Cameroon beat Senegal 5-4 on penalties to reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. Seven-times winners Egypt also progressed to the last four with a narrow 1-0 win against rivals Morocco.
EURO 2016 provided €1.2bn boost to French economy, says report
January 25 – A report into the economic impact of the UEFA EURO 2016 championships in France found that despite terror fears and high security levels, fans turning up to watch the tournament injected more than €1.2 billion into the French economy.
Brazil and Ukraine take Paralympic football honours
September 19 – Brazil kept up their Olympic momentum with Gold and Bronze medals in the Rio Paralympic football tournaments. Their success in the five-a-side final at the Olympic Tennis Centre was their fourth successive win.
Nigerian row erupts over who took Japanese donor’s Olympic cash gift
August 23 – Nigerian football has been plunged into fresh controversy – and this time after celebrating a bronze medal in the Olympic men’s football tournament.
Allardyce joins calls for British football politicos to end their Olympic politics
By Andrew Warshaw
August 22 – England manager Sam Allardyce has backed calls for an all-British team in future Olympic football tournaments after the short-sighted and backward decision not to enter teams for Rio.
Brazil turn gloom into glory with Olympic win that revived the nation
By Samindra Kunti in Rio de Janeiro
August 22 – Brazil won their desperately desired gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after a combustive and compelling 120 minutes of box-to-box football in the final at the Maracana against Germany. In a storyline that not even the most clichéd of writers would have dared to write, it was Neymar who delivered salvation from the penalty spot with the fifth and final kick of the shoot out.
Germany beat Sweden for Olympic women’s gold, Canada take bronze
August 22 – Germany’s women won their first Olympic gold medal beating surprise finalists Sweden 2-1 in a tense final at the Maracanã. Canada broke Brazilian hearts beating hosts Brazil 2-1 in the bronze medal play-off.