By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – Organisers of next summer’s European Championship finals in France say they will not be deterred by the Paris terrorist onslaught and that the tournament will go ahead and not be re-allocated.
By David Owen
November 12 – FIFA has announced that the mythical Maracanã Stadium, spiritual home of the Brazilian football team, is to host both the men’s and the women’s Olympic football finals.
By David Owen
November 9 – Justin Trudeau, the new Canadian Prime Minister, may not be a soccer fan, but he has reason to be thankful for the economic boost that the sport has given the country in recent times.
By Samindra Kunti
November 2 – The Brazilian capital Brasilia is in danger of missing out as a host city for the Olympic football tournament as the city’s dire economic situation may prevent it from signing the required contracts.
October 14 – Next summer’s Euro 2016 finals will be conspicuous by the absence of the orange army after the Netherlands, World Cup semi-finalists only 15 months ago, failed to even make the playoffs.
By David Owen in Monte Carlo
October 14 – France is aiming to capitalise on next year’s European football championship, Euro 2016, to boost the number of grassroots football club members in the country by around 15%.
By Samindra Kunti
September 22 – French organisers of the Euro2016 tournament have said that it is their intention that the tournament will galvanise more of the French youth into playing football and that through improved facilities the tournament will leave a sustainable legacy. To that end they have launched a number of social programmes.
September 8 – Amid all the interest surrounding Wales’ attempts to reach a first tournament finals for half a century – they are still on the verge despite being pegged back by Israel – arguably a far more laudable achievement is that of Iceland.
By Paul Nicholson
August 27 – Euro2016 in France will be the first time the European Championships have been played in the expanded 24 team format. More matches mean more venues and the competition will be played in 10 venues across the country. Will this be the catalyst event that, like the 2006 World Cup in Germany, kick starts French football into a new era of glory?
July 14 – New Zealand are to take legal action after their men’s team were controversially thrown out of Olympic football qualifying for fielding an ineligible player.
July 10 – An anti-discrimination group is planning to protest wage inequality at today’s victory parade by the United States’ World Cup-winning women’s team in New York.
By Paul Nicholson
July 7 – TV viewing figures from the US for Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final are reporting a stunning picture for soccer in the country and for the women’s game in general.
July 7 – The money gap when compared to the men may still be huge but FIFA’s decision to stage the women’s World Cup in Canada and increase the finalists to 24 teams certainly paid off in terms of crowds and global interest – and, on the field, in terms of excitement.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 6 – In a break with 50 years of tradition, football’s international players’ union FIFPro is opening its doors to female members to give women players a stronger voice.
July 3 – Who is the best Women’s player in the world? The most high profile women’s world cup ever is creating national and international stars, and – after a long wait – significant numbers of recognisable names in the women’s game. FIFA has announced its shortlists for the adidas Golden Ball, adidas Golden Glove and Hyundai Young Player awards.