Tutu backs Australian World Cup bid
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By David Owen
December 1 – The Australian bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has scored a major coup by securing backing from Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu (pictured).
Oscar winning actress to join Beckham at World Cup draw
By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
December 1 – South African Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron (pictured) has been named as the guest presenter for the 2010 World Cup draw in Cape Town on Friday, and will be joined on stage by a host of sporting celebrities including David Beckham, Haile Gebrselassie and Makhaya Ntini.
England ambassadors begin to spread the word for 2018 World Cup bid
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By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 30 – Paul Elliott, the former Chelsea and Celtic defender who is a member of England 2018’s Board, today met with FIFA Executive Committee member Amos Adamu (pictured) at Soccerex, the global football convention.
Mike Rowbottom: Milton Keynes seems an unlikely 2018 World Cup venue until you go there
The jury is now out on the question of which dozen-or-so of the 15 applicant English cities will be become potential hosts for the 2014 World Cup finals should England’s bid be successful – with a decision due on the 16th of this month.
Australia promises “no worries” World Cup
By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 30 – Australia will offer to host a “no worries” FIFA World Cup as it goes head to head with its nine rivals for the first time in its bid for the 2018 or 2022 tournaments, it has promised.
We may scrap play-offs after Henry handball, reveals Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
November 30 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) today admitted for the first time that the World Cup playoff system had to be seriously re-examined as a result of Thierry Henry’s infamous handball that cost Ireland a place in the finals.
Blatter full of praise for South African World Cup preparations
By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 30 – Sepp Blatter has praised the South African Football Association (SAFA) for its preparations for next year’s World Cup after meeting its new President, Kirsten Nematandani, here.
Mihir Bose: Lord Triesman is popular enough abroad to deliver England the 2018 World Cup if he can survive at home
David Triesman finds himself in the position not dissimilar to Prime Ministers: more popular abroad than at home. But this happened to Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair towards the end of their long reign. It has happened to Triesman barely two years in as FA chairman and just as he faces his greatest test leading England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.
Durban opening turns into damp squib but officials still delighted
November 29 – Durban’s new 70,000-seater World Cup stadium opened today, but rain kept the crowd down to around 15,000.
Brazilian President backs England bid as Triesman calls for unity
By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 29 – England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup received another morale-boosting endorsement today when Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (pictured) said that England deserved to host the tournament for the first time in more than half-a-century.
Blatter claims Henry did nothing he would not have done
November 29 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) revealed today that he has telephoned France captain Thierry Henry to offer him support over his controversial handball in the World Cup play-off win over Ireland.
Exclusive: Belgian and Dutch bid singing in harmony on World Cup says D’Hooghe
By David Owen
November 29 – Belgium and Holland can set an example for smaller countries by showing that they too can become candidates to host a World Cup, according to Michel D’Hooghe (pictured), the Bruges-based doctor who is chairman of FIFA’s Medical Committee.
Lineker insists he is not England 2018’s Lord Coe
By Duncan Mackay
November 28 – Gary Lineker (pictured), the man many are trying to persuade to take over from Lord Triesman as the leader of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, tonight insisted that his commitments with the BBC would rule him out from playing a more prominent role.
Spectacular Durban World Cup stadium set to open
By Duncan Mackay
November 28 – The first official match to be staged at Durban’s new R3.1 billion (£254 million) World Cup venue, the Moses Mabhida Stadium, a South African Premier League match between AmaZulu and Maritzburg United tomorrow, has sold out.
Qatar first to arrive in South Africa for Soccerex
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By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 28 – Qatar were the first of the countries bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup to arrive here today to attend Soccerex, the global football conference.