Canada secure World Cup berth; US and Mexico closing in on Qatar 2022
March 28 – Canada stormed past Jamaica at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, to qualify for their first World Cup finals since 1986.
New Zealand beat Tahiti to set up OFC qualifying final against the Solomon Islands
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
March 28 – New Zealand edged towards a ticket for the international World Cup playoff following a laboured 1-0 victory against Tahiti to set up the OFC qualification final against Solomon Islands.
QatarEnergy completes FIFA’s roster of World Cup 2022 sponsors
March 28 – QatarEnergy has become a partner of the 2022 World Cup, joining Crytpo.com and BYJU’s who were unveiled as Qatar 2022 sponsors last week.
bet365 writes off £120m of debt in Stoke
March 28 – Online gambling business bet365, owner of English Championship club Stoke City, has waived £120 million of debt owed by the club, and converted another £40 million of shareholder loans into equity.
Italy dumped out of Qatar 2022 reckoning by late North Macedonia strike
By Andrew Warshaw
March 25 – From European champions to World Cup elimination in just nine months.
Al-Thawadi says Van Gaal’s anti-Qatar 2022 comments are ridiculous
March 25 – The public face of the Qatar World Cup has hit back at Dutch coach Louis van Gaal for criticising the decision to hold the event in the Gulf state, countering that van Gaal has failed to understand the Arab world’s passion for football.
CFG expands club ownership with addition of Nac Breda
March 25 – City Football Group have acquired Dutch second-tier outfit Nac Breda, which will become the eleventh club owned by the Abu Dhabi group.
Company Select end Antwerp sponsorship in protest over Overmars appointment
March 25 – HR Company Select has withdrawn as sponsor of Antwerp following the arrival of Marc Overmars at the Belgian club. The Dutchman exited Ajax in disgrace following allegations of improper conduct.
Costa Rica end Canada’s unbeaten run to keep their Qatar 2022 challenge alive
March 25 – Costa Rica catapulted themselves back into contention for a place at the Qatar 2022 World Cup with a 1-0 win over group leaders Canada, the first time the Canadians have been beaten in the final round of qualifying.
Discrimination: Does football really think it is doing enough?
March 25 – Today is the International Day for the Rembrance of the Víctims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Tuesday 21 March was the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Iraq beat UAE 1-0 to take Qatar 2022 play-off slot qualification to the wire
March 25 – Iraq stunned the United Arab Emirates with a 1-0 win to move them to within a point of the UAE and the Qatar 2022 play-off spots with a game to go.
Liverpool to launch first NFT drop of illustrated player images
March 25 – Premier League Liverpool have launched their first NFTs, a collection of illustrations of 24 Liverpool men’s team players based on their individual likenesses and superhero characteristics.
ESA’s sponsorship sentiment tracker shows optimistic trend led by rights holders
March 25 – The European Sponsorship Association’s Sponsorship Sentiment Tracker (SST) – a rough measure of how confident the sponsorship sector is – shows rights holders as currently the most optimistic over the health of the industry.
Cazoo continues drive into Europe, parking on OM’s shirt front from start of 2022/23 season
March 24 – Online car retailer Cazoo will become the main sponsor of Ligue 1’s Olympique de Marseille in a multi-year deal that will begin at the start of the 2022/23 season. The deal will see the brand take the club’s front of shirt logo position.
Russia submit last minute bid to host either Euro 2028 or 2032
By Andrew Warshaw
March 24 – In an act of brazen effrontery, Russia has unexpectedly thrown its hat into the ring to stage Euro 2028 despite the country’s ban from international football because of the invasion of Ukraine.