October 11 – With the World Cup less than six weeks away, Qatar’s tightly-controlled media have joined forces to retaliate against European attacks on the Gulf state’s suspect human rights record.
October 11 – While French cities are banning outdoor communal viewing of the World Cup from Qatar in public places from Paris to Marseilles over concerns of rights violations of migrant workers, other cities around the world are proving less judgemental.
October 10 – Not again! Defending champions Italy will face England in their Euro 2024 qualifying group, a repeat of last year’s final, following the draw on Sunday in Frankfurt.
October 8 – Lionel Messi has confirmed that Qatar will be his fifth and final World Cup as he seeks to win the tournament for the first time to cap a stellar career.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 6 – In a radical move clearly designed at gaining widespread support amongst the FIFA membership, Spain and Portugal added Ukraine to their 2030 World Cup bid on Wednesday in what they hailed as an act of European solidarity.
October 5 – The French Football Federation (FFF) is spearheading a campaign for the creation of a compensation fund for migrant workers in Qatar, the host nation of the World Cup.
October 4 – Ukraine wants to help organise the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
October 4 – Paris has become the latest French city to decide against broadcasting World Cup matches on giant screens in public amid concerns over rights violations of migrant workers in Qatar.
September 23 – German FA president Bernd Neuendorf has added his voice to growing demands that FIFA sets cash aside for a compensation fund for migrant workers in World Cup host Qatar.
September 23 – The break for international matches has focussed attention on suddenly how close the World Cup in Qatar has come.
September 21 – World Cup fans in Qatar caught committing minor offences such as public drunkenness will reportedly escape prosecution under plans being drawn up by authorities in the country.
September 21 – The English FA has added its name to demands that families of migrant workers in Qatar injured or killed while constructing the infrastructure for this year’s World Cup be compensated.
September 20 – The German FA and four major FIFA sponsors have upped the pressure on the world federation and local organisers to offer compensation to migrant workers and their families in Qatar.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 16 – Chile have failed in their attempt to have Ecuador kicked out of the World Cup by FIFA, infuriating the head of their FA who described the judgement as a “dark day” for the sport.