February 22 – Morocco’s 2026 World Cup bid campaign team has begun issuing a series of promotional e-magazines in several languages that have been distributed to FIFA members in the hope of generating support ahead of the all-important vote on June 13.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 20 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists the world governing body was simply applying the rules when banning Morocco from promoting the country’s 2026 World Cup bid credentials before its own African supporters.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 19 – The race to land the 2026 World Cup has exploded into fresh controversy with FIFA facing accusations of double standards and underhand tactics despite its efforts, in public at least, to ensure a squeeky clean bidding process ahead of the June vote.
February 16 – Morocco says it will build seven new stadiums if it upsets the rival bid of USA-Canada-Morocco to land the 2026 World Cup.
February 14 – Los Angeles is being given more time to submit its bid to be one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup.
February 13 – Who says sport and politics don’t mix? With Ukrainian journalists having already been refused accreditation by their national fa and having to approach FIFA directly, Ukraine’s public broadcaster has now decided not to show any of the games in Russia.
February 13 – FIFA is facing calls from human rights organisations to scrap Chechnya as a World Cup base for Egypt this summer.
February 9 – An economic impact report on the potential hosting of the 2026 World Cup in the three North American markets of Canada, Mexico and the US, reckons the event would create $5 billion in economic activity and a net benefit of $3-4 billion after taking out potential public costs.
February 8 – Russia’s Sports Ministry is suing companies building World Cup stadiums for 2.9 billion rubles ($50.8 million) over delays in constructions schedules.
February 8 – The 2022 World Cup venue designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid will be finished by the end of 2018, according to those responsible for the project.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 7 – FIFA’s obsessive attempt to ensure the 2026 World Cup bid process is fair and clean has blown up in its face following the revelation that Morocco was gagged from making a presentation to its own African region last week.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 5 – FIFA’s strict (some might argue over-the-top) directive to its member federations not to break any rules during the current lobbying campaign for the 2026 World Cup has led to understandable irritation at the head of African football’s leadership.
By David Owen
February 2 – For the second World Cup running, FIFA is planning to test anti-doping samples at a laboratory outside the host country.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – As serious lobbying for the 2026 World Cup gets under way, FIFA has reminded its federations not to break strict new guidelines when it comes to their dealings with the two contenders ahead of the vote in June.
By David Owen
January 30 – Twenty years have passed since I was dispatched on one of those hardship assignments: a visit to L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Pâtisserie in a quiet little town noted for its brioches in La France profonde.