Qatar 2022: Creating a magic carpet
By Anthony Harwood
January 26 – Another World Cup, another flurry of complaints about the poor condition of some pitches that teams will have to play on.
World Cup
St Petersburg plans huge 2018 police presence as FIFA reports ticket requests hit 4m
By Samindra Kunti
January 26 – Saint Petersburg will carry out a massive 11,000 police officers strong law enforcement operation during the 2018 World Cup when the city will host six matches, including one semi-final, to ensure the safety and security of travelling fans. To date supporters from around the world have requested more than 4 million tickets during the second sales window of World Cup tickets.
Morocco say FIFA’s stadium criteria will not be an issue in 2026 World Cup bid
January 25 – The head of Morocco’s 2026 World Cup campaign has re-iterated that the country will be able to meet all FIFA’s requirements, not least when it comes to infrastructure.
Party poopers. Russia ready to shut down noisy Ukrainian troublemakers
January 25 – A report by Russia’s state-run newspaper Pravda has accused neighbours Ukraine of trying to disrupt next summer’s World Cup.
Russian tourist board focuses in on profiteering hotels over 5,000% World Cup price hikes
January 24 – Russia’s Federal Agency for Tourism has named and shamed a list of hotels that have jacked up their prices by massive amounts for the World Cup.
UNITED 2026 powerplay comes with impressive credentials, no ‘s**t’
By Paul Nicholson
January 23 – The United 2026 World Cup bid heavyweights are on the road, locked and loaded with persuasive arguments and reasoning for why they are the only choice for hosting 2026. Absent were expensive gifts, brown paper bags of cash or even watches (not even Mickey Mouse ones) to shower their voting constituency with. For the faithful, FIFA 2.0 is a serious commitment.
Coke takes World Cup Trophy on a 91-stop, 51country global journey
January 23 – The global leg of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour sponsored by Coca-Cola kicked off with an official launch ceremony in London on Monday and plans to hit 91 cities across 51 countries and six continents.
Russia 2018 ticket demand heats up with 3m+ requests, 38% from overseas
January 16 – Football fans around the world remain keen on attending the World Cup, the quadrennial high mass of the global game. In all, 3,141,163 tickets have been requested in the second sales phase, which runs until the end of January.
London awaits as World Football Cup draw takes place in Northern Cyprus
Sobaclieu.com
By David Owen
January 15 – The draw has been completed for the 2018 World Football Cup, to be staged in London between May 31 and June 9.
Sorokin steps up at Russia 2018 to fill gap left by Mutko
January 5 – Vitaly Mutko’s humiliating decision to step down as head of Russia’s World Cup organising committee in the wake of the ongoing doping scandal is now official.
Russian whistle-blower Rodchenkov cleared to speak to FIFA on players accused of doping
January 3 – Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistle-blower whose revelations led to the explosive doping scandal that rocked Russian sport, is now free to talk to FIFA about the extent to which football was involved according to agency reports.
Aeroflot offers Russian fans cheap tickets to fly
January 2 – Russian World Cup fans could be offered Aeroflot flight tickets for just 5 rubles (9 cents) between cities where Russia’s team is playing. Russian president Vladimir Putin has been reported as saying it is a “good idea.”
The show must go on: But without Mutko who quits World Cup and RFU roles
By Andrew Warshaw
December 27 – Under-fire Russian football supremo Vitaly Mutko has now stepped down as chief organiser of the 2018 World Cup having two days ago relinquished his role as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU) after mounting global criticism of his alleged involvement in the Russian doping scandal that has seen the country banned from Olympic sport.
Exclusive: Mutko on the brink. RFU call emergency powwow. Sorokin in wings
By Andrew Warshaw
December 22 – Under-fire Russian World Cup supremo Vitaly Mutko is on the verge of being ousted as head of the country’s football federation following the doping scandal that rocked world sport and heaped pressure on him to stand down.
Moscow declares itself ready for 2018 World Cup and ready to party
December 21 – Head of the Moscow Department of Sport and Tourism Nikolai Gulyaev said on Tuesday that the whole infrastructure of Moscow is almost ready for World Cup 2018.