January 30 – The Qatar-based International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), whose remit is becoming increasingly relevant in terms of both match-fixing and stadium safety, has announced a partnership with Germany’s football league to enhance operations at event venues round the world,
January 29 – While attention and nervousness surround preparations and fast-approaching deadlines for the 2014 Brazil World Cup, the Russians are more quietly and methodically making their preparations for 2018.
January 29 – The local organising committee for the 2022 World Cup has been formally activated following a shake-up of the board of the directors that, until now, had been known as the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – Brazil’s assistant coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has added his voice to growing concerns over delays in World Cup preparations, saying it’s “a joke” that it took so long to start work on some of the infrastructure projects and blasting the authorities for “total neglect”.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – The staging of this year’s World Cup in Brazil has come under renewed intense scrutiny following fresh street protests over the cost of hosting the tournament.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 24 – Two days after one of Brazil’s 12 World Cup stadia learned it may have to be scrapped from the schedule because of construction delays, Brazil’s leader Dilma Rousseff and FIFA president Sepp Blatter presented a joint charm offensive following a courtesy meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
January 22 – Russian stadium preparations for the 2018 World Cup are progressing with the design for the 45,000-seat stadium in Nizhny Novgorod said to be almost complete. So far only two of Russia’s venues for 2018 are ready, though neither have yet staged an official football match.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 22 – FIFA has warned Brazil’s World Cup organisers that the host city of Curitiba could be thrown out unless work on its stadium is speeded up – and quickly. In the most serious crisis to date over Curitiba preparations for the tournament, FIFA has set a February 18 ultimatum for the stadium, which is hosting four group games, to prove it can meet requirements.
January 21 – FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke at last had some good news after his latest visit to the new Sao Paulo stadium in Brazil which will host the opening game of the World Cup.
January 20 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke is back in Brazil checking on the progress of World Cup stadiums – but has apparently cancelled a visit to Manaus because of a workers’ dispute at Arena Amazonas which is due to host a number of group games next summer.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – Amidst the razzmatazz of this week’s world player of the year award, FIFA president Sepp Blatter provided small but significant new details of the time scale leading up to a decision on the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
By Paul Nicholson
January 16 – Fans who are being priced out of attending the Brazil World Cup because of the high rates of accommodation should take a look at a campsite option launched by two Englishmen in Recreio, in the west of Rio de Janeiro. For £35 a day per person, campers can turn up and get the full World Cup experience in one of Rio’s safer districts and in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
By Paul Nicholson
January 13 – Russia’s Cabinet of Ministers announced yesterday that the country will spend about $34 million on developing training grounds for the 2018 football World Cup.
January 10 – Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has joined the chorus of disapproval over FIFA’s decision to select Manaus in the heart of the Amazon rain forest as one of the World Cup stadiums.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9 – The European Professional Football League, which looks after the interests of more than 800 clubs in some 30 countries, remains convinced that no official position has yet been taken over when to stage the 2022 World Cup.