March 25 – FIFA could be forced into making a ruling on when to reschedule the World Cup qualifier between Northern Ireland and Russia, twice postponed because of the unseasonally hostile weather that has ripped through most of Britain.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 22 – Local organisers of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, having listened to claims and counter-claims over whether to switch the tournament from summer to winter, have responded by saying they would be willing to host at either time but still have a preference for summer.
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 21 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter today gave his most unequivocal statement to date that the 2022 Qatar World Cup will be staged in summer – as per the terms of the original bid process.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – One of the first companies to offer a system for goal line technology is back in the fray after being granted a license by FIFA – and has joined the race to be selected for next year’s World Cup.
February 25 – Qatar is further opening its construction doors to the world and hosting the World Stadium Congress 2013 in Doha, 2-5 June.
February 21 – Brazilian customs announced Wednesday that they had seized 200,000 counterfeit Chinese balls which were being smuggled into the country.
By Mark Baber
February 20 – Fresh fears of whether Brazil will be ready in time to host the 2013 Confederations Cup Construction have arisen again, as workers refurbishing the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro went on strike on Monday.
February 15 – Anti-doping authorities and FIFA have not always been comfortable bedfellows but both sides put on a positive spin after meeting at the headquarters of world football’s governing body on Thursday.
The Human Rights Watch report has flagged potential human rights issues for migrant workers ahead of the World Cup 2022 build in Qatar.
ESPN has added to its football (soccer) rights in the US with a deal with Spanish-language broadcaster Univision to air home Mexican national team games in English, including World Cup qualifying matches.
January 31 – The Official Poster of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the final visual icon to be launched for the 2014 World Cup, has been unveiled in Rio de Janeiro as part of FIFA’s ‘500-day’ visit to Brazil.
January 30 – UEFA President and FIFA Executive Committee member Michel Platini has moved quickly to defend his decision to vote for Qatar as 2022 World Cup host and refute any implication of outside influence on his vote.
By Mark Baber
January 28 – FIFA has become the first gaming brand to top £1 billion in UK retail sales according to the latest figures from GFK Chart-Track.
Andrew Warshaw in Doha
December 17 – Pinned to a wall in the engine room of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup headquarters in downtown Doha is a detailed planner outlining what is headed “Programme Wide Masterplan: Stage One Draft.”
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
December 14 – It is just over two years since that momentous December day when Qatar stunned the footballing world by winning the race to stage the 2022 World Cup by a landslide.