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.
January 22 – With US Soccer president Sunil Gulati and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani about to begin their charm offensive in Europe for the North American bid for the 2026 World Cup, Gulati has been hit with new problems.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 22 – The head of Norway’s FA has called on FIFA to step up its investigation into the Russian doping scandal and even consider a ban, comments that have prompted a furious response from his Russian counterpart.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 19 – The global perception of the United States under Donald Trump could pose a direct threat to the country’s bid to jointly stage the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico according to bid leader Sunil Gulati (pictured).
January 19 – Football’s lawmaking body, the International FA Board, has confirmed that video assistant refereeing will be the main focus of attention at Monday’s interim business meeting in Zurich.
January 18 – Brazilian FA boss Marco Del Nero, who escaped being put on trial for his alleged role in the FIFAGate scandal since his country has no extradition treaty with the United States, is to contest his FIFA ban on Friday – via video link from Rio de Janeiro .
January 15 – Two months after being banned for life, one of the highest profile figures in the FIFAGate corruption scandal, former Nicaragua Football Federation chief Julio Rocha has died after battling with cancer.
January 12 – Morocco’s Minister of Industry, Trade and New Technologies, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, has been appointed head of the country’s Bid Committee for the 2026 World Cup.
January 11 – FIFA has become embroiled in yet another unwanted potential scandal after Austrian prosecutors revealed they were investigating the head of the country’s national federation (OeFB) Leo Windtner (pictured) over a payment from FIFA in the build-up to Sepp Blatter’s re-election as president in 2015.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – Little more than a month after the Council of Europe issued a scathing attack on FIFA’s governance, the two organisations have agreed to work closer together and strengthen co-operation.
January 11 – The use of video assistant referees, which made its debut in English football this week, is the main topic of discussion at the rescheduled business meeting of the International FA Board (IFAB), guardians of the game, on January 22.
By Mark Baber
January 4 – The Russian Football Union (RFU) is to nominate Moscow as host of the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, according to deputy president Sergei Anokhin.
January 4 – FIFA have launched an investigation into racial discrimination after England under-17 striker Rhian Brewster made a complaint about a teammate being abused in the under-17 World Cup final.
January 2 – Gianni Infantino insists FIFA’s 211 federations are “overwhelmingly in favour” of expanding the World Cup to 48 teams.
By Paul Nicholson
December 27 – Former Peru football boss Manuel Burga, 60, has been acquitted of a corruption charge by the Brooklyn jury that found Juan Napout, of Paraguay, and Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil guilty of similar charges before Christmas.