Dangdai Lifan brews a beer for its fans, while Li Tie tasked to get Wuhang Zull cooking
October 12 – You can tell that a country is getting serious about football when a beer company launches a special brew for the club’s fans.
UEFA unveils Nations League tiering with draw set for January 2018
October 11 – The pots for the first ever UEFA Nations League have been confirmed, with the Netherlands, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, being handed some consolation by snatching a top spot from Wales following the final round of World Cup qualifying.
Messi saves Argentina; Chile miss the cut; Portugal in but Dutch ditched
By Andrew Warshaw
October 11 – Cometh the hour, cometh Lionel Messi. Just when the odds were stacked in favour of Argentina failing to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1970, the mercurial maestro struck a superb hat-trick away to Ecuador to haul his country back from the brink of elimination.
The 2014 runners up began the day sixth in their group and needing a top-four place to qualify automatically.
Freak results usher new storm into US as Russia 2018 dreams are shattered
October 11 – The post mortem has just begun and will last all the way to Russia next year. Unthinkably given the weakness of their continental rivals, the United States have failed qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 after losing to tiny Trinidad & Tobago, a hugely embarrassing setback that could have ramifications on and off the pitch.
Netflix to debut Juventus fly-on-the-wall docuseries in 2018
October 11 – Netflix have entered the European football documentary market announcing a fly-on-the-wall series with Italian champions Juventus that will debut on the streaming service in 2018.
Pakistan banned from world football until government returns PFF offices and accounts
October 11 – Pakistan has been kicked out of international football until further notice because of what FIFA described as “undue third-party interference” in the country’s federation (PFF).
Arsenal score upgraded deal with Konami and PES
October 11 – Arsenal have turned their in-game license agreement with video game PES (Pro Evolution Soccer) into an official partnership with the game’s maker Konami Digital Entertainment.
First ticket sales window for Russia 2018 set to close. 2 million applications so far
October 10 – Fans have just one day left to register for the first round of ticket sales for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The ticket application window, which has been open since September 14, closes noon Moscow time on October 12.
Australia shatter Syria’s World Cup dream with extra time winner
By Paul Nicholson
October 10 – The Syrian dream of their first ever World Cup appearance was shattered in the second half of extra time in Australia when Tim Cahill headed in his second goal of the match with 11 minutes remaining.
Multiple concussions linked to mental health issues, finds FIFpro report
October 10 – Professional footballers and other athletes who have suffered from concussion are more likely to get depression and other problems including sleep disturbance when their playing careers end, according to new research carried out by FIFpro.
Chelsea head Big 5 club rankings with 90.4% of matches played by non-English players
October 10 – The epithet that the English Premier League is a league that just happens to be played in England is reinforced by the latest stats ranking from the CIES Football Observatory that show 12 of its clubs in the top 100 in Europe according to the percentage of domestic league minutes played by expatriates since the start of the season.
Iceland warm to Russia 2018 as smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup finals
By Andrew Warshaw
October 10 – They’ve done it again. All predictions that Iceland would be one-hit wonders after their sensational appearance at Euro 2016 have been well and truly crushed after they became the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup finals.
Brazilian women turn on CBF demanding equality and opportunity
By Samindra Kunti
October 10 – The crisis in the Brazilian women’s game is deepening following an open letter from veteran players to the Brazilian FA (CBF) demanding gender equality and reform in the game.
CAS make Burkina Faso wait on appeal against FIFA’s SA vs Senegal replay decision
October 10 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that it has received Burkino Faso’s appeal challenging FIFA’s decision to replay the South Africa-Senegal World Cup qualifier but that it will not make any imminent decision.
El Corte Inglés signs on for one-year sponsorship journey with La Liga
October 10 – Spain’s LaLiga has added another top tier sponsor partner for the Spanish market. El Corte Inglés has signed a one-year deal for LaLiga’s top two divisions.