Tiny Qatar awarded 2022 World Cup
By Duncan Mackay in Zurich
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
December 2 – Qatar were awarded the 2022 World Cup by FIFA’s Executive Committee, it was announced here today.
News
Russia awarded 2018 World Cup as England knocked out in first round
By Duncan Mackay in Zurich
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
December 2 – Russia were awarded the 2018 World Cup as England were knocked out in the first round of voting here today.
Putin stand-in quotes Churchill as Russians go on charm offensive
By David Owen in Zurich
December 2 – Hosting the World Cup would help Russians in their quest to build a new country and overcome the difficulties they faced in the 20th century, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov told FIFA today, as Russia brought down the curtain on an intensive two days of bid presentations.
Teixeria facing court appearance over money laundering allegations
By Mihir Bose in Zurich
December 2 – Ricardo Teixeria the FIFA executive member from Brazil, whose vote could decide the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, faces a date in court back home.
Eddie makes poignant impression as England roll out their big guns
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
December 2 – England’s 2018 World Cup bid team rolled out their big guns to make a final plea to FIFA here today but it was a 27-year-old from a disadvantaged background who made the most poignant impression.
Spanish bid leader hits out at English media and praises FIFA Executive Committee
By Duncan Mackay in Zurich
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
December 2 -·Angel Maria Villar Llona, who has conducted a one-man campaign on behalf of Spain and Portugal’s joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup, today faced head-on allegations that they were involved in collusion.
Underdogs catch romantic spirit but lack heavyweight punch
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
December 2 – Underdogs Holland and Belgium kicked off the 2018 World Cup presentations to FIFA today but lacked sufficient punch to suggest they might pull in extra support later in the day.
Putin absence gives hope to World Cup 2018 bidders
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
December 1 – The race to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups reaches a nail-biting climax tomorrow with Spain/Portugal and England emerging as potential opponents for the final round of bidding for 2018 and the United States out in front for the latter tournament.
Exclusive: World Cup voting set to remain a mystery
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
December 1 – The nine bidders involved in tomorrow’s 2018 and 2022 World Cup ballots may never know how many votes they won and lost during the entire process.
Clinton fails to persuade as US miss a trick
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
December 1 – It started optimistically with phrases like “a true melting pot of passion, dreams and hope” and being the most diverse nation on earth.
Japan’s “Big Idea” could be the biggest of the lot
By David Owen in Zurich
December 1 – There is no doubt about the biggest ‘Big Idea’ to have emerged during this 2022 World Cup hosting competition.
Qatar turns up the heat by asking: “When?”
By David Owen in Zurich
December 1 – After the glitz and razzmatazz of their money-no-object campaign, the Qatar bid team treated FIFA’s top brass to a serious-minded presentation that was comparatively low on frills in Zurich this afternoon.
Korea World Cup “would serve as a gateway for lasting peace”
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
December 1 – South Korea used the prospect of better relations with the north of the peninsula to maximum effect when they made their final 2022 World Cup presentation to FIFA’s executive committee today.
Australia off to a bouncing start with the Elle and Skippy show
By David Owen in Zurich
December 1 – Australia got today’s 2022 World Cup bid presentations off to an endearing start in FIFA’s home city of Zurich this afternoon, with supermodel Elle Macpherson (pictured) sharing top billing with a kleptomaniac animated kangaroo.
Vote momentum swinging in England’s favour claims Beckham
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
December 1 – David Beckham is convinced the World Cup momentum is swinging back in England’s favour as the odds on who will stage the 2018 and 2022 tournaments continued to fluctuate today.