South African construction workers given free World Cup tickets
May 3 – Construction workers who built South Africa’s stadiums for the 2010 World Cup were today given free tickets by the organisers to watch the matches.
World Cup
Hiddink wins support of Chung for Netherlands-Belgium World Cup bid
May 2 – Former South Korean national team coach Guus Hiddink and FIFA vice-president President Chung Mong-Joon have pledged to cooperate on their nation’s respective bids to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup competitions.
Relegation does not stop World Cup dream claim Plymouth
(2).jpg)
May 2 – Plymouth Argyle’s relegation from the Championship will not affect plans to redevelop its Home Park stadium in time to host matches if England are chosen to host the World Cup in 2018, club officials promised today.
Australian World Cup offers “exceptional” opportunity claims Cahill
May 1 – Everton midfield player Tim Cahill (pictured) has claimed that Australia offers FIFA an “exceptional” opportunity if they are chosen to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Row over MCG threatens Australian World Cup bid
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 30 – Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup has hit a major barrier which could seriously undermine it after it was reported Australian rules officials are demanding up to $100 million (£61 million) to allow them to use the iconic-Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
England 2018 appoints company to drive foreign internet support for World Cup bid
(2).jpg)
April 30 – England have appointed an independent search marketing consultancy to try to gather more support on the internet for its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Qatar World Cup bid boosted by state-of-the-art stadium plan
By Duncan Mackay in Dubai
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 28 – Qatar today unveiled a $4 billion (£2.6 billion) plan here to build or renovate 12 stadiums with high-tech cooling systems as part of its bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
Premier League clubs to show support for England 2018
.jpg)
April 28 – Every Premier League club in the country is to show its support to England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup with a series of activities for the last two weeks of the season, it has been announced.
Hiddink claims Holland and Belgium World Cup bid can learn from South Korea
April 27 – Guus Hiddink has led a delegation from the Netherlands and Belgium bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup to South Korea, where he is still considered a national hero after leading the national team to third place at the tournament in 2002.
Lowy claims he is not bothered by Blatter backing for Qatar World Cup bid
April 26 – Frank Lowy (pictured right), the chairman of Football Federation Australia (FFA), has claimed that he is not concerned by Sepp Blatter’s claims that the Middle East deserves to host the World Cup, which have been perceived as being encouragement for Qatar’s bid for the 2022 tournament.
BA to sponsor England 2018 World Cup bid
.jpg)
April 24 – England 2018 have announced British Airways as an official partner of their bid for the World Cup.
Blatter backs Qatar World Cup bid
.jpg)
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 24 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter today backed to Qatar’s bid to bring the 2022 World Cup to the Arab world.
Exclusive: England agree to Thailand friendly to help World Cup bid
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 23 – England will face former captain Bryan Robson (pictured) when they play a friendly in Thailand in a move that appears designed to win the vote of Worawi Makudi, the President of the the country’s football association and a member of the FIFA Executive Committee, for its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Germany deny claims they are moving South African base over security fears
April 23 – Confusion surrounds claims that Germany had been forced to change their base for the World Cup in South Africa later this year because of security fears.
USA World Cup bid appoints England players agent as Board member
April 20 – Casey Wasserman, whose Wasserman Media Group (WMG) represents England stars Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen, has been added to the United States bid committee trying to win the right to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022, it was announced today.