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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 19 – Milton Keynes will have an opportunity to showcase its bid to become a host city if England are awarded the 2018 World Cup later this year when its stadium hosts its first ever senior international match.
April 19 – Nigeria have been warned by FIFA that they could face serious sanctions, including missing this year’s World Cup in South Africa, if court action by a disgruntled official is not dropped.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 19 – Vladimir Putin (pictured left) has personally signed all the Governmental guarantees demanded by FIFA as part of Russia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, it was revealed today.
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April 16 – Japan have signed-up another three sponsors as its campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup steps up a gear.
April 15 – Danny Jordaan (pictured), the chief executive of South Africa 2010, admitted that the number of fans currently planning to attend the World Cup stands at between 100,000 and 200,000 – less than half of the original forecast of 450,000.
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By David Owen
April 15 - Guus Hiddink (pictured), the internationally renowned Dutch football manager, is to go to Korea at the end of this month as part of his efforts to help the Dutch/Belgian World Cup bid.
By David Owen in Istanbul
April 14 – Turkey may bid to stage the 2026 World Cup. Orhan Gorbon, manager of Turkey’s current bid for the 2016 European Football Championship, told insideworldfootball exclusively that a campaign for the 2026 tournament was part of a personal “10-year plan”.
April 14 – Global food supplier Seara, part of the Marfrig Group, has signed up as a sponsor of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup, it was announced today.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 12 – Belgium and the Netherlands campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup could be damaged if there is violence at the Dutch Cup Final between Ajax and Feyenoord later this month, the chairman of the joint bid fears.
April 11 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive Ben Buckley (pictured) has dismissed fears the current turmoil surrounding the A-League will damage the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
April 9 – South Africa World Cup organisers say 500,000 tickets are unsold and fear “tragic” empty stadiums at the sport’s showcase event.
April 9 – North Korean’s best-known player, Jong Tae Se, has backed plans for matches to be held north of the 38th parallel if South Korea’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup is successful.
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April 9 – A branch of al-Qaida has threatened to target England’s match against the United States at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.
April 8 – The World Cup final at Soccer City in Johannesburg will be among 25 matches at this year’s tournament broadcast in 3D, it was announced today.
April 7 – Australia will lose its bid to host the 2018 World Cup, but win 2022, according to John O’Neill (pictured), the man credited with modernising the sport in the country and giving it the platform to launch a campaign.