By Duncan Mackay
January 24 – Bonita Mersiades (pictured), a key member of Australia’s campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, has quit unexpectedly on the eve of a planned trip to Angola to lobby on behalf of the bid.
By Duncan Mackay
January 24 – South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak (pictured) is set to meet FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Wednesday (January 27) to lobby on behalf of his country’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
January 23 – Two of South Africa’s World Cup venues have witnessed their first matches in preparation for the tournament, including in Cape Town, where England are due to play Algeria.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 23 – Markus Siegler (pictured), the newly appointed special advisor to Russia’s 2018 World Cup bid, insists the country has all the has necessary attributes to stage the tournament and is determined to use his unique contacts to bring it about.
January 23 – Former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler (pictured) has hit out at the critics of Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, claiming that they do not understand how huge the event is.
January 22 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter today met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow to discuss Russia’s bid to host the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup.
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By Andrew Warshaw
January 22 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter is in Moscow for an update on the country’s bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.
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By Andrew Warshaw
January 21 – One of David Ginola’s first priorities in his role as the latest ambassador to be unveiled by England’s 2018 World Cup bid team will be to lobby UEFA President Michel Platini.
By Duncan Mackay
January 20 – Security fears and the high cost of travel is putting German fans off travelling to support their team at the World Cup in South Africa later this year, Franz Beckenbauer has claimed.
By Duncan Mackay
January 20 – Players in the Hyundai A-League, including former England and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler (pictured), and clubs will show their support for Australia’s bid for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 this weekend in the first of two “Come Play!” days this year.
January 19 – A row has broken out in South Africa after Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira (pictured) refused a request from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for a week’s extension to the season because he fears it would jeopardise his team’s preparations for the World Cup.
January 18 – South Africans will be able to buy World Cup tickets over the counter, Danny Jordaan (pictured) promised today, following complaints that the existing sales system is too complicated for local fans.
By Duncan Mackay
January 18 – Prince William (pictured) has again been attacked for supporting England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup ahead of Australia’s, even though he is one day set to become the country’s head of state.
January 17 – Durban is planning to hold a special 100 Days Celebration for the World Cup at its spectacular Moses Mabhida Stadium on March 2.
January 16 – Tickets for Miami, a controversial choice to host matches if the United States bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, will sell out in 24 hours, a leading official there has predicted.