By Andrew Warshaw
September 1 – Chile’s protracted appeal over whether Ecuador should be kicked out of the World Cup finals for fielding an ineligible player has taken a significant twist with FIFA now agreeing to hear the case in mid-September.
September 1 – Former Moroccan international Walid Regragui has been appointed head coach of the national side just three months before the World Cup.
September 1 – With three months to go the betting markets are becoming increasingly busy with bookmakers and punters looking for early positions, Brazil still top the list of most bookies’ favourites but other markets are opening up for Golden Boot, Ball and surprise packages.
August 30 – Qatari authorities have issued 260,000 Hayya cards to date, ahead of the global finals in the Gulf country in November and December.
August 30 – The 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first to be moved to a winter time slot and the last to be competed by 32 teams, is still the Greatest Show on Earth and while it might not be the highest standard football competition on earth (the UEFA Euros are considerably more competitive), on pretty much every other metric it delivers.
August 25 – Not just Qatar, but Saudi Arabia will seek to welcome the world this November and December. In a bid to capitalise on the influx of football fans in the Gulf during the World Cup, Saudi Arabia will issue a special 60-day visa for holders of a Hayya card, a fan-id required to enter Qatar.
August 24 – With just months to go until the kick-off of the World Cup, hosts Qatar have deported 60 migrant workers after they protested against unpaid wages, some of whom said they had not been paid for seven months.
By Paul Nicholson
August 23 – The Chilean FA have expressed increasing concern over FIFA’s delay in ruling on their appeal over whether Ecuador should be expelled from the 2022 World Cup for fielding an ineligible player.
August 23 – A Qatar 2022 news item and with all the concerns around accommodation, at a quick glance and it could almost read Airbnb. It isn’t, in fact it is Arhbo, the new single from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Official Soundtrack.
August 17 – FIFA is reporting ticket sales of 2.45 million for the Qatar 2022 World Cup that kicks off November 17.
August 17 – German FA boss Bern Neuendorf has promised to raise the concerns of the LGBT community and their travelling supporters to organisers of the World Cup in Qatar, where same-sex relations remain a criminal offence.
August 17 – The suspended World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina has finally been cancelled officially after Brazil argued the risks were too great ahead of the finals in Qatar.
August 16 – Broadcaster BeIN Sports has partnered with social media platform Twitter to share content during the World Cup in November and December.
August 15 – With the World Cup in Qatar just three months away, Human Rights Watch has stepped up its campaign to urge FIFA and the host nation to improve compensation for migrant workers and their families.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 12 – The start of the Qatar World Cup, just three months away, is to be brought forward by 24 hours to give the host nation centre stage. FIFA has now made the date change official