Qatar issues 260,000 Hayya cards; 1.7m expected for World Cup
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.
World Cup
Betting markets opening up on contenders to win World Cup 2022
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.
Saudi Arabia extends 2022 World Cup welcome for fans with Hayya card, easing hotel pressures
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.
Qatar deports 60 migrant workers for protesting against unpaid wages
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.
Chile fear FIFA delays will stop any potential CAS appeal over Ecuador’s 2022 participation
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.
Qatar 2022: Forget the football, it’s all about the happy music, a whole album full
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.
Qatar 2022 ticket sales top 2.45 million
August 17 – FIFA is reporting ticket sales of 2.45 million for the Qatar 2022 World Cup that kicks off November 17.
DFB’s Neuendorf pledges to confront Qatar 2022 organisers over LGBT concerns
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.
FIFA agrees to cancel disrupted Brazil/Argentina 2022 qualifier, but fines both nations
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.
BeIN and Twitter partner for World Cup content push
August 16 – Broadcaster BeIN Sports has partnered with social media platform Twitter to share content during the World Cup in November and December.
HRW says compensate dead workers or face legacy of being World Cup of human rights abuse
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.
FIFA agrees to start World Cup a day earlier to give Qatar star billing
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
Lusail Stadium, venue for 2022 World Cup final, stages first test event
August 12 – On the eve of the 100-day countdown to the World Cup, Al Arabi defeated Al Rayan 2-1 in the first test event at the Lusail Stadium, the 80,000-capacity venue for the World Cup final, and the last of Qatar’s World Cup stadia to be completed.
Brazil say completing ‘dead’ 2022 qualifier against Argentina risks player injury
August 11 – Brazil is refusing to play its suspended World Cup qualifying match against Argentina scheduled for next month, arguing the risks are too great ahead of the finals in Qatar.
Israeli fury at being listed as ‘Palestinian Territory, Occupied’ on World Cup hospitality site
August 11 – Yet another controversy has broken out over how disputed territories are being identified in World Cup official documentation.