June 13 – Looking beyond the Qatar 2022 World Cup, FIFA and the Qatar Stars League (QSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the world governing body provide on how to raise club management and administration standards across all QSL first and second division clubs.
June 10 – Israelis will be able to travel to Qatar to attend the 2022 World Cup games in Qatar, Israeli ministers said on Thursday, reconfirming the position held by World Cup organisers.
June 9 – The Canadian men’s team may have pulled out of playing a friendly game last week as the players negotiate over 2022 World Cup bonus payments, but the City of Edmonton has confirmed it is all-in with its bid to host matches at the 2026 World Cup.
June 8 – Australia’s World Cup hopes remain alive after labouring to a 2-1 victory against the United Arab Emirates to set up a final, sudden-death playoff with Peru next Monday.
June 8 – A statue of Zinedine Zidane’s infamous 2006 World Cup headbutt on Marco Materazzi is to be put back on display by Qatar authorities nine years after it was removed following a public backlash.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – They may have been second best over 90 minutes but a combination of an inspired goalkeeping display and the support of a passionate crowd helped Wales get over the line on Sunday as they reached their first World Cup finals for 64 years with a 1-0 win over luckless war-torn Ukraine.
June 1 – A packed stadium and the whole of Scotland will be supporting the home side. But pretty much the rest of the world will be rooting for the visitors, Ukraine.
May 31 – FIFA and Qatar’s claims that the 2022 World Cup will be carbon neutral have been cast into doubt by a new report drafted by climate experts.
May 27 – Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko said his team hopes to make their country proud when they take on Scotland in a World Cup playoff semi-final next week.
May 24 – The ruler of Qatar has hit back at what he describes as unprecedented attacks on his country, including by those “in a position of influence”, in the build-up to the World Cup later this year.
May 23 – The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has said that gay fans will be welcome at the 2022 World Cup, but demanded that visitors “respect our culture”.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 19 – Amnesty International, Football Supporters Europe and eight other human rights and fan groups have collectively urged FIFA to put up a minimum $440 million – roughly the equivalent of World Cup prize money – as a compensation fund for hundreds of thousands of migrant workers they claim have suffered abuses in preparation for the tournament in November.
May 13 – A media investigation has revealed that a number of FIFA-recommended hotels in Qatar have refused to accept LGBTQ+ guests despite previous claims that those of all gender persuasions would be welcomed for the World Cup.
May 6 – Chile have filed a claim with FIFA, questioning Ecuador’s World Cup spot over the eligibility of player Byron Castillo, alleging he used a false passport and birth date to represent the country.
May 6 – World governing body FIFA has received 3 million ticket requests for the World Cup final in Qatar and high demand to attend some of the tournament’s marquee group-stage games.