By Andrew Warshaw
December 1 – It was trumpeted by FIFA as a must-watch media briefing about World Cup preparations and the glittering draw at the Kremlin Palace later in the day. Instead, it barely touched on the draw ceremony and turned into a quite extraordinary full-scale personal assault on Russia’s critics by chief World Cup organiser Vitaly Mutko (pictured far left).
December 1 – Russian World Cup chief Vitaly Mutko has insisted there will be no discrimination against gender preference at the tournament despite fears that the spectre of homophobia and racism could deter some supporters from travelling to the country.
December 1 – The World Cup in 2018 will bring up to 500,000 international visitors who will on average spend 31% more on their credit cards than ordinary visitors to the country.
December 1 – Qatar is forging ahead with its World Cup 2022 developments, winning 4-star GSAS sustainability certification for the already completed Khalifa International Stadium and unveiling a spectacular new modular and recyclable design for the soon to be built Ras Abu Aboud Stadium.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 29 – It promises to be one of the most glitzy occasions since Gianni Infaninto swept into power. But if the FIFA president and Vitaly Mutko, chief organiser of next year’s World Cup, were hoping for a trouble-free environment ahead of Friday’s globally televised draw in Moscow, they have one or two unwanted distractions on their hands.
November 28 – The globalisation of football is illustrated by new research that shows that almost two thirds of footballers likely to play at the Russia 2018 World Cup are currently playing for clubs outside of the association they represent.
November 28 – The last of the visual imagery for the 2018 Russia World Cup, the official poster, has been unveiled in Moscow Metro. The poster features legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin as a central figure.
November 27 – International football focus is warming up for the World Cup Final Draw which will take place this Friday in Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace.
By Mark Baber
November 24 – Leading Russian senator Andrei Klimov, said on Thursday that he has credible evidence the United States aims to “discredit” the 2018 World Cup to be held in Russia.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 21 – Despite being buffeted by all manner of “abuse”, whether over human rights, unproven corruption allegations or the tournament being controversially switched to winter, Qatar’s most senior World Cup official says he has absolutely no regrets in bidding for the 2022 tournament.
November 16 – Peru became the final side to qualify for the World Cup with a 2-0 play-off victory over New Zealand on Wednesday as they reached the finals for the first time since 1982.
By Ian Griffiths
November 15 – Australia booked their place at next year’s World Cup finals as captain Mile Jedinak struck a second half hat-trick to help earn the Socceroos a richly deserved 3-1 intercontinental play-off win over Honduras at an emotional ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday.
November 15 – Last year at Euro 2016, there were smiling Irish fans wherever you looked while Iceland – who went on to defy their minnow status – joined Sweden as the only Scandinavian representatives at the tournament.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 14 – Incredible, unthinkable, unimaginable. For the first time in 60 years, the World Cup finals will be without four-time champions Italy after they were eliminated in the playoffs by Sweden on Monday.
By Samindra Kunti
November 14 – Russia and Argentina inaugurated Moscow’s refurbished Luzhniki Stadium with a friendly international, but crowd congestion after the match left organisers red faced. In June and July, the venue will host the opening match and the final of the 2018 World Cup.