Qatar cuts spending to bring in 2022 World Cup for $8-10bn
April 7 – Qatar has agreed to heavily slash its budget for hosting the 2022 World Cup and is pressing ahead with eight stadiums, according to organising chief Hassan Al Thawadi.
World Cup
St Petersburg bomb blast will not derail Russia 2018, says Mutko
April 4 – Russia’s chief World Cup figurehead says the subway blast in St Petersburg that killed 11 people should not be used by the country’s critics to call into question next year’s finals or the confederations cup this coming summer.
Qatar beefs up 2022 security with plan to establish specialist national police unit
April 3 – Qatar is taking advice from British security services as it builds towards the 2022 World Cup according to Hassan Al Thawadi, head of the tournament’s organising committee.
Brazil become first nation to book place for Russia 2018
March 29 – Brazil have become the first team to qualify for next year’s World Cup after the five-times champions beat Paraguay 3-0 for their eighth successive win in the South American qualifying competition.
ILO keeps up pressure on Qatar on migrant workers’ travel rights
March 23 – The International Labour Organisation, one of the United Nations’ most highly regarded agencies, has decided to continue monitoring Qatar for human rights violations until November despite the Gulf state, organisers of the 2022 World Cup, insisting progress is being made.
Mutko dismisses Russian players named in doping scandal as an issue dealt with
March 20 – Russia’s World Cup chief organiser Vitaly Mutko, recently barred from holding on to his place at FIFA’s top table, has brushed aside allegations that Russian footballers were among those guilty caught up in the country’s widespread doping scandal.
Confederations Cup ticket sales slow as Russians cool on 2018 World Cup warm-up
By Samindra Kunti
March 10 – The countdown to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup is on, but concerns remain over the slow ticket sales for the tournament. Despite ticket sales windows being open since November 2016, tickets are still available for all 16 matches.
Russian political genius pitches ‘World Cup of fan fighting’ concept. TV rights anyone?
March 7 – A Russian politician has proposed a somewhat unorthodox solution to the country’s hooliganism problem ahead of next year’s World Cup: legalise it and turn it into a spectator sport.
Russia to issue identity cards to fans heading to World Cup 2018
March 3 – Fans will need special identity cards to attend the 2018 World Cup and this summer’s Confederation Cup in Russia in a move to combat hooliganism which reared its ugly head at Euro 2016 – with Russia in the thick of it.
Infantino urges Qatar to ensure 2022 World Cup leaves a lasting historical legacy
February 24 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has spoken of the need for Qatar to leave a lasting legacy when it stages the 2022 World Cup, almost certainly the last with 32 finalists.
Qatar awards seventh main construction contract for 2022 stadium build
February 22 – The 40,000-seat stadium to be built in the Al Thumama district of Doha, Qatar, for the 2022 World Cup, will have as its main contractor a joint venture between Qatari construction firm AlJaber Engineer and Turkey’s Tekfen Construction.
Russian hooligans issue violent 2018 warning to any travelling English fans
By Andrew Warshaw
February 17 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he has no fears about fan violence at the World Cup in Russia next year despite chilling threats against English supporters made in a television documentary.
Qatar’s Al-Thawadi promises 2022 World Cup will change centuries of Western stereotyping
By Andrew Warshaw
February 10 – The man leading Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organisation has issued another strong defence of his country’s right to host the tournament pledging it will act as a unifying force at a time when global divisiveness is very much in vogue.
Qatar spending £500m a week on World Cup 2022 infrastructure
February 8 – Qatar’s World Cup organisers are splashing out a staggering $500 million every week on major infrastructure projects, the country’s finance minister has admitted.
Russia adds $325m to 2018 World Cup budget as it puts its stamp on the tournament
By Paul Nicholson
February 7 – Russia has increased its government spending on the 2018 World Cup by 19.1 billion rubles ($325 million) according to documents published on a government website. Total spend on the World Cup is now going to hit $10.8 billion.