Betano secures naming rights to Copa do Brasil in 3-year deal
December 7 – FIFA’s first betting sponsor Betano has added the naming rights for the Copa do Brasil to its sponsorship portfolio.
South America
Pele’s health is improving, say doctors, with no new complications
December 7 – Brazil great Pele’s condition is improving in hospital, according to his doctors.
Hospitalised Pélé thanks well wishers and says he ‘strong, with a lot of hope’
December 5 – Pélé and his doctors have reassured the public after Brazilian media had reported that the football legend was no longer responding to chemotherapy and had been moved to palliative care.
Ecuador drop Colombian-born Castillo from Qatar squad ‘to avoid future problems’
November 14 – In an ironic twist, Byron Castillo, the player at the centre of the bitter, long-running dispute over his World Cup eligibility, has been left out of Ecuador’s squad for the finals tournament.
Ecuadorian president to skip World Cup opener against Qatar to attend to unrest at home
November 10 – His country having just been cleared to play in the World Cup despite an appeal by Chile and Peru that they should have been thrown out for fielding an eligible player in qualifying, Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso (pictured) has decided not to attend the high profile opener against Qatar, citing domestic unrest.
Conmebol says it is time to shelve ‘political and ideological disputes’ and let the games begin
November 8 – In a move highlighting how football is closing ranks against the constant barrage of criticism of World Cup hosts Qatar, South America’s governing (Conmebol) said it is time to focus on football and for “disagreements to take a back seat”, echoing FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Tite leaves Firmino out of Brazil’s World Cup squad, Martinelli selected
November 8 – Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino will not play at the World Cup after Brazil coach Tite picked Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli over him. The 39-year-old Daniel Alves was also included among the 26 players who will go in search of a sixth world title for Brazil in Qatar.
Argentina put 6,000 fans on Qatar 2022 no-go list
November 8 – Argentine authorities have drawn up a list of 6,000 fans who will be banned from attending the World Cup.
US-financed Vasco da Gama return to Brazil’s top flight Serie A
November 7 – Vasco da Gama will return to the Brazilian top flight next season after a 1-0 victory against Ituano with a first-half penalty goal from Nene.
One to watch: Could Lautaro Martinez be Argentina’s new talisman
November 4 – Lautaro Javier Martinez, an Argentinean native, born on August 22, 1997, is already one of Europe’s most sought-after center forwards. This month he could turn himself into a national icon as the perfect foil for Lionel Messi as the country goes into Qatar 2022 as one of the favourites.
Flamengo power through to Copa Libertadores title
October 31 – Flamengo defeated Athletico Paranaense 1-0 on Saturday to win a third Copa Libertadores title and cement their dominance at the top of the South American club game.
Copa Libertadores: Flamengo start as favourites in Ecuador against Athletico Paranaense
October 28 – Flamengo will be sky-high favourites to win the Copa Libertadores for the second time in three years, taking on Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Athletico Paranaense in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in Saturday’s final.
Tax efficient? Neymar gets political giving backing to right wing Bolsonaro
October 23 – With a week to go until the decisive second round in the Brazilian presidential elections, Neymar has thrown his weight behind the far-right sitting president Jair Bolsonaro, saying he will dedicate his first goal at the World Cup to the incumbent.
Flamengo beat Corinthians on penalties to win Copa do Brazil
October 20 – After a tense 120 minutes, Flamengo rallied to win the Copa do Brazil on penalties against Corinthians, just nine days out from the all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores final with Atletico Paraneanse.
CBF demands tough sentences as fan violence escalates in Brazilian club game
October 18 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has condemned the growing fan violence in the club game following a series of incidents that have tarnished the game recently.