Mastercard renew until 2024 with Brazil’s CBF
November 19 – Mastercard have extended their sponsorship of the Brazilian football confederation (CBF) and the country’s national team until 2024.
South America
Brazil brush Uruguay aside to maintain prefect record in Qatar 2022 qualifiers
November 18 – Brazil defeated Uruguay 2-0 in Montevideo courtesy of goals from Arthur and Richarlison to maintain a perfect record and top spot in South American World Cup qualifying. In Quito, Ecuador steamrollered Colombia 6-1.
Police detain Bolivian boss Rodriguez during Ecuador World Cup qualifier
November 13 – South America’s World Cup qualifiers are never short of drama. On Thursday, the boss of the Bolivian FA (FBF) Marco Rodriguez was arrested during the Bolivia vs Ecuador over allegations of corruption.
Head case Maradona recovering from surgery after brain surgery
November 4 – After it was initially reported that he had been hospitalised purely for tests, Diego Maradona, widely regarded as one of three finest footballers ever along with Pele and Lionel Messi, has undergone successful brain surgery for a blood clot in a specialist private clinic, his doctor confirmed.
Maradona hospitalised for three days of tests
November 3 – Argentine great Diego Maradona has been hospitalised at La Plata, about an hour outside Buenos Aires, to undergo tests not reported to be related to coronavirus.
Anger over Robinho’s Italian rape case forces him out at Santos
October 19 – Santos and former Brazil star Robinho have parted ways after growing public pressure over the player’s rape conviction in Italy in 2017 and his current defense.
Argentina sets end-October date for return of club competition
October 15 – Domestic football will resume in Argentina at the end of October after the game shut down in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia has announced.
Neymar beats Ronaldo and aims at Pele record as Brazil power past Peru; Argentina fly high
By Samindra Kunti
October 14 – Neymar moved past Ronaldo to become the second highest all-time goal scorer in the Brazil shirt after scoring a hat-trick in a 4-2 World Cup qualifying win against Peru. In La Paz, Argentina laboured to a 2-1 victory over Bolivia to maintain a perfect record.
Peru forced to reshuffle frontline for Brazil World Cup qualifier as strikers test positive
October 13 – Peru’s Raúl Ruidiaz (pictured) and Alex Valera have tested positive for the coronavirus, ruling both strikers out of their World Cup qualifier with Brazil on Tuesday.
Messi goal as Argentina and Uruguay win, kicks off Conmebol’s World Cup qualifiers
October 9 – Paraguay and Peru drew 2-2, Uruguay defeated Chile 2-1 and Lionel Messi dragged Argentina to a 1-0 win over Ecuador on Thursday to get the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup finally under way after the coronavirus shutdown.
Fan fears allayed as Maradona returns negative test
October 6 – Diego Maradona has tested negative for Covid-19 amid fears he had contracted the virus after hugging a colleague.
Conmebol revamps Copa Sudamericana adding teams and a group stage
October 5 – The Copa Sudamericana will feature a group-stage format for the 2021 season, Conmebol has announced.
Coronavirus: Players should be given choice over South American travel, says FIFPro
September 24 – Expressing concern over the Covid-19 pandemic in South America, the world players union FIFPro says would favour giving players decision-making power over their participation in October’s World Cup qualifiers in the region.
Concacaf moves first Nations League final four to June 2021
September 23 – Concacaf have shifted the inaugural finals of their Nations League competition from March 2021 to June 2021 to give space in the calendar to get the first round of the federation’s World Cup qualifiers underway.
Flamengo’s Ecuadorian adventure eventually completes with a 2-1 win over Barcelona
September 23 – Brazilian champions Flamengo wrapped up a dramatic week in the Copa Libertadores with a hard-fought 1-2 win against Barcelona in a game that had long been in doubt after local authorities in Ecuador closed the stadium.