Japan leave Kagawa and Okazaki out of 2019 Asian Cup squad but include Yoshida
By Samindra Kunti
December 13 – Japan have dropped Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa from their Asian Cup squad with coach Hajime Moriyasu opting for youth.
World Tournaments
Panama dump Mexico out of France 2019 contention, Jamaica and Costa Rica still in hunt
October 11 – Panama broke Mexican hearts with a 2-0 win in the Concacaf Women’s Championship, dashing Mexico’s hopes of qualifying for a third consecutive women’s World Cup. The United States hammered Trinidad and Tobago, consolidating their position of supremacy in the region.
Dutch and Swiss women have edge in race for Europe’s final France 2019 slot
By Samindra Kunti
October 9 – The Netherlands and Switzerland have taken pole positions to reach next month’s play-off final for the last European qualifying spot for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France. In the first legs of the play-offs the European champions defeated Denmark 2-0 on home soil while the Swiss came back twice to draw 2-2 in Belgium.
2019 Women’s World Cup schedule agreed with kick off in Paris and final in Lyons
February 9 – FIFA has agreed the match schedule for the Women’s World Cup France 2019 which will see the competition open in Paris on June 7 with the final in Lyons, the hotbed of French and European women’s club football, on July 7.
England to host 2018 World Cup, sort of…
By David Owen
October 27 – England wanted to stage a football World Cup in 2018 – and now it is to get its wish.
Cardiff, Stockholm, and Wembley on stand-by as Brussels given Euro 2020 deadline
By Andrew Warshaw
September 21 – Belgium’s football leaders have been given an end-of-November deadline to convince UEFA they can deliver a stadium to host part of Euro 2020.
France 2019 targets a billion viewers as UEFA qualifying begins
By Samindra Kunti
September 21 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France to attract a billion viewers as local organisers unveiled the logo, slogan (‘Dare to Shine’) and additional scheduling details. Across Europe, qualifying got underway for the tournament with England trouncing Russia 6-0.
Germany crash out of Euro 2017. Austria, Denmark, England and Holland make up last four
By Samindra Kunti
July 31 – The Women’s Euro 2017 Championship in Holland burst into life this weekend with the quarter-finals. Denmark knocked out defending champions Germany in a major upset while England, Austria and the hosts progressed to the last four as well. UEFA recording record TV audiences during the group stages.
Lionesses roar in the rain. Dutch have the courage. France and Germany slow to start
July 24 – With two rounds of group games completed in the Women’s Euro 2017 in Holland, the hosts and England are the only two teams with a 100% record.
Biggest ever Women’s Euros open with win for Dutch hosts
By Samindra Kunti
July 17 – Hosts Holland opened the biggest edition of the Women’s Euros to date with a 1-0 over Norway. The 2017 Women’s Euro has been expanded to 16 teams with an increased prize pot of €8 million (£7 million).
Kashima to stage Olympic football in 2020
By David Owen
July 11 – The city of Kashima was endorsed as a Tokyo 2020 football venue at Monday’s meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board.
France unveil venues for 2019 Women’s World Cup, Lyon to host opening match and final
By Samindra Kunti
June 15 – The French Football Federation (FFF) has announced the nine cities that will host the matches of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup after due consultation with FIFA. Lyon will host both the opening match and the final.
Mane’s miss sends Cameroon through with Egypt, Ghana and Burkina Faso
By Samindra Kunti
January 31 – Liverpool’s Sadio Mane missed the decisive spot kick as Cameroon beat Senegal 5-4 on penalties to reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. Seven-times winners Egypt also progressed to the last four with a narrow 1-0 win against rivals Morocco.
EURO 2016 provided €1.2bn boost to French economy, says report
January 25 – A report into the economic impact of the UEFA EURO 2016 championships in France found that despite terror fears and high security levels, fans turning up to watch the tournament injected more than €1.2 billion into the French economy.
Brazil and Ukraine take Paralympic football honours
September 19 – Brazil kept up their Olympic momentum with Gold and Bronze medals in the Rio Paralympic football tournaments. Their success in the five-a-side final at the Olympic Tennis Centre was their fourth successive win.