March 21 – SoFi stadium, Inglewood, California is for all intents and purposes a spaceship, and the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) probably wishes they were boarding it with a one-way ticket to Mars after being dumped out of the Concacaf Nations League semifinal by Panama.
March 20 – Mexico weathered a relentless Canadian storm to win 2-0 and set up a Nations League final against Panama, a repeat of the Gold Cup final in 2023 when Concacaf were last in the SoFi Stadium.
March 21 – With a goal in the fourth minute of added time Panama derailed the USA’s expectations of a ‘fourpeat’ Nations league win with a goal by supersub Cecilio Waterman in the fourth minute of added time.
January 10 – Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has joined the chorus of disapproval over FIFA’s decision to select Manaus in the heart of the Amazon rain forest as one of the World Cup stadiums.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – The controversial French comic whose alleged Nazi-style gesture was copied by former French international Nicolas Anelka, prompting a global outcry by anti-racist groups, was banned from performing this week by the highest court in France – just before he was about to go on stage.
January 10 – Gruppo Campari’s Italian aperitif brand Aperol has become the official global spirits sponsor of Manchester United Football Club. The multi-season sponsorship officially launched January 1 and runs until the end of the 2016/2017 season.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 10 – Poland’s Korona Kielce has signed a sponsorship deal with Kolporter, one of the country’s largest press distribution companies. Under the contract, which will be effective “until at least end of June 2018”, the club’s stadium will be renamed Kolporter Arena.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – UEFA president Michel Platini has turned up the heat over the timing of FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke’s much-publicised remarks about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The very last subject I’d usually want to talk about is referees.
I mean, have you heard yourselves?
Moaning at the ref, accusing him of bias, pointing to your watches. As if it’s an easy job, as if decisions are not made in the split second under high pressure. As if we actually give credit for the many decisions that are correct.
January 9- FIFA have globally banned yet another El Salvador player in relation to the ongoing match-fixing investigation conducted by the El Salvador Football Association.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9- A top-flight Dutch club is at the centre of a diplomatic storm after going ahead with a winter-break warm weather trip to the United Arab Emirates despite an Israeli defender on its books being refused permission to enter the country.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9 – The European Professional Football League, which looks after the interests of more than 800 clubs in some 30 countries, remains convinced that no official position has yet been taken over when to stage the 2022 World Cup.
January 9 – Malaysian second tier club Kedah have denied that they have been forced to change their colours from green and yellow to red as a result of fresh investment by controversial Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan.
By Paul Nicholson
January 9 – The messages of anti-discrimination and social inclusion of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people might be starting to get through as more high profile athletes and governing bodies are taking stands. Thomas Hitzlsperger became the biggest name footballer to come out as gay, while in the US the National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America has added a ‘Gay, Lesbian and Ally’ page to its website.
January 9 – The CONCACAF Women’s Under 20 Championship kicks off toady in the Cayman Islands with a double headed opener with Guatemala taking on Jamaica, followed by two-time defending champion United States against Costa Rica.
January 9 – INSIDE World Football is proud to announce our new and groundbreaking partnership with NeEase – www.163.com -and its main sports portal where INSIDE World Football will be a daily feature in Chinese. Launched today, INSIDE World football’s daily content is available to some 500 million Chinese users. NetEase is one of China’s most visited websites and China’s largest email services provider.
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
January 8 – In a move that took the entire football world by surprise, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke appears to have jumped the gun by stating that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be definitely switched to winter.
