December 7 – Michael Bloomberg (pictured), the Mayor of New York City, has joined the Board of the USA Bid Committee for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup, taking his place alongside a high-powered group that also includes Arnold Schwarzenegger and Henry Kissinger.
By David Owen in Cape Town
December 8 – FIFA needs to move decisively to claim Asia as “football territory”, according to Frank Lowy (pictured), the Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman.
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By Duncan Mackay in London
December 7 – Prime Minister Gordon Brown has held talks at Downing Street with Dr Mong-Joon Chung (pictured middle), a FIFA vice-president, to help promote England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
By Duncan Mackay
December 7 – The Premier League’s support of England’s campaign to host the 2018 World Cup was demonstrated at the weekend when clubs donated perimeter advertising at their fixtures to promote the bid, chief executive Andy Anson (pictured) has claimed.
December 7 - Football fans will be able to watch the 2010 World Cup in 3D, thanks to a deal struck between FIFA, the sport’s governing body, and electronics giant Sony.
By Duncan Mackay
December 7 – Ukraine and Poland, co-hosts of the 2012 European Championship, have said that they are confident that UEFA will accept the four Ukrainian cities put forward to host matches.
December 7 – Argentina’s 1978 World Cup-winning captain Daniel Passarella (pictured) was today elected president of River Plate after winning an election that was overshadowed by allegations of fraud and corruption.
By Duncan Mackay
December 7 – Ben Buckley, the chief executive of Football Federation Australia (FFA), has tried to reassure the Australian Football League (AFL) that they will not have to cancel their season if the country is awarded the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
By David Owen in Cape Town
December 6 – A Korean World Cup could see matches taking place in both parts of the divided peninsula, Han Sung-Joo, the chairman of the South Korea 2022 World Cup Bidding Committee, has told insideworldfootball in an exclusive interview.
By Andrew Warshaw in Cape Town
December 6 - Some of the 10 candidates vying for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup will almost certainly be forced to withdraw before the vote is taken just over a year from now, a senior FIFA administrator has predicted.
By Duncan Mackay
December 5 – England’s pairing with Algeria in the draw for 2010 World Cup seems set to give them the country’s 2018 World Cup bid the perfect opportunity to try to impress one of the 24 members of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee who are due to vote next year on which countries should host the tournament.
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By Andrew Warshaw in Cape Town
December 5 – Scores of cameras clicked furiously as a media throng surged towards the instantly recognisable and impeccably dressed footballing galactico.
By Duncan Mackay
December 5 – Brazil and Germany have signed a cooperation agreement for the 2014 World Cup, it has been announced.
By Duncan Mackay
December 5 – The official match ball for next year’s World Cup finals designed by Adidas will be called Jabulani, it has been announced.
December 5 – The women’s World Cup will expand its field from 16 to 24 teams for the 2015 tournament, FIFA has announced.