Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister, told Vitaly Mutko, the country’s Sports Minister to prepare bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Russia is ready to spend $10 billion on the international soccer extravaganza. The 2018 World Cup is likely to award to an European nation as the 2010 World Cup has gone to South Africa and the 2014 World Cup is held by Brazil.

Russia, Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands, England, Indonesia, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Mexico and the United States have submitted bids to host both the 2018 and the 2022 World Cup tournaments. Meanwhile, South Korea and Qatar just bid for the 2022 football competition.

Russia’s main adversary for the successful bid is likely to be England and we wish Russia all the best.

Via: RIA Novosti

The Coca-Cola Company and FIFA will host a 70-day FIFA World Cup Trophy tour to allow thousands of fans from 50 African countries to get close to the authentic, solid-gold FIFA World Cup trophy. The Coca-Cola Trophy Tour will start at Cairo on 24th September 2009 and pause in Cape Town on 3rd December 2009.

At events, fans will have the opportunity to have a souvenir photo taken of them with the trophy, view a special 3-D movie showcasing memorable moments of the FIFA World Cup, participate in interactive displays and enjoy other entertainment.

The FIFA World Cup trophy stands at 36.8cm tall, weights 6.175kg and is made of real solid, 18-carat gold. The winners of the World Cup get to retain the trophy until the next tournament and are awarded a gold-plated replica instead.

Via: IPPmedia

Yuya Osaka, the 18-year-old teenager, in Japan’s Kashima Antlers, may have the pro qualities to be in the World Cup 2010. In both J-League and the Asian Champions League, Osaka has scored an impressive 4 goals this season.

Osaka’s Brazilian coach, Oswaldo Oliveira, believes the youngster has the potential to score big in FIFA World Cup and is expecting a call from Japan national team coach, Takeshi Okada.

Go, Yuya, go!

Via: Goal.com

Zimbabwe is ready to cash in on the World Cup 2010 by making beds, a huge total of 40 000 by next year in order to meet bedding requirements of hotels in South Africa. The beds are required to be rated three-star or more to meet the demands of FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations).

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said accommodation, transport and the health system have to be ready for next year big football event. This boils down to a good night rest, appropriate medication (when needed) and a get-to-anywhere-fast transport system for the soccer players.

Via: allAfrica

Next year, you may able to see Zimbabwean art at the FIFA World Cup 2010 football tournament at South Africa. The organizers of the annual Domboramwari Sculpture Workshop are asking the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to give Zimbabwe artists and sculptors a chance and some space to display their art pieces at the world soccer event, and to promote Zimbabwe as a tourist destination as well.

Sculptor Chenjerai Mutasa said that Zimbabwean art was among the best in the world and the World Cup can serve as a platform to introduce the country art to the world.

We knew art has no boundaries.

Via: The Herald

China has bagged an impressive 51 gold medals in the Beijing Olympics 2008 but its national soccer team was knocked out from the World Cup qualifying last year. A new coach, Gao Hongbo, was tasked by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) to take the Chinese national football team to new heights. Gao was a former national player in the 80s and we do hope he can push China from a FIFA ranking of 100 to somewhere as stellar as its Olympic achievements.

Via: Honolulu Advertiser

The second sales phase for the FIFA World Cup 2010 has commenced today, 4th May 2009. Ticket applications submitted during the second phase will be on a first come first served basis. About 100 000 tickets will be made available to interested parties. Applications can be made through the FIFA website or at South Africa own First National Bank (FNB) branch.

Each applicant can apply for up to four tickets per match and up to seven matches in total. Ticket prices start at US$20 (R140).

Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application within 10 working days, and tickets will be available for collection from Fifa’s venue ticketing centres from April 2010 onwards.

The second stage of World Cup 2010 ticketing will be on till 16th November 2009.

Via: SouthAfrica.info

The 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup Ticketing Centres are already up and running in South Africa. The Main Ticketing Centre at Sandton has officially open its doors on 1st May 2009.

There are in total four Ticketing Centres opening up for the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup:

• Main Ticketing Centre at Sandton Isle, Corner of Rivonia Road and Linden Street, Sandown/Johannesburg; open from 1st of May
• Mangaung/Bloemfointein Venue Ticketing Centre – Lochlogan Waterfront Mall, Corner of Charles and 1st Avenue; Open from 4 May
• Rustenburg Venue Ticketing Centre – Waterfront Mall , 1 Augrabies Avenue; opening from 4 May, and
• Tshwane/Pretoria Venue Ticketing Centre – Brooklyn Mall, Corner of Middel and Fehrsen Street, New Muckleneuk; open from 4 May

The Ticketing Centres will open 7 days a week from 9.00am to 6.00pm.

The 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup is only 40 days away and around 320 000 tickets are up for grab for the general public.

Via: FIFA

You may not need to be a professional football player to win the World Cup. France’s Bruce Grannec, 22, beat more than 530,000 online gamers (there’s a lot) from 52 countries in the FIFA Interactive World Cup to be crowned the champion. He won a Kia Soul urban crossover passenger vehicle, US $20 000 and an invitation to FIFA World Player Gala 2010. The EA Sports FIFA 09 PlayStation 3 soccer game final was held at Barcelona, Spain last weekend.

Besides sponsoring this online FIFA soccer event, Kia Motors will also be supporting the real, offline FIFA World Cup 2010 at South Africa.

Via: YTN

Sepp Blatter, the head honcho of FIFA, is looking into the option of setting a under-21 limit to players participating in the Olympics. The Under-20 World Cup is played every 2 years and young players get to compete for both U-20 World Cup in Colombia in 2011 and the London Olympics 2012 under the new rule.

Under current rules, the Olympics is open to players under 23 and 3 older players are allowed in the team but this has made Olympic football not on the international calendar.

Via: Jamaica Bserver